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How is swollen fingers diagnosed?
Your doctor can usually diagnose swollen fingers through a normal and basic physical examination. Your doctor may also ask you questions about whether you’ve been exposed to unusually cold or humid weather. In rare cases, some doctors may decide to take a biopsy or swab from the affected area. This may involve removing a very small sample of tissue and examining it under a microscope for any signs of an underlying medical condition, such as skin cancer.
If you’ve had swollen fingers before, you’ll probably learn about it yourself. However, if you’ve never had it before, it’s best to check with your doctor to make sure it’s not something else, such as cold urticaria or vasculitis.
If this is a new experience for you, your doctor may rule out any potentially relevant conditions, such as lupus or chronic circulatory problems, that require treatment.
How is swollen fingers treated?
Swollen fingers usually disappear on its own within one to three weeks. In many cases, your symptoms will begin to diminish as your body warms up. If you experience persistent itching, your doctor may prescribe a cream containing cortisone to reduce inflammation and itching. If you have poor circulation or diabetes, swollen fingers may not heal easily.
In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe blood pressure medications to help widen and open small blood vessels near the surface of the skin. This would help reduce inflammation and pain visibly. If your symptoms persist more than three weeks, or if the pain is severe and unbearable, or does not improve completely, it is best to go see a doctor and consult him immediately.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to relieve pain, or use bandages or other usual techniques to relieve pain and swelling in your fingers.
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