Fingers that change color
Blanching of the fingers; Fingers - pale; Toes that change color; Toes - paleFingers 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)
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Cryoglobulinemia
Cryoglobulinemia
Cryoglobulinemia is the presence of abnormal proteins in the blood. These proteins thicken in cold temperatures.
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Frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is damage to the skin and underlying tissues caused by extreme cold. Frostbite is the most common freezing injury.
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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)
Raynaud phenomenon
Raynaud phenomenon is a condition in which cold temperatures or strong emotions cause blood vessel spasms. This blocks blood flow to the affected re...
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Scleroderma
Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...
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Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...
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Home Care
Things you can do to help prevent this problem include:
- 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
Contact your health care provider 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 exam, which will include close examination of your hands, arms, and fingers.
Physical exam
During a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinati...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleYour 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 or use tobacco?
- 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:
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Antinuclear antibody blood test
Antinuclear antibody blood test
The antinuclear antibody panel is a blood test that looks at antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANA are antibodies produced by the immune system that bind...
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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 white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...
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Comprehensive metabolic panel
Comprehensive metabolic panel
A comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...
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Duplex Doppler ultrasound of the arteries to the extremities
Duplex Doppler ultrasound
A duplex ultrasound is a test to see how blood moves through your arteries and veins.
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Serum protein electrophoresis
Serum protein electrophoresis
This lab test measures the types of protein in the fluid (serum) part of a blood sample. This fluid is called serum.
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Urinalysis
Urinalysis
Urinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...
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Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
References
Jaff MR, Bartholomew JR. Other peripheral arterial diseases. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 72.
Melville AR, Belch JJF. Raynaud phenomenon. In: Hochberg MC, Gravallese EM, Smolen JS, van der Heijde D, Weinblatt ME, Weisman MH, eds. Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 154.
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Raynaud's phenomenon - illustration
Raynaud's phenomenon is characterized by blood vessel spasms in the fingers, toes, ears or nose, usually brought on by exposure to cold. Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease, a similar disorder, may be associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
Raynaud's phenomenon
illustration
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Cryoglobulinemia of the fingers - illustration
Cryoglobulinemia is caused by an abnormal protein that is occasionally found in the blood of people with multiple myeloma, leukemia, and certain forms of pneumonia. It causes blood to gel at low temperatures. In this picture, cryoglobulinemia has reduced blood flow in the fingers so much the fingers have turned dark. The black areas are gangrene resulting from lack of blood flow.
Cryoglobulinemia of the fingers
illustration
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Raynaud's phenomenon - illustration
Raynaud's phenomenon is characterized by blood vessel spasms in the fingers, toes, ears or nose, usually brought on by exposure to cold. Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease, a similar disorder, may be associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
Raynaud's phenomenon
illustration
-
Cryoglobulinemia of the fingers - illustration
Cryoglobulinemia is caused by an abnormal protein that is occasionally found in the blood of people with multiple myeloma, leukemia, and certain forms of pneumonia. It causes blood to gel at low temperatures. In this picture, cryoglobulinemia has reduced blood flow in the fingers so much the fingers have turned dark. The black areas are gangrene resulting from lack of blood flow.
Cryoglobulinemia of the fingers
illustration
Review Date: 4/27/2023
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.