Palm issues: itching, burning, and skin changes...

Hey there! 🙂

So, let me walk you through what’s been happening...
Every once in a while—and I mean totally random intervals—this weird rash shows up on my palms. It feels sort of like something under the skin, slightly itchy, and occasionally it gets this warm, tight sensation. It's nothing major, doesn't really stop me from doing my thing, just a subtle thing... The rash itself usually clears up on its own within a day or two. But then, after a few days of feeling fine, my skin gets incredibly dry—just on my palms. And I don't mean regular dryness; I can slather on whatever lotion I want and it does absolutely nothing. My skin gets all wrinkled and creased, especially on those fleshy parts at the tips of my fingers...
I also have these moments where the skin under my ring gets super red and looks visibly cracked. I wear gold, but I'm definitely not allergic to it. When that happens, I have to take the ring off and wait a week or two for it to heal. I've noticed it happens more often during the summer months, though, and I'm wondering if there's a connection there...

I was thinking maybe it could be dyshidrosis, but looking things up online, my symptoms seem a bit too mild? Like, I don't get any of those fluid-filled blisters, and my palms seem to bounce back to normal so quickly. Plus, it's not even that obvious; unless someone is staring intently at my hands, they probably wouldn't notice anything at all. Again, like I said, it's not actually interfering with my daily life...

Still, I'd love to just get rid of it. If anyone knows what might be causing this, or has a cream recommendation, or even just knows what this specific thing is called, I'd really appreciate it. 🙂

Hello,

For an accurate diagnosis, a physician would need to examine your palms during the peak of the flare-ups.

Since you mentioned these symptoms keep recurring, my first thought—though purely speculative given that a digital forum isn't a substitute for a clinical examination—is that you might be dealing with a form of hand eczema.

Such issues often stem from repeated exposure to irritants. Think common household items: soaps, detergents, cleaning supplies, or even just excessive contact with water. Frequent exposure can gradually compromise the skin's protective barrier, a problem particularly common in individuals with atopic tendencies and impaired epidermal function.

Additionally, we should consider chronic allergic contact dermatitis. This typically presents as dry skin, intensified itching, and fissures.

There is also the possibility of chronic hand dermatitis, which in adults sometimes presents with an unclear etiology.

Less commonly, especially in middle-aged men, one might encounter hyperkeratotic dermatitis of the hands.

These are simply the possibilities that crossed my mind; they may not align with your specific situation at all.

In terms of immediate self-care, try wearing cotton gloves while cleaning. Consider switching from liquid soap to a solid bar, and avoid antibacterial varieties. Always dry your hands thoroughly after washing, and within three minutes, apply a generous amount of moisturizing cream or ointment.

Regarding these changes, please consult your primary care physician, who can refer you for further diagnostic testing.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks for such a detailed response... 🙂

I did some Googling based on the terms, characteristics, and photos you mentioned, and honestly, what I have looks a lot like palm eczema (she goes on about her issues with rings, too). For starters, I’m going to try being gentler with my hands. I currently use bar soap—I think it’s antibacterial. I actually just assumed all soaps were antibacterial... what’s even the point of them if they aren't 😕?
There’s definitely some overlap with allergic contact dermatitis, but looking at the photos of that condition, I don't think mine is quite that intense. Knock on wood, anyway.

It’s also true that I’m prone to atopy. If I'm understanding the layman's terms correctly, that basically means hypersensitive skin, right 🤔?
My skin is thin and fair. If I spend time at the beach, I get this itchy redness. Even if I just scratch myself in one spot, a red welt pops up (it fades fast, but still). I bruise incredibly easily and the marks stick around forever, etc. A few years back, I actually broke out in terrible hives all over my body one day, but the doctors at the ER cleared it up in an hour or two 🙏 🙏 even though we couldn't figure out what triggered it...

Anyway, getting back to the point...
Regarding all those cleaning products, are there any specific, well-known ingredients that are notorious for irritating sensitive skin? I'd love to start checking labels so I can avoid buying stuff containing them.

Would it be worth getting allergy testing? I don't really want to bring this up with my doctor because she doesn't think it warrants testing unless there's a specific symptom she recommends for it, and frankly, I'm not thrilled about the idea of getting poked with needles all over my back if it isn't absolutely necessary 😁 ... (needles seriously freak me out). So, could allergy testing actually pinpoint which ingredients my skin is reacting poorly to, even if it's not a "true" allergy in the traditional sense?

Is there anything I could do for a general "reset" or to strengthen my skin barrier? Like, would eating certain foods more often or taking specific vitamins help at all?

Until next time, 👋

Hello,

Regarding antibacterial soaps: they’re far too aggressive. For anyone with sensitive skin, they should be avoided entirely. Overuse—especially if your skin barrier is already compromised—destroys that essential protective layer.

