Should You Be Concerned About Finger Numbness?

4. Raynaud's Disease

Those affected by Raynaud's disease experience numbness in the fingers and toes when exposed to cold temperatures or stress. Raynaud's is the result of arteries that clamp down and limit blood flow to the fingers and toes. Symptoms of Raynaud's include fingers that feel cold to the touch and a change of color of the affected area: the fingers may turn from white to red to blue in stages. As stress eases or the affected area warms, numbness and sharp, prickly pain develop. It can take up to fifteen minutes for normal blood flow to return to the affected areas. Although Raynaud's is most common in the fingers and toes, it can also affect the nose, ears, and lips. This disease is most common in women.