Cyanotic fingers

Blue fingers, also known as cyanosis, refer to a bluish discoloration of the skin, particularly the fingers, due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. This condition usually results from poor blood circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

Causes:

• Raynaud’s phenomenon: A condition causing spasms in the blood vessels of the fingers, often triggered by cold or stress.
• Heart and lung conditions: Such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congenital heart defects, or heart failure, which impair oxygen delivery to tissues.
• Cold exposure: Prolonged exposure to cold can cause peripheral blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to the fingers.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): A condition characterized by narrow or blocked arteries, reducing blood flow to the extremities.
• Blood clot: In a vessel supplying the fingers, causing sudden onset of symptoms.
• Nerve or vessel damage: Due to trauma or medical conditions like diabetes.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology