Health Encyclopedia

Fingers that change color

Definition

Fingers or toes may change color when they are exposed to cold temperatures or stress, or when there is a problem with their blood supply.

Alternative Names

Blanching of the fingers; Fingers - pale; Toes that change color; Toes - pale

Causes

These conditions can cause fingers or toes to change color:

• Buerger disease
• Chilblains (painful inflammation of small blood vessels)
• Cryoglobulinemia
• Frostbite
• Necrotizing vasculitis
• Peripheral artery disease
• Raynaud phenomenon (sudden change in the finger color ranges from pale to red to blue)
• Scleroderma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

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.

Your 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:

• Antinuclear antibody blood test
• Blood differential
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Comprehensive metabolic panel
• Duplex Doppler ultrasound of the arteries to the extremities
• Serum cryoglobulins
• Serum protein electrophoresis
• Urinalysis
• X-ray of your hands and feet

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.

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.

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.