White Finger Disease (Raynaud's Phenomenon)

What is it?

White Finger disease is a disorder that affects the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Its characteristic attacks result from a constriction of these blood vessels.

Symptoms

Patients initially notice skin discoloration upon cold exposure. They may also experience mild tingling and numbness of the fingers or other affected digits that will disappear once the color returns to normal. When the blood vessel spasms become more sustained, this can cause pain as well as ulceration at the fingertips.

Ulcerated fingers or toes can become infected and, with continued lack of oxygen, gangrene may set in.