Symptoms During an attack the extremities become first white and dead looking. They may then turn blue and then red and burning. There may be considerable pain, numbness or tingling. The condition can range in severity from minor discomfort, to the onset of ulcers or even gangrene. Progress may be very slow over a period of thirty years, or more, and often starts in the very young or early teens.
Teenagers are likely to grow out of it in their twenties.
Causes These symptoms are due to an intermittent lack of blood in the affected parts when the arteries normally supplying them spasmodically contract. An attack will often be triggered by touching cold objects or exposure to cold of any kind. It seems to be a change of temperature rather than simple cold exposure that triggers an attack, so it can occur in the summer as well as in winter. Emotions, such as anxiety, also play a part, as can smoking. Raynaud s can occur spontaneously or in association with other disorders such as scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.