Itchy palms can be caused by a number of different things, including dry skin, allergies, or even a new medication. These are just some of the potential causes….CONTINUE READING
To alleviate an itchy sensation, you will often utilize your palms and fingers. Yet, the palms and palmar surfaces of your hands can sometimes become ticklish or painful on their own.
There are a variety of potential causes that can result in itchy palms. According to board-certified dermatologist Jeffrey Hsu, MD, who practices in Chicago, itching that does not stop could be an indication that there is a more serious underlying health problem. However, the majority of these conditions are harmless and, thankfully, easy to manage.
Here is a look at the most likely causes, as well as what you can do to get relief quickly. Additionally, we will discuss the circumstances under which a visit to the doctor is warranted.
Your Skin Is Quite Dry.
Have you been washing your hands more frequently than normal, or have you been spending time in weather that is cold and windy without wearing gloves? According to Dr. Hsu, both can cause the skin on your hands to become dry, which can leave your palms feeling itchy and tight.
If your palms are extremely dry, you may also notice scales, flakes, or cracks in your skin. This is especially likely to occur on your palms. Ouch.
You Have Eczema on Your Hands.
Itchiness can be caused by flare-ups of inflammatory skin illnesses like eczema, which can occur on your hands and palms. It’s easy to confuse the issue with a straightforward case of dry skin, but there are important distinctions to be made between the two.
According to Dr. Hsu, eczema on the hand can manifest itself in a number of other ways in addition to itching, including redness, crusting, and inflammation. A burning feeling or blisters may also be experienced by the patient.
You have a Sensitivity to Something.
Contact dermatitis may be the culprit behind your itchy hands if you recently switched soaps, detergents, lotions, or even wore new jewelry that produced an allergic reaction.
When an unpleasant material comes into touch with the skin, frequent allergic reactions like redness, itching, burning, lumps that look like hives, and swelling can occur.
You Have Psoriasis
Psoriasis can be the problem if your palms are itching and have patches that are thick, red, or silvery in appearance. This condition, which is often mistaken for eczema, is an autoimmune disorder that causes an acceleration in the growth of skin cells.
As a consequence, raised, scaly skin growths or bumps appear on the affected area. According to the Mayo Clinic, the patches and itching can become worse for a period of several weeks or months at a time, then improve and then return. This cycle occurs frequently in response to environmental triggers.
You Have Recently Started Taking a New Medication
Trying out a new medication can occasionally result in itchy skin, whether it be on the palms of your hands or elsewhere. According to a study that was published in September 2019 in Medicines, common culprits include heart drugs such as heparin, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and beta blockers, as well as antibiotics such as penicillin.
You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
According to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the earliest symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the nerves in the palm become pinched or compressed, can occasionally involve an itching or tingling sensation in the hands, wrists, or forearms. If the illness worsens, you may also start to experience tingling or discomfort in addition to the other symptoms.
When to Have Your Hands Checked Out by a Professional
The presence of recurrent itching in the palms may be a warning indication of a more serious underlying health issue, such as diabetes that is not properly treated, kidney illness, or Crohn’s disease.
Dr. Hsu recommends scheduling an appointment with an endocrinologist “if you have any reason to believe that the itching could be a diabetic consequence
