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Changes in Skin Colour and Sensationn
During an attack of Raynaud’s, a person may experience skin colour changes that can run a wide range: white, blue, and red – in the affected areas. The order of the changes of colour may vary from person to person, and not everyone may experience all three colors changes.

Pallor (whiteness) may occur in response to spasm of the arterioles and the resulting collapse of the digital arteries. Cyanosis (blueness) may result because the fingers, toes or other body parts are not getting enough oxygen-rich blood.

Finally, as the arterioles dilate (relax) and blood returns to the digits, rubor (redness) may take the place of white or blue color changes. As the attack ends, throbbing and tingling may occur in the fingers and toes. An attack can last from less than a minute to several hours.

That Cold Feeling

Not surprisingly, people who experience a Raynaud’s phenomenon may find they are cold all over or at the very least, in the areas affected. When the blood vessels constrict, oxygen-bearing blood is blocked from those areas, so the process of converting nutrients to energy, usually accompanied by the release of heat, is also absent.

The sufferer may feel the need to immerse his limbs in warm water to dilate the blood vessels and bring warming circulation back to the area. Layering more warm clothes also helps trap what little heat is left in the area, causing the blood vessels to normalize, and starting a cycle of warmth and recirculation.