Zara McDermott has opened up about an "uncomfortable" condition that she's experiencing, which she said even left her unable to type on her phone recently.
The reality TV star, 26, shared on Instagram earlier this week that her fingers turn white in changing temperatures, suggesting that it's because of Raynaud's phenomenon.
The NHS states that the condition - known as Raynaud's - affects blood circulation and can lead to fingers and toes changing colour when a person is cold, anxious or stressed.
Other symptoms are said to include numbness and difficulty moving the affected area, which Zara has suggested to her followers that she has also experienced herself.
The condition is "common and does not usually cause severe problems," according to the NHS. It however states that sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious condition.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Zara suggested that she experiences the condition. She spoke about it in recent posts and questioned if it was linked to her having 'facial flushing'.
She said: "So recently, I mean I wasn't diagnosed, I told my GP about my fingers going white in any like changes of temperature. [They] change colour and go completely numb."
The Love Island alumnus continued: "It's the most awful sensation." She added: "A lot of people actually have this [and it feels] like you have a hole in your finger. It's awful."
Zara suggested that she hadn't ever associated it with her facial flushing, telling her followers that she had always suspected that the latter symptom was mild rosacea.
Seemingly discussing the issue with her fingers, she said: "I got told that I had something called Raynaud's phenomenon. Which is something to do with the blood vessels."
Then discussing her face, she said: "My face goes so red when I am stressed, when there's a change in temperature, when I've just eaten. [...] I actually get really conscious of it."
Zara said she wondered if "the two are linked" and asked fans whether there's any point her trying anti-redness creams as the issue may go "deeper" than "surface level".
She later added in an update, as reported by the outlet, that she feels "really conscious" of her facial flushing at the moment. "It's probably got a little bit worse recently," she said.
Zara said some of her followers had suggested looking into autoimmune conditions, implying that Raynaud's and facial flushing "could be linked", potentially to lupus, for example.
Addressing the possibility she said: "I don't have any symptoms at all like I'm very fit and healthy. " She mentioned joint pain is a symptom and said she doesn't experience that.
Zara also addressed the possibility of taking medication for Raynaud's. The NHS states that medication may be prescribed to help improve circulation in some cases.
The Made in Chelsea star however commented: "I don't think it's that bad that I would want to go on [medication]."
Again suggesting that Raynaud's may be linked to redness in her face, she said: "Maybe the two are linked because it must be involved with like blood circulation."
Zara continued: "The Raynaud's at the moment is really not in a good space because I mean any period of time [where I'm] outside like my hands [go] completely white."
She told fans that she is filming outside for a documentary at the moment, recalling: "[Recently] the blood had gone so much that I couldn't even text on my phone."
The reality TV star suggested she had difficulty moving her fingers amid the cold weather, adding: "It was really bad and it's really uncomfortable."
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