Itchy Fingers: Causes, Treatment, And Prevention - Healthline

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What Can Cause Itchy Fingers?

Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — Written by Julie Ryan Evans and Kathryn Watson — Updated on May 9, 2023

Contact dermatitis
Dyshidrotic eczema
Psoriasis
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Scabies
Treatment
Takeaway

Itchy fingers can be a symptom of a variety of conditions. However, its cause can also be as simple as dry hands.

Itchy fingers can range from mild to severe, depending on their cause. While itchy fingers can sometimes just be a sign of dry hands, they can also be a symptom of an underlying condition that needs treatment.

Read on to learn more about what may be causing your fingers to itch, when it might be a symptom of something more serious, and how you can get some relief.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis (sometimes called contact eczema) happens when your skin comes into contact with an irritant. Common irritants include certain:

metals
fragrances
preservatives
personal care product ingredients (i.e. some lotions and soaps)

Sometimes contact dermatitis is triggered by an allergic reaction. It’s common to notice contact dermatitis on your hands, since they interact with so many things throughout the day.

Symptoms of contact dermatitis

itching
redness or discoloration
inflammation

Treatments for contact dermatitis

It can take some time to narrow down what’s causing contact dermatitis, but keeping a log of any products you use and noting any symptoms you have can help. In the meantime, you may be able to find itch relief with:

topical steroids
oral antihistamines
phototherapy

Dyshidrotic eczema (dyshidrosis)

Dyshidrotic eczema, also known as dyshidrosis, is a skin condition that causes tiny blisters, usually on your palm or the outsides of your fingers. The blisters are often very itchy and may be filled with fluid. They can also appear on your feet and between your toes.

Symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema

redness or discoloration
flaking
scaly or cracked skin
pain near blisters

The exact cause of dyshidrotic eczema isn’t known, but it seems to be related to seasonal allergies and stress.

People who have skin allergies to certain substances, such as nickel or cobalt, also seem more prone to it. According to the National Eczema Association, dyshidrotic eczema is usually more common in women than men.

While there’s currently no cure for dyshidrotic eczema, the blisters usually begin to dry out after a few weeks. In the meantime, you can find relief by treating your symptoms with over-the-counter medication and home remedies.

If you have recurrent dyshidrosis flares, you may want to follow up with a dermatologist.

Treatments for dyshidrotic eczema

Soak your hands in cold water or apply a cold compress two to four times a day.
Use a prescription steroid cream.
Try an anesthetic cream, such as pramoxine (Pramocaine).
Keep your hands moisturized, as per the American Academy of Dermatology Association’s dry skin protocols.
Choose only mild, hypoallergenic soap when washing your hands.

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Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid buildup of skin cells. This results in scaly, raised patches on your skin’s surface.

While psoriasis most frequently affects skin over joints, such as the elbows and knees, it can also affect your fingers and nails.

Symptoms of psoriasis

inflamed patches of skin
silver-white scales on the skin
dry skin that may crack and bleed
soreness around inflamed patches
itching and burning sensations around patches

There is currently no cure for psoriasis, but there are plenty of treatment options to help you manage your symptoms. With assistance from a dermatologist, you can create a treatment plan that works for you.

Treatments for psoriasis can include

topical creams containing salicylic acid or corticosteroids
phototherapy
oral medications

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

If you have diabetes, the tingling or itching in your hands could be due to peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels, and it affects your hands and feet.

Symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

sensitivity to touch
loss of sense of touch
numbness or pain in your fingers
weakness in fingers

Treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a chronic condition, and there’s currently no way to reverse its course. But there are several options for slowing its progress and relieving the symptoms. These treatments include:

working with your doctor to adjust your target blood sugar levels
medications, such as anticonvulsants and antidepressants
getting regular exercise
managing your blood pressure
trying not to smoke tobacco
applying creams containing capsaicin

Although research is still limited on its effectiveness, some people found acupuncture to be helpful for reducing the impact of some diabetes symptoms.

Scabies

Scabies is a highly contagious condition. It’s caused by a very small mite that burrows into your skin and lays eggs. This commonly happens in the skin between your fingers.

Symptoms of scabies

small, very itchy bumps (primary symptom)
small blisters or pus-filled bumps
itching that’s worse at night or after bathing
thick, scaly skin

Most cases of scabies are spread through skin-to-skin contact or the sharing of clothing, bedding, or towels.

Treatment of scabies

The first-line treatments for scabies are ointments, creams, and lotions. These may include:

permethrin cream
sulfur ointment
benzyl benzoate

In some cases, you may need a few rounds of treatment. Home remedies and over-the-counter medication may help manage your symptoms as you wait for the medicine to work.

If the standard topical therapy options do not work, oral ivermectin may be considered as a potential treatment option.

Treatment for itchy fingers

The treatment for itchy fingers depends on the cause. You need to determine what’s causing your symptoms before you can figure out how to manage the itch. If you don’t know what’s causing your symptoms, contact your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

Regardless of what’s making your fingers itch, there are a few steps you can take to find relief until you’re able to treat the underlying cause.

For instance, you can:

Use mild, unscented soaps and lotions.
Apply a cold compress to your hands to soothe the skin and reduce the itchiness.
Wear gloves when dealing with any irritating substance that could trigger itching (like scented soaps, cleaning products, hand sanitizer, and anything you are allergic to).
Use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation and itching.
Wear gloves in dry, cold weather.
Drink plenty of water to keep your body and skin hydrated.
Dry your hands thoroughly after washing them, but avoid hand dryers that blow hot air, which can further irritate your skin.

The bottom line

If you have itchy fingers but no other symptoms, you may just need to moisturize your hands. However, if the itch doesn’t go away when you moisturize, or you notice other symptoms, it may not be due to dry hands, but some other condition.

Keep track of anything that seems to make the itching worse, and work with your doctor to narrow down the cause and find the treatment that works best for you.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Agarwal US, et al. (2014). Hand eczema.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4037938/
An overview of the different types of eczema. (n.d.).https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/
Aquino M, et al. (2018). Systemic contact dermatitis.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12016-018-8686-z
Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
Hands, feet, and nails. (2020).https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/specific-locations/hands-feet-nails
Infections: Scabies. (2019).http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/scabies.html
Rosumeck S, et al. (2018). Ivermectin and permethrin for treating scabies.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6494415/

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Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — Written by Julie Ryan Evans and Kathryn Watson — Updated on May 9, 2023

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Contact dermatitis

Symptoms of contact dermatitis

Treatments for contact dermatitis

Dyshidrotic eczema (dyshidrosis)

Symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema

Treatments for dyshidrotic eczema

Psoriasis

Symptoms of psoriasis

Treatments for psoriasis can include

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Treatments for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Scabies

Symptoms of scabies

Treatment of scabies

Treatment for itchy fingers

The bottom line

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