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My Old Routine: Warm Water as a Quick Fix
When I first started having multiple Raynaud’s flare-ups a day, I swear I spent half my life standing at a faucet. And why not? I thought I’d figured out the most reliable way to reinvigorate my white, bloodless fingers. First, I’d adjust the knobs to the exact, not-too-hot warmth level. Then I’d hold my hands under running water for a few or several minutes — as long as it took for my fingertips to turn from white to purple to normal again. You can’t even scroll through your phone when doing this routine. It’s as tedious as it gets. Especially when you’re doing it numerous times a day.
The Hidden Problem I Didn’t Realize at First
But I couldn’t argue with the results, right? Blood flow, after all, WAS being restored. Well… upon closer inspection, I realized I was making the problem worse.
Why Warm Water Can Actually Make Raynaud’s Worse
I started to notice that reheating my hands with warm water was leaving them moist even if I dried them thoroughly with a towel afterward. The residual moisture would immediately become freezing-cold, which would in turn make my hands cold. Soon I’d be right back at the faucet. It was a chain reaction, a domino effect, a Catch-22, the proverbial vicious cycle! You get the idea. It wasn’t helping.
What I Do Instead for Better Relief
These days, I rarely use warm water to reheat my hands, and I only get them wet when I need to. I much prefer the subtler, steadier warming of heated gloves.
Your Turn: How Does Warm Water Affect Your Flares?
What’s your experience with Raynaud’s and warm water?
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FAQs
Does warm water actually help Raynaud’s flare-ups?
Warm water can give quick relief by restoring blood flow, but the leftover moisture often cools rapidly and can trigger another flare-up.
Why do my hands feel colder even after I dry them?
A little moisture usually lingers on the skin even after toweling off. That dampness can become cold fast, especially for people with Raynaud’s.
What are better alternatives to warm water for reheating my hands?
Dry, consistent heat tends to work better. Toasty Touch heated gloves help without creating the moisture cycle.