Raynaud’s syndrome (also called Raynaud’s Phenomenon, or Raynaud’s disease) is a condition in which the small arteries in the fingers or toes constrict too much in response to cold. While it can be associated with rheumatic diseases (such as lupus and scleroderma), in most cases, the cause is unknown.

Symptoms include painful fingers or toes and color changes (white, then blue, then red) that reverse when warmed. Sometimes other areas such as the nose or ears are affected. While staying warm is effective for most people, some need "vasodilator" medications that open up (dilate) blood vessels.

Many people with Raynaud’s can use ice on an injured area. As long as the rest of the body stays warm, applying cold to an injured area for 20 minutes or so will not cause trouble. One exception may be if the injury is to a finger or toe. In that case, applying ice may trigger Raynaud’s.

Each person with Raynaud’s is a bit different in how sensitive they are to temperature changes and what triggers their Raynaud’s. If applying ice to any injured area causes Raynaud’s to worsen, I’d recommend skipping the ice. Instead, elevate, rest and compress (such as with an elastic "ACE" wrap) the area to limit swelling.