Expert answers questions on condition that affects 10 million in UK

Many of us know what it's like for your hands to feel cold but for some it is more than a minor discomfort.

Millions of people who have Raynaud's can not only feel extreme pain when the temperature dips but their skin can change colour. The condition affects the blood circulation and aside from the changes in skin colour - where fingers and toes can change red, blue or white - it can also be itchy and give a burning sensation.

While fingers and toes are most commonly affected other parts of the body including lips and even nipples can also suffer. But while Raynaud's is often debilitating and affects around one in six people in the UK it is frequently overlooked.

Now the charity Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK (SRUK) is working to provides information to people living with the condition and fund research to find treatment and a cure. There is no cure for the condition but there are ways of managing it.

Dr Emma Blamont, Head of Research for SRUK, has now answered the most common questions people have about Raynaud's and has come up with ways of tackling it when it attacks, reports Wales Online.

Raynaud's occurs when the small blood vessels within the body's extremities, such as the fingers and toes, are over-sensitive and restrict blood flow in response to certain triggers. This reaction can be extremely painful and is known as a Raynaud's Attack.

Raynaud's is a condition that can't be prevented, but we can learn what triggers the attacks and try to avoid them. Things like changes in temperature, emotional ups and downs, stress, hormones and using vibrating tools can all set off Raynaud's.

Sometimes, very rarely, another illness can cause someone to have symptoms of Raynaud's. This is called secondary Raynaud's and it's