Atopy essentially means a predisposition toward allergic reactions and the onset of inflammatory issues once an allergen makes contact. Your skin is hypersensitive, just as you described.

As for the second part of your question, we first need to determine whether your symptoms stem from non-allergic or allergic contact dermatitis. To figure that out, you should undergo testing—specifically epicutaneous patch testing using a standard allergen series. Think of it like applying medicinal patches to your back. There is a massive list of potential allergens out there, many of which are hidden within everyday products.

As for dietary recommendations, that is something to consider only after we have processed the results.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks again for getting back to me 🙂

I think I'll just start testing things out then. Honestly, I have no clue why I was so convinced it was some kind of needle issue—it’s such a relief to know I can handle this without them 🙂

Consider this a little virtual high-five for putting up with my questions and spending your time on this 😁
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Best, 🙂>

Just a quick clarification regarding the whole "needle pricks" discussion. While patch testing is the gold standard for diagnosing contact allergic dermatitis, it isn't necessarily the end of the road. Depending on the clinical picture, a doctor might still suggest other diagnostics—things like prick testing, blood work, and so on.

Think of the patch test as just one step in the process, not the entire roadmap.

So, you might find that avoiding needles altogether isn't an option. 😢

Jose Williams, those allergy questions/ideas you had are actually pretty solid😁 If only it were that simple, right?

The testing itself isn't even the painful part—you just turn your head away. I’ve been through it five times now, and honestly, I still hate and fear needles. For me, the real annoyance was the ice testing; the adhesive patch felt so tight. The worst part was when they took it off on the third day and told me I had to come back the next morning and still couldn't shower. It was winter, so obviously I wanted to wash up, but it was such a hassle. At least I found out what I'm allergic to, so they haven't had to repeat the tests since. My doctor wasn't nearly as reasonable as Nicholas Myers, though—he just told me, and I quote, "allergies don't really go away; you just live with them and suffer."😢

Haha, yeah, I get it. Honestly, I can handle the stings, it’s just that my blood pressure spikes a bit when I get nervous. Hopefully, that won't mess with the actual results...

From what I've gathered, they just slap those patches on you and send you home, right? Like, you're stuck wearing them continuously for three days before heading back to have them removed? 🤔
And with the needle testing—do the results show up on the skin immediately, or is there still that same waiting period of a few days?

Charles Howard79, what does it actually feel like when those needles go in? Are they injecting something into the skin, or is it more of a light prick? Does it sting, or is it more like getting blood drawn at a clinic?
Also, if you don't mind me asking, you mentioned you had to do this five times. Why wasn't once enough? Was it some error on their end during testing, or did you run into a specific issue that required repeating the whole process?

Jose Williams said:Haha, yeah, I get it. Honestly, I can handle the stings, it’s just that my blood pressure spikes a bit when I get nervous. Hopefully, that won't mess with the actual results...

From what I've gathered, they just slap those patches on you and send you home, right? Like, you're stuck wearing them continuously for three days before heading back to have them removed? 🤔
And with the needle testing—do the results show up on the skin immediately, or is there still that same waiting period of a few days?

Charles Howard79, what does it actually feel like when those needles go in? Are they injecting something into the skin, or is it more of a light prick? Does it sting, or is it more like getting blood drawn at a clinic?
Also, if you don't mind me asking, you mentioned you had to do this five times. Why wasn't once enough? Was it some error on their end during testing, or did you run into a specific issue that required repeating the whole process?

Standard procedure dictates that results usually aren't posted until the 48 or 72-hour mark.

With the prick test, do the results show up on the skin immediately, or do you still have to wait a few days to see anything?

Expect results roughly 20 minutes after testing.

Does it actually penetrate the skin, or is it more of a light prick? Does it sting, or does it feel more like having blood drawn at a clinic?

A drop of allergen solution hits the skin, followed by a tiny prick from a lancet. It’s more of an annoyance than actual pain. Most kids handle this type of testing without much fuss, so if your doctors recommend a prick test, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

As for the rest of the inquiries, Charles Howard79 will be handling those. My best to him.

