RA Q&A articles share our responses to inquiries about Raynaud’s, symptoms, products, treatments, doctors, warming strategies, and more. We hope the information in this Winter 2026 RA Q&A post, along with all of our quarterly columns, proves helpful to fellow Frosties.
I have been diagnosed with Raynaud’s affecting my toes and hands. Can you recommend any warm gloves and socks?
My doc is suggesting Merino Wool and Gortex lined shoes. I did not find these products in your store. I did notice a rechargeable hand warmer, but since I exercise outside in New England both hands get cold no matter how warm my gloves are. Any advice?
Thanks for your inquiry – glad you found us! To your question, we do feature gloves that come in merino wool in our Product Showcase – FibreHeat’s gloves and Ojbro Gloves and Mittens. But there are lots of options for good insulating gloves, mittens, socks and warming accessories. You’ll find them in our blog articles:
Best Gloves (or Mittens) for Raynaud’s Sufferers
Best Warm Toe Solutions for Raynaud’s Sufferers
Alpaca is also another alternative to merino wool. Here’s an article outlining the pros and cons of the two fabrics: Outdoor Life Article: Merino Wool vs. Alpaca
On the subject of rechargeable hand warmers, many of Ocoopa’s designs are sold in pairs (larger and smaller ones – all different shapes). Some have magnets that allow you to connect the two into a single larger warmer, then split them apart for using them separately. There are a lot of rechargeable warmers on the market and some are sold at lower prices on Amazon. But we encourage members to look for a reputable brand that ensures product quality, consistency and safety.
I hope the above information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the products mentioned in these articles.
I’m writing to you on behalf of my wife who has been suffering from severe Raynaud’s for the past 3 years. Every year is worse than the last, and we both feel she is on a path to loosing toes and/or fingers. Last winter she had to have her wedding ring cut off due to the painful swelling. This year the pain and blistering is worse.
We don’t feel we are getting optimal care in Cincinnati. After many attempts with her PCP to take it seriously, we finally got a referral to a local rheumatologist. After a slew of blood work, she concluded that it was a bad case of primary Raynaud’s, and recommend continuation of palliative measures only. Meds have been tried as well with no avail. They have now dismissed her concerns saying “there is nothing more we can do for you.”
From what we read, my wife likely has a case of secondary Raynaud’s based on the sheer severity of her condition, but secondary to what? I’m reaching out in the hopes that we can be connected with one of the expert physicians on your Medical Advisory Board. We have decided that we are willing to travel out of state to get the opinion/care of an expert, even if it is just for a one time consultation. We are worried that there’s an underlying cause, and for what the future holds.
Thanks for reaching out, I can understand the frustration you and your wife are experiencing by not getting effective medical care for her symptoms. While it is possible for someone with the primary form of Raynaud’s to have severe issues, it’s also possible that there are one or more autoimmune conditions involved. Sometimes it can take years for these to surface, so it’s good to be connected with a medical team that can test to establish benchmarks and track them overtime.
Another issue can be the labs themselves. It can happen that one lab will come back with negative results and another one might see them as positive.
While those on our Medical Advisory Board are excellent doctors, you would also benefit from seeking care at one of the Scleroderma Treatment Centers that are closer to you. The large majority of patients with scleroderma have Raynaud’s (90%+) and their symptoms are generally quite severe. Also many scleroderma patients have multiple autoimmune disorders involved, so the rheumatologists at these centers tend to be quite knowledgeable about Raynaud’s as well as other related medical conditions.
Dr. Silver is based at the center in South Carolina and Dr. Mayes from our Board is connected to the one in Texas, but there is one closer to you at the Cleveland Clinic. Here’s their contact information:
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic Scleroderma Center
9500 Euclid Ave.
Desk A50
Cleveland, OH 44195
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/scleroderma-treatment
To schedule an appointment: 216-444-2273
Rheumatology
Soumya Chatterjee, MD, MS
Kristin Highland, MD
Your wife will be taken seriously at these treatment centers and receive excellent care. If you’d still prefer to seek out one of the doctors from our Medical Advisory Board, you’ll find contact information for the centers they are associated with at this link: https://scleroderma.org/treatment-centers/.
Prior to meeting with a new doctor, you might find it helpful to learn more about the treatment options available for alleviating Raynaud’s symptoms. Here’s our blog article on the subject: Treatment Options for Raynaud’s Phenomenon. I hope your wife finds some answers and relief soon!
