Why do my hands swell and hurt in the cold?
Why do my hands swell and hurt in the cold?
Cold weather can cause small blood vessels near the surface of your skin to tighten. Once you warm up, these small vessels may expand too quickly. This may cause blood to leak into nearby tissue, resulting in swelling. The swelling then irritates nerves in the affected area, causing pain.
Why do my hands hurt after being cold?
Why Hands Ache from Cold The high number of joints and ligaments in your hands in such a small space is the root of the problem behind your cold weather woes. In between your joints, there is a joint fluid which helps keep everything lubricated and moving freely, much like oil does in your vehicle.
What to do if your fingers are swollen from the cold?
The following can ease symptoms:
- rewarm skin gently – do not massage, rub, or apply direct heat.
- keep skin dry and warm.
- apply lotion to reduce itching. Fragrance-free lotion is available to purchase online.
- clean skin with an antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection.
- do not scratch.
What is a Chilblain?
Chilblains (CHILL-blayns) are the painful inflammation of small blood vessels in your skin that occur in response to repeated exposure to cold but not freezing air.
Can hands swell from cold?
Chilblains (CHILL-blayns) are the painful inflammation of small blood vessels in your skin that occur in response to repeated exposure to cold but not freezing air. Also known as pernio, chilblains can cause itching, red patches, swelling and blistering on your hands and feet.
What disease makes your hands cold?
Raynaud’s disease causes smaller arteries that supply blood flow to the skin to narrow in response to cold or stress. The affected body parts, usually fingers and toes, might turn white or blue and feel cold and numb until circulation improves, usually when you get warm.
Should I see a doctor about cold hands?
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you’re concerned about persistently cold hands. Your doctor can check if your cold hands are caused by a problem with your blood flow or nerves. Treatment is aimed at the underlying cause of your cold hands.
What are the symptoms of swollen hands?
Symptoms depend on the underlying cause, but swelling, tightness, and pain are common. A person with edema may notice: swollen, stretched, and shiny skin. skin that retains a dimple after being pressed for a few seconds. puffiness of the ankles, face, or eyes. aching body parts and stiff joints. weight gain or loss.
Why are my fingers so sensitive to cold?
Illnesses that include a fever can lead to chills. Other conditions that may cause general sensitivity to cold include migraines, anorexia , depression, normal aging, poor general health, chronic illnesses, anemia and iron deficiency. Lupus may cause cold sensitivity in just the fingers.
What causes nighttime hand swelling?
A variety of medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, allergic reactions and insect bites, could cause the hands to swell during the night, according to WebMD.
Why do your hands hurt when cold?
Cold hand diseases that occur from vasoconstriction happen when these muscles apply pressure to the arteries for too long, which decreases blood flow. This is what causes the fingers to turn a blue color (Figure 2) – a process called cyanosis. When the fingers are warmed up again, the increased blood flow causes a red color and painful fingers.