Greetings. 🙂

The skin prick test doesn't even hurt—honestly, it’s less annoying than a mosquito bite. They usually test about twenty different allergens on each forearm, though there are way more out there. Your doctor looks at your symptoms first to decide which specific groups to test for; you can't just do everything all at once. I’ve actually been tested five different times over fifteen years at various hospitals based on my GP's suggestions, and we still haven't pinpointed my main trigger, so we finally just gave up looking. I even did nasal and throat swabs which confirmed I have allergies, but couldn't tell me which ones—if I remember correctly. Then they sent me for blood work like RIST and RAST, which also failed to catch the "main" allergy the doctor expected. Apparently, about 30% of people who get tested never actually find out what they're allergic to, so my doctor suggested I stop stressing about it. Now I just use one nasal spray a year and take tablets as needed. It's smarter to start the meds before your allergy season actually kicks in. I live pretty healthy, and for things like eczema or dyshidrosis, I mostly just deal with it using topical steroids or essential oils. Once you learn the drill, it just becomes part of life. Just a heads-up: you have to be off all medication for 10–15 days before testing if you want reliable results. Do a little digging online—you might learn something and avoid some common mistakes.

Macac🙂

Thanks, Charles Howard79 and Felix...

I've been doing some digging online, but honestly, I just keep running into conflicting info and different sets of symptoms, which leaves me feeling pretty lost 😁. It's probably better to just ask someone who actually knows what they're talking about firsthand 🙂

So, I’m 21. For about 7 or 8 years now—maybe even longer—my palms have been acting up. It follows a specific cycle every spring and summer.

It starts mid-spring as the weather warms up. My palms start sweating. A little at first, then more and more as the temperature climbs.

By late spring, my palms are constantly damp. They sweat excessively; I’m perpetually wiping them on something.

At the start of summer, the sweating seems to taper off, but then the irritation kicks in. A stinging sensation.
The skin feels flushed and hot. Almost like it's sitting over a low flame.

By mid-summer, the sweating and irritation stop entirely. But the trade-off? My palms become incredibly dry. Not a single drop of moisture left. Literally like paper. From one extreme to the other.
And they start peeling.

The peeling looks terrible, though it isn't painful.
This lasts until the end of summer, when all the old skin finally sheds.

Then the "new" palms arrive. Normal. Soft. Like a baby's.

Everything is fine until next spring, when the whole cycle resets.

I visited a doctor at a local clinic last year, right during the phase where my hands had already started peeling. She prescribed some cream for dry skin... since that was the state they were in at the time.
I tried to explain the full progression—how it starts with the sweating—but she didn't seem to grasp what was actually happening.
Her verdict? Sensitive skin. She told me to just use the cream she provided.

I used it. No luck. The skin still peeled. I found some ointment over the winter, so about a month ago I started using calendula, but it hasn't done anything. Right now, my palms are stinging and wet, just like every other year.

Anyone have an idea what this might be? Could it be an allergy? Who should I talk to?

Check out the thread on dyshidrotic eczema over here on the forum. We deal with similar issues because of nickel allergies.

Exfoliative Keratolysis
I spent all day digging around at it today, and it looks like I’ve got a case of this. From what I can gather, there isn't a cure. Apparently, the peeling is triggered by moisture—in my case, sweaty hands—and likely the fact that I'm spending most of my summer at the beach.
😢

If you're looking to deal with sweating, try dabbing some apple cider vinegar mixed with sage essential oil and water onto your hands.

I’ve got a question regarding this thread. For the last seven days, I’ve been dealing with this unbearable itching on my hands—both the tops and the palms. I haven't noticed any major changes to the skin itself, aside from the usual dryness around my knuckles and where my fingers meet my hands. I say "usual" because my skin is almost always dry there due to the type of work I do. This itching feels like it's deep under the skin, and at times, it honestly feels like my entire hand is burning. I initially thought it was just standard itching, but besides the sensation itself, I don't have any other symptoms...

To whom it may concern,
I am 20 years old, and for the past two months, I have been dealing with intermittent—and sometimes daily—issues with my palms.

Basically, on one finger, right between the knuckle and the palm, a red spot appears that seems to have a white patch inside it, which only becomes visible when I scratch it. This spot itches intensely and carries a type of pain similar to a spider bite. Sometimes this spot shows up out of nowhere, but more often than not, it triggers when I’m actually doing something. Then, the spot might vanish only to reappear somewhere else on my palm, or even on the other hand, completely at random.

That was how it went for the first two months, but a few days ago things took a turn for the worse; a rash developed across the palm areas of both hands and it isn't going away. Only faint red spots are visible now, which occasionally flare up, causing itching followed by that same pain.
I started applying Hydrocyclin ointment, which eases the symptoms for about 12+ hours, but then it all comes back.
The rash is confined to the palm areas, extending up to the area between the knuckles and the palms. It is most painful when it flares up below the thumb.

I see that many people haven't received an answer here, but I am hoping a member like Nicholas Myers might be able to provide some insight or even just a guess as to what this could be. My doctor initially suggested it might just be an allergy to a specific soap and told me to switch brands, but I have tried several different soaps and the problem persists.
I am at a loss as to what to do next.🤷
Best regards,