Numb white fingers
Other Qs & As
In cold weather my fingers go white and numb.
This occurs on my second third and fourth fingers on my right hand; I have not seen the symptoms on my left hand.
Could this be serious, and what should I do to avoid it?
It even occurs when I wear gloves.
Many people experience symptoms such as the ones you describe.
The most common cause is spasm of the small arteries in the fingers in response to cold (or sometimes stress).
The fingers tend to go white, and then blue, and finally red as the circulation is reestablished.
This condition is known as Raynauds disease.
It is most common in young women and often improves with increasing age. It usually occurs in both hands rather than in just one. Perhaps your right hand is more sensitive than your left.
Treatment consists mainly of avoiding the cold and keeping the hands warm. Occasionally drug treatment can be helpful.
Symptoms such as you describe can be due to other conditions.
If you have any other symptoms that concern you, or you feel you need help in managing this problem, it would be worth arranging to see your GP for examination and further investigation.
The NetDoctor Medical Team