Fingers That Change Color
Alternate Names : Blanching of the Fingers
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting change in finger color in detail may include:
- Time pattern
- Did the fingers suddenly change color?
- Has the color change occurred before?
- Aggravating factors
- Does cold or emotion cause the fingers to turn white (blanching)?
- Does cold or emotion cause the fingers to turn blue (cyanosis)?
- Quality
- Do fingers turn red?
- Do they turn blue?
- Do they turn white?
- Do they look black or gray?
- Aggravating factors
- Did this occur after anesthesia?
- Do you smoke?
- other
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Is there finger pain?
- Is there arm pain?
- Is there a change in the texture of the skin?
- Is there loss of hair on the arm or hands?
The physical examination will include thorough examination of the hands, arms, and fingers.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
Intervention:
Use of drugs to dilate small arteries and improve circulation may be prescribed. Surgery to cut the sympathetic nerves to the affected extremities (for Raynaud's phenomenon) is an option that may relieve symptoms for 1 or 2 years before they recur.
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to change in finger color to your personal medical record.
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