Blue knuckles can indicate reduced blood flow or oxygenation, often caused by cold temperatures, poor circulation, or underlying health issues. Understanding the Color Change The human body is a complex system, and color changes in our skin can signal various physiological conditions. Blue knuckles, specifically, are a noticeable change that can cause concern.
This phenomenon is known. Cyanosis is the medical term for when your skin, lips or nails turn blue due to a lack of oxygen in your blood. Peripheral cyanosis is when someone's hands, fingertips, or feet turn blue due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood.
Some causes include Raynaud's disease, cardiovascular problems, and hypothermia. Cyanosis refers to a bluish, purplish, or grayish cast to the skin and mucous membranes. A type known as peripheral cyanosis, or acrocyanosis, primarily affects the hands and feet.
Blue hands occur when the skin in the hands takes on a bluish tint or color. This generally is due to either a lack of oxygen in the blood or extremely cold temperatures. When the skin becomes a bluish color, the symptom is called cyanosis.
Most commonly, blue hands are caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. This may happen when you are at high altitude or if you are choking, or may be due. Peripheral cyanosis is a condition that causes the extremities-usually hands, feet, fingers, and toes.
It is self-limiting. Fingers will turn blue with cold exposure or excitement, and return to their normal color with rewarming and elevation. Acrocyanosis of the legs, courtesy of Steven Dean, DO.
I didn't have a finger image to show you. Secondary acrocyanosis is usually more severe. It is likely more diffuse, and more permanent.
Causes of Blue Hands and Fingers Environmental Making contact with blue colored substances are another possible cause. It may be obvious substances like blue paint or blue dyes while at other times the substance that causes bluish discoloration of the skin may not even appear blue until it reacts with the skin surface. Understanding Bluish Discoloration of the Fingers Bluish discoloration, also known as cyanosis, occurs when there is a decrease in the amount of oxygenated blood reaching the extremities, such as the fingers.
This lack of oxygen can cause the skin to appear bluish or purplish in color. Acrocyanosis is a type of peripheral artery disease (usually harmless) that causes your fingers, hands, toes or feet to become bluish or white in color.