Itchy Palms: What's The Cause? - Healthline

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Why Do I Have Itchy Palms?

Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Kimberly Holland — Updated on July 23, 2024

Skin damage
Psoriasis
Eczema
Diabetes
Additional symptoms
Prevention
Outlook
FAQ
Takeaway

Your palms can itch for various reasons, such as dry skin, an allergy, or a skin condition like psoriasis. Rarely, it may be a sign of something more serious like diabetes.

Close-up of a person sat on a couch wearing jeans a striped top. — Skin picking disorder. Close up of woman sitting on sofa, suffering from dermatillomania, touching fingernails, feeling stressed and anxious. Anxiety and mental health 1645966065 MementoJpeg/Getty Images

Itchy palms can be uncomfortable. However, in severe cases, they can become frustrating and even interfere with our daily activities if the burning itch doesn’t stop.

Itchy palms are rarely a sign of a bigger, more serious problem, but they can sometimes indicate a chronic skin condition that needs frequent treatment.

Identifying what causes your palms to itch, what helps stop the itch, and any other symptoms can help you and a doctor diagnose what’s happening. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin, and in most cases, it will provide quick relief.

Several conditions may be responsible for itchy palms. These include:

Dry skin

Winter weather causes skin to dry out. Dry skin can be irritating and cause itching.

Applying a moisturizing lotion to your skin several times a day may be enough to help ease the itching. Look for one that hydrates the skin with glycerin, lactic acid, topical urea, or moisturizers that decrease water loss, such as petroleum jellies and ointments.

Skin damage

Certain chemicals or substances can irritate your hands’ sensitive skin. Scrubbing or brushing can also irritate your skin, causing dryness, peeling, and itching.

Try to avoid using harsh chemicals in beauty products and cleaning products on your hands. It can also be beneficial to be gentle when washing your hands.

Allergic reaction

If you’re allergic to something you touch, you may experience itchy palms. The itching may not start right away. In some cases, you may not experience any itching for several hours after coming into contact with the allergen.

It can be helpful to treat the allergy with an antihistamine pill or an antihistamine lotion.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes uncontrolled growth of skin cells. This increased pace means skin cells aren’t able to naturally clear. Instead, the extra skin cells pile up on the surface of your skin.

In addition to itching, psoriasis can cause:

blisters
painful and swollen joints
cracked skin that may bleed
soreness in the nearby joints

Psoriasis is chronic, but you may only experience infrequent or temporary bouts with the condition instead of a constant outbreak. It does not typically affect the palms.

The condition is typically treated with topical treatments such as corticosteroids and vitamin D analogs.

Eczema

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a condition that causes skin to itch and may cause discolored patches of skin in the affected area.

Some people may also develop small bumps that stick up from the skin. These bumps may burst and leak fluid. The skin may also be dry, which could lead to cracking and even bleeding.

Like psoriasis, eczema outbreaks may come and go. You may have symptoms for a few days or weeks and then not experience them for several months.

For mild cases of eczema, you can typically treat the itchy palms with lotion or over-the-counter steroid ointments. Severe cases may require prescription medications to slow or stop the bodily processes that cause eczema.

Diabetes

While it’s rare, diabetes can result in itchy areas of skin, like your palms, due to poor blood circulation. However, most people with diabetes-related itching experience it in their legs more than in their hands.

Diagnosing diabetes or a blood glucose issue early can help you reduce symptoms and side effects. Once diabetes is diagnosed, symptoms may subside if blood glucose levels are properly managed.

Additional symptoms

Itchy palms are not always a symptom of a health condition. Sometimes, they just itch.

Other times, however, it may be an indication of a skin issue. Symptoms beyond an itchy palm might help you determine what is causing your itchiness.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms in addition to itchy palms, you may need to see a doctor:

discolored and inflamed skin
thick and dry scales
bleeding or cracking of the skin
small blisters that leak or burst
rash
hives
burning or stinging skin

Prevention

Preventing itchy palms can be as simple as taking proper care of your skin. Here are some tips that may help:

Stay hydrated: Moisturize your body from the inside out. Drink plenty of water, and eat water-rich foods.
Use lotion. Thick lotions and moisturizers help the skin feel more comfortable and hydrated, which may prevent drying out and itching.
Protect your hands: If your skin is sensitive, try to protect your hands whenever you touch chemicals or solutions that might irritate it. Try latex gloves for liquids. Thick cotton gloves may be useful for day-to-day activities in the cold and for handling dry substances.
Avoid harsh cleansers and soaps: They can be irritating and harsh to the skin.

Outlook

Itchy palms are rarely a chronic condition. In most cases, the itching will stop once a cause is identified and a treatment is chosen.

If the itching is more chronic — for example, because you have psoriasis that relapses and affects your hand — certain treatment options may help you find relief. It is certainly annoying, but itchy palms are in no way life threatening.

Once a cause is identified, try to avoid additional risk factors that may increase the itching. Putting preventive methods in place may also stop any itching before it has a chance to begin.

Frequently asked questions

What deficiency causes itchy hands?

Itchy hands may be the result of iron deficiency anemia, which can cause itching anywhere on the body.

Why do my palms itch at night?

Your palms may itch at night due to underlying health conditions such as eczema or as a result of cold weather, resulting in dry skin.

Why are my hands itchy but no rash?

Your palms may itch but present no rash due to conditions like eczema or diabetes.

Takeaway

Itchy palms are not always a symptom of a health condition. Sometimes, they just itch. However, in some instances, it may be the cause of a health condition such as psoriasis or diabetes.

If you’re experiencing additional symptoms, such as discolored and inflamed skin, you may need to speak with a doctor.

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.

7 ways to relieve itchy psoriasis. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/skin-care/itch-relief
Atopic dermatitis. (n.d.).https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/atopic-dermatitis
Cold weather and your skin. (2023).https://www.aad.org/news/cold-weather-and-your-skin
Diabetes and skin complications. (n.d.).https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/complications/skin-complications
Iron deficiency anaemia. (n.d.).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/

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Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Kimberly Holland — Updated on July 23, 2024

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Dry skin

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Frequently asked questions

What deficiency causes itchy hands?

Why do my palms itch at night?

Why are my hands itchy but no rash?

Takeaway

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