Thanks
Hand Surgeon, Plastic Surgeon
Thanks for your question. I'm not surprised that this question has come up in May as often cold weather exacerbates circulatory problems and can make your Raynaud's more problematic.
There are a number of ways to manage Raynaud's. If you smoke you should stop immediately, because smoking dramatically reduces the blood flow to your fingers. In winter and when your Raynaud's is triggered it can be helpful to wear gloves, especially when outdoors. Many individuals find that fingerless gloves are particularly useful as they leave your fingertips free but still keep your hands and fingers warm. Using a good hand moisturiser will also help keep your skin in good condition and reduce the likelihood of getting cuts and skin breaks to your fingers. If you have severe Raynaud's your skin may be more prone to injury and you will also take longer to heal a cut or injury to the fingers.
Another option that you may wish to investigate is botulinum toxin, which has been found to reduce pain and ulceration. A review of the literature published in February 2012 concluded that the treatment certainly appears to have promise.
For more information about the use of botulinum toxin to help problems such as Raynaud's disease please visit this page at my website (Melbourne Hand Surgery).
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