heart and blood vessel disorders
Acrocyanosis
Introduction
Acrocyanosis, a functional peripheral arterial disease, is a persistent, painless bluish discoloration of both hands and, less commonly, of both feet, caused by spasm of the small blood vessels within the skin, usually in response to cold or emotional stress. (See also Overview of Functional Peripheral Arterial Disease .) Acrocyanosis usually occurs in women. The fingers and hands or toes and feet tend to feel cold and to be bluish (cyanosis). Hands or feet sometimes sweat profusely and may swell. Emotional stress or exposure to cold usually intensifies the bluish discoloration, and warming reduces it. The disorder is not painful and does not damage the skin. Doctors diagnose the disorder based on symptoms that are limited to the person’s hands or feet and that persist even though pulses in the larger arteries (such as in the wrist and ankle) are normal. Treatment is usually unnecessary. However, doctors may recommend that the person try to avoid exposure to the cold. Doctors may prescribe medications that dilate the arteries (such as Calcium channel blockers ), but these drugs usually do not help. Usually, reassurance that the bluish skin discoloration does not indicate a serious disorder is all that is necessary. 