One in six Brits suffering from condition in fingers and toes that flares up when it's cold

Around one in six people in the UK could be suffering with a common medical condition that appears in the fingers and toes - and it can be much worse in colder weather.

With temperatures set to plummet in the coming days, those with the condition Reynaud's could find that their symptoms get worse.

When a person has Raynaud’s, their blood stops flowing properly to their fingers and toes – which can cause their skin to turn white or appear blue. It can cause severe pain or even numbness and pins and needles, which can last from a few minutes to a few hours.

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The NHS says the condition is most likely to flare up when a person is cold, anxious or stressed. Some people also find that their ears, nose, lips or nipples are affected by the condition.

The symptoms can often be managed by keeping yourself warm during colder weather. But sometimes, Reynaud's syndrome can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK, a charity for people with the condition, says Reynaud's is more likely to occur in women, and will often develop before the age of 30.

According to the charity's website: "When we are exposed to the cold, a normal response of the body is for the blood vessels, such as those in the fingers and toes, to become narrower. When someone has Raynaud's, the narrowing of the blood vessels is more extreme, resulting in the skin changing colour. The fingers and toes may change from white to blue, and then to red. A Raynaud's attack can be very painful, especially as the circulation returns."

Most people diagnosed with the condition have primary Raynaud's, meaning