Fingernails: treat numb fingers due to the cold

Definition: what is an ungulate?

When it’s cold, vessels on the surface of the skin undergo vasoconstrictionthat is to say a reduction in their diameter. “It is a normal reaction of the body which thus ensures to bring a maximum of blood towards the vital organs, which are the heart and the brain in particular.explains Dr. Nina Roos. This is the reason why, in winter, we often have cold hands but also feet“Only, in particularly sensitive people, this regulation system is much too reactive and pronounced: at the slightest peak of cold, the blood deserts the extremities. Fingers turn white and sore. When the temperatures warm up, the blood circulates normally again to the end of the hands and the fingers return to their normal color. “The fingernail is a superficial affection, not to be confused with frostbite. Repeated fingernails are a symptom of Raynaud’s Disease, a chronic circulatory disorder that may be aggravated by cold“, says Dr. Roos.

What are the symptoms of nail polish?

Fingers turn white and sore from the cold. The pain signals the return of vascularity. It therefore only occurs during the warming phase of the fingers. She may be very sharp, and accompanied by nausea. The fingers gradually return to their normal color, sometimes passing through blue and red.

What is a hoof due to?

The nail is due to narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the fingertips. The sudden return of blood to the fingers then causes a numbness and an pain characteristic. The nail occurs in case of extreme cold and sudden changes in temperature. This is a particularly common condition in the mountains, and well known to mountaineers.

There is no specific treatment for fingernails. It is however possible to accelerate the heating of the body to limit the intensity of the pain. For this, it is better favor physical activity which is not limited to the extremities: walking, even accelerated walking or running. “light massage on the affected extremities also help relieve nail pain, with capsaicin cream because it warms the skin on the surface“, recommends Dr. Roos. Also pass your hands under hot wateror take a hot water bottle in your hands can help.

Smoking is an aggravating factor of vasoconstriction

The key measure is protect your hands by covering them with gloves particularly warm and insulating: materials such as silk, wool, fleece, goretex… are recommended. Mittens would be more effective because they allow the fingers to move and warm each other. If you have to go out in very cold weather, keep on you small heaters to quickly bring warmth to your hands. Also avoid exposing them to the cold: it is recommended to do not touch metal surfaces with bare hands, in winter sports for example, it is better to avoid as much as possible adjust metal ski bindings without wearing gloves so as not to feel pain in the fingers. “At the same time, lifestyle is important: smoking cessation because smoking is an aggravating factor of vasoconstriction, maintain good hydration and engage in regular physical activity because it activates the blood circulation“, recommends the dermatologist.

Thanks to Dr. Nina Roos, dermatologist and cosmetologist in Paris.