General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
When a doctor investigates Raynaud’s phenomenon, they may request nailfold capillaroscopy. It looks at tiny vessels at the base of the nails and helps investigate an associated cause; it is not routine for everyone.
On the day of the test, Ameli recommends arriving without nail polish and not smoking. Ask the centre for its instructions if you wear nail products or another preparation is needed.
You sit in a room at a suitable temperature to limit the effect of cold on the vessels. The doctor places a drop of oil or paraffin near the nails to make the skin easier to see.
A microscope allows the small vessels of the fingers of both hands to be examined, usually excluding the thumbs. The test is painless; a camera may sometimes display and retain images.
The doctor interprets the vessel appearance alongside the clinical examination and, if needed, blood tests or Doppler ultrasound. Do not conclude that you have an autoimmune disease from one image or result alone.
Tell your doctor about worsening, episodes that are asymmetric or occur without cold, finger sores or swelling, as well as difficulty swallowing, dry eyes or mouth, and joint pain. Mention your conditions, medicines and risk activities too.
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