COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing, Resources & Visitor Policy Updates
Not Feeling Well? Check Your Symptoms with the New Online Symptom Checker.
  • MYCHART LOGIN PAY MY BILL FIND A DOCTOR FIND A LOCATION PATIENTS & VISITORS MEDICAL SERVICES COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES CAREERS CONTACT US
  • Patients & Visitors
  • Medical Services
  • Community Outreach
  • Resources
  • Careers
MYCHART LOGIN PAY MY BILL FIND A DOCTOR FIND A LOCATION PATIENTS & VISITORS MEDICAL SERVICES COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES CAREERS CONTACT US
  • Homepage
  • HealthLibrary
  • Symptom
Menu
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Diseases & Conditions
  • First Aid
  • Symptoms
  • Tests & Procedures
  • Videos
  • Definitions
  • FAQs

Cold hands

Updated: 2022-06-23


Definition

It's common to have cold hands even when you're not in a cold environment. Usually, having cold hands is just one of the ways the body tries to control its temperature and shouldn't be cause for concern.

However, persistently cold hands — particularly with skin color changes — could be a warning sign of nerve damage, blood flow problems, or tissue damage in the hands or fingers. For example, if you are outside in extreme cold weather and you have cold hands, skin color changes could be a warning sign of frostbite.

Signs and symptoms to watch for when you have cold hands include:

  • Cold feet or toes
  • Changes to the color of the skin on the hands
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Open sores or blisters
  • Tightened or hardened skin

Causes

Hands affected by Raynaud
Raynaud's disease
Hands affected by Raynaud

Raynaud's disease

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 blood flow improves, usually when you get warm.

Frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite

Frostbite on fingertip

Superficial frostbite, as seen here on the tip of a finger, is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin.

Buerger
Buerger's disease
Buerger

Buerger's disease

In Buerger's disease, blood vessels swell and can become blocked with blood clots (thrombi). This eventually damages or destroys skin tissues and may lead to infection and gangrene. Buerger's disease usually first shows in the hands and feet and may expand to affect larger areas of the arms and legs.

Cold hands may be caused by simply being in a cold room or other chilly environment. Cold hands are often a sign that your body is trying to maintain its regular body temperature.

Always having cold hands, however, could mean there's a problem with your blood flow or the blood vessels in your hands.

Causes of cold hands include:

  • Anemia
  • Buerger's disease
  • Diabetes
  • Frostbite
  • Lupus
  • Raynaud's disease
  • Scleroderma

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment to see your health care provider if you're concerned about persistently cold hands. Your provider 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. Depending on your condition, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes to help improve symptoms.


Content from Mayo Clinic
© 1998-2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research(MFMER). All rights reserved. Terms of Use
About St. Elizabeth
  • About Us
  • Associate Log In
  • Associate Intranet
  • Careers
  • For Health Professionals
  • Foundation
  • St. Elizabeth Physicians
  • Learn More
How Can We Help?
  • Find a Location
  • Find a Provider
  • Frequently Called Numbers
  • Health Library
  • Pay My Bill
  • Pagar Su Factura
  • Site Map
Legal
  • Disclaimer/HIPAA
  • Patient Rights and Responsibilities
  • © 2019 St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
  • All rights reserved. St. Elizabeth Healthcare is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation serving the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region. Tax identification #610445850
Help Us Continue To Provide Quality Care
  • Donate
  • Human Resources
  • Physician Opportunities
  • Volunteer
Visit St. Elizabeth Physicians
Healthy
Headlines
  • Helping you live a better life.
  • View Health Tips
Social
About St. Elizabeth
About Us
Associate Log In
Associate Intranet
Careers
For Health Professionals
Foundation & Donations
Volunteers
Resources
CareGram
Find a Location
Find a Provider
Frequently Called Numbers
MyChart Login
Pay My Bill
Legal
Disclaimer/HIPAA
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Human Resources
© 2022 St. Elizabeth Healthcare. All rights reserved. St. Elizabeth Healthcare is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation serving the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region. Tax identification #610445850