Purple-Blue toes

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Purple-Blue toes

by LH

I have been going to a podiatrist for Plantar Fasciitis and slowly I am recovering. My doctor noticed my purplish-bluish hue to my toes but wasn't there on other visits to him. It doesn't happen everyday or the color pattern doesn't appear on my fingers and it is not painful at all. So I really never gave it a second thought. However, whenever my toes get that blue/purple tinge they are cold to the touch and so are my hands. My doctor says this is not normal and I have Raynaud's disease/phenomenon ?? I said it seems like I have had this condition since my early 20's now I am 45 female and it is normal for me. Again he said it is not normal and for me to take no-flush niacin vitamin supplement everyday. It will open the blood vessels and lowers blood pressure and it will be healthy. My doctor checked my ankles and the tops of my feet and said my pluses are strong. So should I be worried? He really did not give me a clear answer at the time just take the niacin. I am from a large family and nobody had this condition but me. I would like to hear what you have to say on this. Thank you, LH

Hi LH,
Technically Raynauds disease is not "normal" but it is very common, I see it in patients, particularly young females, all the time.
May I assume this occurs when your feet are exposed to cold? Secondly in true Raynauds the toe/finger will go through a series of color changes ranging from white, where the vessels are compressed and little blood is getting into the toes to a reddish blue tint when the blood vessels relax and blood begins to flow back into the toes/fingers.
If you have not noticed the blanching of your toes then there is the possibility that you do not have Raynauds and may actually have a venous problem.
To be on the safe side I would suggest you have an examination by a vascular specialist who will properly diagnose the problem.
Taking Niacin without actually having a proper diagnosis is probably a waste of time. However, if the diagnosis ends up being Raynauds disease there is no harm in taking Niacin as it may reduce the incidence of discoloration.
Marc Mitnick DPM

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Dec 11, 2008
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Response for Dr. Mitnick
by: LH

Thank you for your fast answer. I did make an appointment with a venous surgeon/doctor about that purple-bluish tinge that happens in my feet. He called it"ACROCYANOSIS". A condition that makes my toes blue. A sudden spasm of tiny arteries that carry blood in the skin of my feet causing the parts to get less blood. As the blood gives up more oxygen and the red pigment of the remaining red blood cells turns blueish-purple-this gives the skin the abnormal color,nobody knows why ACROCYANOSIS develops! It is intensified by cold and is present to an equal degree in both my feet. It is not painful at all and is not a sign of a major disorder. My question doctor is why haven't I heard of this and why do other doctors refer to my condition as "Raynaud's disease"- I don't have the change of colors form white-bluish-red which is true with Raynaud's disease. ? LH

Hi LH,
The underlying cause of both conditions is basically the same; constriction of the small arteries, thus causing lack of oxygen to the area and thus the blue discoloration.
The difference between the two is that acrocyanosis is more of a permanent condition that people will have regardless of exposure to cold. It will be exacerbated by cold, but will also be present to some varying degree all the time.
Raynauds disease is usually precipitated by exposure to cold. These individuals will have normal color in their toes in warm environments.
Marc Mitnick DPM

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Purple-Blue toes

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Purple-Blue toes