Raynaud’s & me

To mark Raynaud’s Awareness Month in February, Scratch shared a social media post about the health condition, which received a huge response from nail techs across the world. We contacted three, who commented about their experiences, to learn more about their Raynaud’s symptoms, how they affect their work and strategies they use to manage the condition.

What is Raynaud’s?

Raynaud’s syndrome, also known as Raynaud’s disease and Raynaud’s phenomenon, is a condition that affects blood circulation to fingers and toes and can cause them to change colour when cold, anxious or stressed. Other symptoms include pain, numbness and pins and needles. Symptoms vary for each individual and may last for several minutes or several hours. The NHS website notes that Raynaud’s can be caused by another health condition, certain medicines or working with vibrating tools for a long amount of time.

Kirsty Parker of Kirsty Parker Nails & Training Academy, Plymouth

@kirsty_parker_nail_artist

Eleven years into her nail career, Kirsty Parker was diagnosed with Raynaud’s by her GP, after the tips of some of her fingers had turned white and numb. Her GP offered her Nifedipine, a medicine licenced to treat Raynaud’s in the UK. Kirsty declined the medication, believing she could manage the condition – but her symptoms have dramatically worsened over time.

“Four of my fingers are affected, and not just at the tips,” she shares. “When I am cold, my fingers turn white and numb. The sensation isn’t painful, but is inconvenient and makes it difficult to function properly. When my hands warm up, my fingers return to their normal state.

“The symptoms present themselves more in winter, and subside during summer. This means that in the colder months, I need to maintain the temperature of my hands, particularly in my workspace, so that I don’t lose feeling in my fingers and can work on clients,” Kirsty continues.

Despite the challenges that Raynaud’s presents, Kirsty can manage its symptoms. “I also suffer from a repetitive strain injury (RSI), which causes pins and needles in my hands. There are conditions that could prevent me from working completely, however I’m aware that both my conditions are progressively worsening, which is why I pursued educating, so that I work with nail tools less often.”

CLIENT FILES

“I have a client who suffers with Raynaud’s, and I encourage her to wash her hands with warm water and provide her with electric heated mittens before starting the treatment,” Kirsty reveals. “Cold hands are very difficult to work on, especially when using the L&P acrylic system, as the product takes longer to set and can be harder to control.”

Deborah Taylor of East Beach Nails Lossiemouth, Scotland

@eastbeachnails_lossiemouth

Tests for rheumatoid arthritis led to Deborah Taylor discovering that she has systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disease with effects including Raynaud’s of the hands and feet. The tech was also diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos (a connective tissue disorder), early onset arthritis and functional neurological disorder (a brain network issue). All of these conditions contribute towards her Raynaud’s symptoms.

“Raynaud’s affects me year-round, especially in the winter, but I have had flare-ups in Portugal in the height of summer,” Deborah tells Scratch. “Even the slightest change in temperature can trigger a Raynaud’s attack, as can emotional stress. During a flare-up, my fingertips or toes stiffen and turn white and this spreads, which is an incredibly painful sensation – like an icy burn and needles pricking the skin. When my hands or feet start to warm up, the pain increases until the attack subsides, and my skin turns from white to blue-purple to red, then back to normal. Before I was prescribed medication for Raynaud’s, flare-ups would cause my fingertips and toes to ulcerate and swell.”

Deborah runs her home nail business from a converted summerhouse, and has put measures in place to ensure she can still work. “My nail hut has thermal insulation and features blinds to retain heat,” she explains. “I invested in a smart heater that I control from my phone, so I can preheat my workspace and keep its temperature constant. I also stay comfortable by wearing warm clothing, fleece-lined boots and nitrile gloves, and using hot water bottles and fleecy blankets. I ask clients to keep their hands relaxed, as their tight grip can trigger a Raynaud’s flare-up due to the restriction in blood flow.”

SUPPORT NETWORK

“I joined the Nailing Disabilities Facebook group, set up by fellow tech, Yasmin Hodge, as it’s important not to feel alone in the nail world, especially when dealing with chronic conditions,” says Deborah. “The group members are friendly and understanding, and it is a safe space in which to ask for advice on coping strategies and not be judged.”

Join the group here

Fiona Chattle of The Nail Room Clitheroe, Lancashire

@thenailroomclitheroe

According to medical group, Mayo Clinic, having a parent, sibling or child with Raynaud’s appears to increase the risk of having the primary version or most common type of the condition. Fiona Chattle remembers suffering with losing feeling in her hands and feet in cold temperatures all her life, but realised this was Raynaud’s after talking to her father, who also has the condition.

“The slightest change in temperature will cause my fingers and toes to turn white and numb, from walking outside on a cold day and entering the fridge section of a supermarket, to holding something cold like a metal spoon or key,” Fiona details. “The cold sensation is extremely painful. In the evening, after my hands or toes have lost feeling during the day, they become very hot and feel like they are on fire.

“Working during the winter is particularly difficult, especially when I arrive at the salon in the morning. When my hands are numb, it is challenging to hold tools, file and paint nails. I also find that acetone can trigger a Raynaud’s flare-up, as it feels very cold.”

CLIENT FILES

“I have a few clients with Raynaud’s, so my advice for treating those with the condition is to not warm their hands or feet up too quickly, as this could potentially cause chilblains,” notes Fiona. “I also recommend being very careful when using sharp tools, such as to trim cuticles, because people with Raynaud’s can have impaired healing of cuts.”