Why Are Your Hands Always Cold — The Shocking Disorder Known As Raynauds

Do you feel like your hands are always cold, even if the rest of your body feels fine? While cold hands are normal when the AC is on blast or if it’s wintertime, if you feel like your hands are constantly cold and turning up the thermostat or putting on gloves doesn’t work, it can indicate a circulation issue.

If you frequently find that your fingers are numb, you have hand pain and a frequent icy sensation, Cleveland Clinic says that it can be caused by a lack of blood flow. In cold temperatures, it’s a normal bodily response. It’s also a standard response during a fever — especially in kids. When a child’s body fights a virus, blood is carried to the infection, which can make the extremities cold. But in some cases, the response isn’t normal.

What is Raynaud’s Syndrome?

Frequently feeling cold can be caused by many different issues, including thyroid issues and anemia. However, if you’re noticing that it’s only happening in your hands or feet, it could be a phenomenon known as Raynaud’s syndrome. With this syndrome, the blood vessels in your hands constrict more than usual, which limits oxygen and blood flow.

You may also see a blue tint beneath the nail bed, and other people notice that their fingers become white and turn numb. When the hands do become circulated again, they often feel burning hot and turn a bright shade of red. In other cases, less blood is circulated to the knees, nose, or toes, so that might be a problem area for sufferers as well.