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What Medical Phenomenon Causes Hands to Look Like Tie-Dyed?

Dec. 25, 2012 9:47am
Raynauds Phenomenon Changes Hands Color When Theyre Cold

These hands exhibit people with Raynaud’s phenomenon. (Image: Wikimedia)

It’s a hand of a different color! Although it looks like someone was playing with tie-dye again, it wasn’t a stain that caused these hands to take on an unusual hue.

The hands became discolored due to a rare medical condition known as Reynaud’s phenomenon. Here’s the definition of the phenomenon from the National Institute of Health’s division of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases:

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the extremities—generally, the fingers and toes. It is characterized by episodic attacks, called vasospastic attacks, in which the blood vessels in the digits (fingers and toes) constrict (narrow), usually in response to cold temperatures and/or emotional stress. When this condition occurs on its own, it is called primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. When it occurs with another condition such as scleroderma or lupus, it is called secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon.

The result of one of these attacks can be a change in skin color. NIH explains that the color change is typically from white to blue to red. The white is from spasms occurring in the small branches coming off of an artery (arterioles) and collapse of arteries bring oxygen-rich blood to fingers and toes. The blue color happens from the lack of this oxygen-rich blood. And red happens when the arterioles open up again and allow the oxygen-rich (red) blood back through.

Here are a couple YouTube videos showing you people experiencing the condition:

After an attack begins, NIH stated it can take 15 minutes after warming for coloration to return to normal.

Who is susceptible to the phenomenon? NIH stated those in cold climates and women more than men experience the condition. Most people with the symptoms are considered to have primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. Those with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon experience it due to an association with an underlying disease.

According to the National Library of Medicine, there are measures people can take to prevent this from happening to them, if they’re susceptible. Stopping smoking, avoiding caffeine, avoiding certain medications and keeping out of the cold are a few of the suggestions.

(H/T: io9)

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Comments (15)

  • crisnick
    Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:21am

    I recognized this picture right away. I have been dealing with it for a couple of years. My fingertips go numb and white and if I don’t warm them up quickly they go purple and they sting. I can get it just from grabbing a bag of frozen food from the freezer. I am thankful, though. Of all the health issues people can have, this one is relatively minor.

    Report this comment

    crisnick  
  • tiki886
    Posted on December 26, 2012 at 5:55am

    This condition can also appear as an orange stain on your penis, usually after eating a bag of Cheetos.

    Report this comment

    tiki886  
  • John 1776
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:35pm

    Wife has this as well. Doesn’t drink or smoke. Can even happen in the summer. Usually, once the blood returns is when the fingers go purple for awhile. Really freaky looking. It’s almost like temperature differential sets it off, like picking up a cold glass of water, even in a room that’s warm.

    Report this comment

    John 1776  
  • flatbrokeranch
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 2:18pm

    As someone who has this condition along with my son I can tell you that its nothing to laugh at. It is a very painful and debilitating condition that can make doing simple tasks almost impossible.

    Report this comment

    flatbrokeranch  
  • Armyof One
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:47pm

    Friend of mine reported a scare a few days ago. Seems while visiting with family, she noticed the palms of her hands had turned exceptionally blue. Mildly panicking over a heart attack or stroke, they immediately zoomed to the emergency room. She was instructed to wash her hands prior to treatment, and was shocked when the blue rinsed away.

    Turns out, her brand new blue jeans had bled a bit of dye when she was rubbing them. The Doctor, in perfect humor, wrote a prescription for “pre-washed denim”.

    Report this comment

    Armyof One  
  • Mojoron
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 12:18pm

    I might add the pictures are altered to show the color difference, Reynaud’s causes constriction of the blood vessels in your fingers sometime due to circulation problems or just cold weather. If circulation doesn’t improve over time the blood will clot and gangrene will set in.

    Report this comment

    Mojoron  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:56am

    It really doesn’t matter because it’s the same one that makes you blind. LOL

    Everyone knows but you….

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • NOCLUE
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:46am

    I’ve had this problem for years .My hands would change colour on a daily basis.Then I found the cure…………………buy 3 ply toilet paper.

    Report this comment

    NOCLUE  
    • RIGS
      Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:57am

      I have to laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report this comment

      RIGS  
    • Maji
      Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:45pm

      You must be from the middle east.

      That was funny. I was thinking that’s bad….then you!!

      Report this comment

      Maji  
  • Steverino
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:16am

    My wife has this issue. Strangest damn thing. It occurs most often, if not exclusively, in the winter. It is not painful and generally just makes her hands very cold, to her, and to the touch. It may occur 6 or so times a season, and goes a couple years without reappearing. The purple is unsettling, to say the least.
    Steve

    Report this comment

    Steverino  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:01am

    This happened to me every time i ate “Magic Mushrooms”.

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  

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