Many newborns display acrocyanosis as their bodies get used to the new pattern of blood circulation between the womb and outside world. This is normal and should resolve as the baby gets warmer.
Primary acrocyanosis is painless, symmetric and limited to the fingers or feet (rarely the wrists or ankles). It doesn’t cause proximal pallor, ulceration or gangrene.
Symptoms
Acrocyanosis is a condition that causes your hands and feet to turn bluish or gray in color. It’s usually harmless and goes away on its own when you warm up, but it can also be a sign of an underlying health problem. It’s important to figure out what’s causing your acrocyanosis so that you can treat it.
Newborn babies often have acrocyanosis because their bodies are still getting used to circulating blood and oxygen through their system. This bluish discoloration typically resolves as the baby becomes familiar with its new circulation pattern, but it can return later on in life if the body experiences a temporary loss of blood flow to the fingers and feet. Newborns should never have blue skin anywhere else on their body, so seek medical attention immediately if they develop blue skin elsewhere or if the acrocyanosis persists.
While acrocyanosis can be confused with other conditions that cause bluish or gray discoloration of the extremities (Raynaud’s phenomenon, perniosis and erythromelalgia), it is usually differentiated by its persistent, abnormal color change in response to cold exposure. In addition, acrocyanosis is typically not associated with pain or tenderness of the affected digits. Other symptoms that distinguish acrocyanosis from other vaso-occlusive diseases include conspicuous edema of the digits and absence of ulceration or gangrene.
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The most common treatment for acrocyanosis is warming the affected body part to prevent it from cooling down too quickly. This can be done by keeping the hands and feet covered in warm clothing, using heat pads or taking hot showers or baths. Medications that help to dilate the blood vessels, such as alpha blocker drugs and calcium channel blockers, may also be used. Topical nitroglycerin ointment can also improve blood flow to the affected area. Changing medications, if they are the cause of acrocyanosis, can sometimes help, as well.
If you notice that your fingers or toes are turning a blue or gray color, call a healthcare professional. They will be able to determine if the acrocyanosis is caused by an underlying health problem and recommend appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis
Acrocyanosis is usually caused by blood vessels that narrow and decrease the amount of oxygen in the skin. The condition can affect any part of the body, but is most common in the fingers and toes. The name comes from the Greek words akron (extremity) and kyanos (blue). Acrocyanosis is a primary condition or idiopathic, meaning it does not appear to be associated with any other illness. It can also be a secondary condition that is present in connection with certain conditions, including connective tissue disorders, thromboangiitis obliterans and diseases that cause central cyanosis.
A provider will look at the skin to see if it is blue and to make sure the color does not extend to the lungs or spleen (central cyanosis). They will take your medical history and ask about your general health. They may do a physical examination or a blood test to check your hemoglobin level. They may also want to do a nailfold capillaroscopy, which is a noninvasive technique that looks at the small blood vessels in the fingernails.
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Newborns often get acrocyanosis as they adjust to the change in blood circulation between the womb and outside world. It is a normal reaction and should go away as the baby gets used to the new circulation pattern.
In adults, acrocyanosis may be symmetrical, affecting both hands or feet. It can also be asymmetrical and occur on just one side of the body. The symptoms tend to worsen when the hands are cold and improve with warmth. They can also be triggered by exercise, stress and exposure to cold temperatures. Symptoms can also appear in connection with a number of other conditions, including Raynaud’s phenomenon, some hematological disorders and anorexia nervosa.
When acrocyanosis is a secondary condition, it can be associated with pain and tissue damage, but it does not always require treatment. If the underlying condition is treated, the acrocyanosis should also resolve. However, if it is the only symptom of a serious disorder, you should seek treatment immediately. This is especially true if the acrocyanosis is accompanied by other signs or symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the hands, numbness in the feet, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, erythema nodosum, or other skin lesions.
Treatment
The primary symptom of acrocyanosis is blue discoloration of the feet and hands. It is usually aggravated by cold exposure and improved by warmth, but it may persist throughout the year. In some people, the acrocyanosis is more than just cosmetic; it can be painful and cause other health problems. It is important to get help for acrocyanosis treatment in Lake Stevens when you notice it.
The condition is sometimes confused with Raynaud’s phenomenon, but it is distinct from this disorder because the color changes in acrocyanosis are constant and do not return to normal after the person warms up. It is also distinguished from vasoocclusive disease (blood clots in the arteries) because it is not accompanied by pain, swelling or ulceration of the skin.
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Acrocyanosis is caused by a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that results in abnormal constriction of the blood vessels in the extremities. The underlying cause may be an infection, chronic venous insufficiency, connective tissue disorders, or vascular diseases. In most cases, the underlying conditions can be treated, which will relieve symptoms.
Some people have acrocyanosis from living in high altitudes, which is due to reduced oxygen pressure in the blood. Many newborns experience this as well, but it goes away on its own as the body retrains itself to circulate blood better. The condition can also be caused by medications, such as ergot alkaloid drugs used to treat migraines.
A doctor will evaluate a patient’s medical history and perform a physical exam. He or she will look for the characteristic bluish color of the feet and hands. The doctor will also ask about any other signs and symptoms of the condition. In some cases, the doctor will use a capillaroscopy procedure to measure the flow of blood through the small blood vessels in the affected area. This will provide a clear picture of whether the condition is being caused by an infection or by an underlying problem with circulation. Symptoms can be relieved by keeping the feet and hands warm, wearing gloves and socks to protect them from cold temperatures, and using topical treatments such as nitroglycerin ointment that can improve blood flow.
Prevention
Peripheral cyanosis may indicate a problem with the system that delivers oxygen-rich blood to your tissues. This system starts in your lungs and continues through the rest of your body, including your hands and feet. In order to deliver oxygen-rich blood, your arteries have to be open and working properly. If something prevents your arteries from opening and closing correctly, or if you don’t have enough healthy arteries to start with, you may develop a bluish discoloration in your fingers, toes, lips and torso (central cyanosis).
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The diagnosis of acrocyanosis is based mostly on clinical observations. The bluish discoloration is usually symmetric and confined to the fingers and toes, often with associated hyperhidrosis of the affected areas. This condition is often confused with Raynaud’s phenomenon, but it can be differentiated by its symmetry, relative persistence of the skin color changes and absence of paroxysmal pallor. It also tends to occur at a younger age and is more frequently seen in women, suggesting hormonal influences on the underlying mechanisms.
Acrocyanosis can be a sign of serious illness. If the bluish discoloration is accompanied by other symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some conditions, such as heart failure, can require immediate treatment in a hospital as an emergency. In other cases, you may be prescribed medications such as SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants and norepinephrine to help relax your arteries and improve the flow of blood. This is known as off-label drug use, as the FDA hasn’t approved these drugs for this purpose.
