What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Raynaud's Disease?

People with Raynaud's (primary or secondary) have attacks in response to cold or emotional stress. The attacks can affect the fingers and toes, and rarely the nose, ears, nipples, or lips. The affected body parts will usually have two or more of the following changes:

• Look pale due to lack of blood flow
• Look bluish due to a lack of oxygen
• Feel numb, cold, or painful
• Redden and throb or tingle as blood returns to the affected area

Attacks usually last about 15 minutes. They can last less than a minute or as long as several hours. Attacks can occur daily or weekly.

Sometimes attacks affect only one or two fingers or toes. Different areas may be affected at different times. Attacks can cause sores or tissue death (gangrene) in people with severe secondary Raynaud's. However, severe Raynaud's is very uncommon.