How are cold hands treated?
A healthcare provider will usually treat the cause of cold hands rather than the chilly feeling itself. They’ll suggest treatments based on what’s causing your hands to feel cold.
Your provider might suggest ways to increase blood flow to your hands, including:
- Limiting how much time you spend in the cold (both indoors and outside).
- Wearing gloves, mittens or other gear to keep your hands warm.
- Managing stress and anxiety.
- Avoiding tobacco products.
- Limiting how much alcohol and caffeine you drink.
- Following a skincare routine that protects your hands and fingers.
You might need prescription medications to manage a health condition that’s causing cold hands. Medications that manage high blood pressure (hypertension) can increase blood flow to your hands, including:
It’s rare, but some people with cold hands need surgery or nerve block injections to deactivate the nerves in their hands. Your healthcare provider or surgeon will tell you what to expect.
What can I do at home to treat cold hands?
It may sound obvious, but one of the best ways to treat cold hands at home is to reduce how much time you spend in the cold. Many causes of cold hands are triggered by sudden temperature changes.
This can be easier said than done when you need the air conditioning on during the summer or have to get food out of the freezer. But you might be able to prevent bouts of cold hands if you can avoid moving quickly from a warm place to a cold one, or if you can limit how much your hands are exposed to the cold.
Talk to your healthcare provider about what triggers your hands to feel cold, or if anything makes them feel colder than usual — especially if it also makes your hands hurt. Your provider will help you find ways to reduce how often you have cold hands.
What are possible complications of cold hands?
It’s rare for cold hands to cause complications. If a health condition that causes cold hands also damages tissue in your hands, you might develop ulcers that can permanently damage your hands, fingers and thumbs.
In the most extreme cases, untreated ulcers can develop gangrene, which may require a surgeon to amputate (surgically remove) your affected hand. Visit a healthcare provider as soon as you notice any new sores or wounds on your hands, especially if you have a health condition that affects blood flow to your hands.