I wonder if you can help me. My mother was diagnosed with Raynauds Disease many years ago and I believe I also have this problem. For the last 5 years or so, my fingers have become more susceptible to cold and the ends of my fingers become white. I have not seen a doctor to formally confirm my diagnosis, but the signs for Raynaud’s do seem to be there.
I am almost seventy, in reasonable health overall, and I do quite a lot of walking to keep fit, so I am out in the elements on a regular basis. I also undertake occasional longer walks via a local walking group. However, trying to keep my hands warm is becoming a problem during colder weather, not only for my exercise walks but also for shopping trips etc.
Over the years I have purchased a number of pairs of gloves to try to remedy matters, including wearing a thinner pair of gloves under a normal pair, but to date nothing has worked. Unfortunately, I am allergic to lanolin, so woolen gloves are out, and leather gloves don’t seem to do the trick either.
My wife purchased a pair of ski gloves for me as a Christmas present in the hope that they would rectify matters, but they have made no real difference and are rather large to go into the pockets of a winter coat.
I have looked on various Raynaud’s related websites, but there is a lot of information to assimilate. Can you recommend some gloves that may work for me?
Thanks for your inquiry, I feel for your dilemma! Not being able to tolerate wool leaves out several options, but here are a few suggestions:
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- FibreHeat Glove Liners – While we originally tested these gloves for use on their own, I see the manufacturer is now offering some new designs as liners. The inner lining of these gloves use a proprietary high-tech fiber that reports a self-heating capability, but they don’t truly provide added warmth – technically it’s described as “heat sustaining.” I’d describe it more as helping you maintain your body warmth when exposed to the cold. You put them on while you’re still warm, and the gloves will help you maintain your body temperature once exposed to colder temperatures. While the brand’s outer gloves are all made with wool, the liners are made of polyester, acrylic and spandex, so they should be safe for you. In-between seasons, these may be warm enough on their own, but for colder weather you should be able to use them as a base layer under thicker windproof gloves or mittens (mittens are preferable). Here’s our product review, along with order info and our member discount code: FibreHeat Gloves.
- Heated Glove Liners – These are made by several good brands, including Gobi, Volt and Gerbing. They are stretchy, lightweight liners made of spandex-like fabric that offer a great deal of dexterity delivering about 6 hours of heat depending on the setting. While I can’t type with them on, I can browse on my laptop. They may prove warm enough for you on milder days between seasons but they aren’t windproof, so on colder, windy days, you’ll need a glove or mitten covering them. The best one for you may depend on your comfort with the battery placement and fit. While most of them are pretty similar in material and heat delivery, the battery’s shape, weight, and position on the wrist vary by brand. Here’s our product review on Gobi’s Heated Glove Liners. We haven’t tried the versions from Gerbing or Volt, but expect similar quality. We always recommend choosing a manufacturer based in the U.S. or Canada that stands by its products with a solid warranty.
- Glider Gloves – These are touchscreen friendly gloves allowing you to use your mobile devices in open areas with three layers of warmth and protection, yet they are still lightweight and offer good dexterity. Not only are the gloves warmer than standard touchscreen gloves, they also feature grippers built into the fabric to prevent devices from slipping. I live in these gloves during spring through fall. While they aren’t heavy enough for peak winter weather on their own, they make excellent liners under a windproof top layer. They are made of nylon, acrylic, and spandex, so they should be safe for your lanolin allergy. Here’s our product review on Glider Gloves.
- Warm Skin Cream – This product doesn’t “warm” the skin in a literal sense; instead, it provides a protective barrier to help insulate the skin from the cold. It’s used by Arctic explorers, NFL players and Postal workers, which are excellent credentials. While it won’t necessarily stop you from feeling the cold entirely, it can make exposure much more manageable. It’s important to apply the cream indoors while your skin is still warm before heading out. This may be a great supplemental layer to use alongside the gloves suggested above. Here’s our product review on Warm Skin.
I hope one or more of the above ideas work well for you!
We’d appreciate your feedback on our Winter 2026 RA Q&A column. Have questions for us? We’re not medical professionals or the Good Housekeeping Lab when it comes to testing products, but we’ll do our best to provide fellow Frosties with answers. Write to us at info@raynauds.org.
