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Fingers that change color
Blanching of the fingers; Fingers - pale; Toes that change color; Toes - pale
Fingers or toes may change color when they are exposed to cold temperatures or stress, or when there is a problem with their blood supply.
Causes
These conditions can cause fingers or toes to change color:
- Buerger disease
- Chilblains. Painful inflammation of small blood vessels.
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Frostbite
-
Necrotizing vasculitis
Necrotizing vasculitis
Necrotizing vasculitis is a group of disorders that involve inflammation of the blood vessel walls. The size of the affected blood vessels helps to ...
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- Raynaud phenomenon. Sudden change in the finger color ranges from pale to red to blue.
-
Scleroderma
Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of scar-like tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line th...
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Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can af...
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Home Care
Avoid smoking.
Avoid exposure to cold in any form. Wear mittens or gloves outdoors and when handling ice or frozen food. Avoid getting chilled, which may happen following any active recreational sport or other physical activity. Wear comfortable, roomy shoes and wool socks. When outside, always wear shoes.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider for an appointment if:
- Your fingers change color and the cause is not known.
- Your fingers or toes turn black or the skin breaks.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical examination , which will include close examination of your hands, arms, and fingers.
Physical examination
During a physical examination, a health care provider studies your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinat...
Your provider will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:
- Did the fingers or toes suddenly change color?
- Has the color change occurred before?
- Does the cold or changes in your emotions cause your fingers or toes to turn white or blue?
- Did the skin color changes occur after you had anesthesia?
- Do you smoke?
- Do you have other symptoms such as finger pain? Arm or leg pain? A change in the texture of your skin? Loss of hair on your arms or hands?
Tests that may be done include:
- Antinuclear antibody blood test
-
Blood differential
Blood differential
The blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...
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Complete blood count
(CBC)
Complete blood count
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The tota...
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- Duplex Doppler ultrasound of the arteries to the extremities
- Serum cryoglobulins
- Serum protein electrophoresis
- Urinalysis
- X-ray of your hands and feet
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
References
Olin JW. Other peripheral arterial diseases. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 80.
Sayeed SM, Ferri FF. Raynaud's phenomenon. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2015 . 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2015:Appendix V. Pages 1017-8.e1.
Review Date: 4/11/2015
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
