What Doctor Treats Raynaud’s Disease?

If you experience numbness or coldness in your fingers or toes along with skin color changes you might be dealing with Raynaud’s disease. This condition affects the blood flow to your extremities it can be triggered by cold weather stress or certain medications. While Raynaud’s disease isn’t life-threatening it can be uncomfortable prevent you from performing daily tasks. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect you have it.

Who Can Diagnose Raynaud’s Disease?

In general primary care physicians can diagnose Raynaud’s disease. They can conduct a physical exam ask you about your symptoms medical history to determine if Raynaud’s disease is causing your symptoms. Your doctor may also perform some tests to rule out other conditions such as peripheral artery disease or lupus.

If your doctor suspects that you have secondary Raynaud’s disease they may refer you to a specialist like a rheumatologist or a vascular surgeon. These specialists can conduct additional tests to determine the underlying cause of your condition.

Who Can Treat Raynaud’s Disease?

Although Raynaud’s disease cannot be cured it can be managed with the help of a few specialists. Depending on the severity of your symptoms your primary care doctor may refer you to:

1. Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist specializes in diagnosing treating autoimmune conditions such as lupus scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. If your Raynaud’s disease is secondary to an autoimmune condition a rheumatologist can help you manage your symptoms with medication.

2. Vascular Surgeon

A vascular surgeon specializes in diagnosing treating conditions that affect the blood vessels veins arteries. If your Raynaud’s disease is severe affects your daily life a vascular surgeon can perform surgery to eliminate or redirect the blood flow to your extremities.

3. Dermatologist

If you have severe skin changes due to Raynaud’s disease a dermatologist can help you manage these symptoms. They can prescribe ointments or creams to relieve the itchiness or dryness associated with the disease.

Conclusion

If you are experiencing symptoms of Raynaud’s disease it’s important to seek medical attention from your primary care physician. If your condition is severe your doctor may refer you to a specialist to help manage your symptoms. There’s no cure for Raynaud’s disease but it can be managed with medications lifestyle changes in some cases surgery. With the help of the right doctor you can minimize your symptoms improve your quality of life.