Itchy Palms? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You

You normally use your palms and fingers to stop an itch. But the undersides of your hands themselves can sometimes get tickly or uncomfortable too.

Itchy palms can stem from a number of possible culprits. Most of them are benign and (thankfully) easy to manage, but in some cases, nonstop itching could be a sign of an underlying health problem, says Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist Jeffrey Hsu, MD.

Here's a look at the most likely causes and what you can do to get relief fast, plus when itchy palms warrant a call to the doctor.

Been washing your hands more than usual or spending time in cold, windy weather without gloves? Both can dry out the skin on your hands and leave your palms feeling itchy and tight, Dr. Hsu says.

If your palms are really parched, you might also notice patchy scales, flakes or cracks in your skin. Ouch.

Inflammatory skin conditions like eczema can flare up on your hands and palms, causing itchiness. You could also have dyshidrotic eczema — a skin condition that causes small blisters on the palms of your hands, per the National Eczema Association.

Some common triggers for eczema flare-ups include the following, per the National Eczema Association:

• Stress (causing stress-related eczema)
• Humidity and hot weather
• Environmental and food allergies
• Autoimmune diseases

It's easy to mistake the problem for a simple case of dry skin, but there are differences: "Eczema on your hands can present itself not only as itchiness, but as redness, crusting and inflammation," Dr. Hsu says. You might also notice a burning sensation or blisters.

If your hands don't seem to agree with a new soap, detergent, lotion or even a piece of jewelry, your itch could be caused by contact dermatitis.

Dermatitis on your hands (due to common allergic reactions) can develop when skin comes in contact with an irritating substance, resulting in a rash — red palms, itching and burning — or hive-like bumps and swelling.

If you have red spots on your hands — i.e., thick, red or silvery patches on your palms — you could be dealing with psoriasis.

The condition, which is sometimes confused for eczema, is an autoimmune disorder that speeds up the growth of skin cells, resulting in raised, scaly skin growths or bumps. The patches and itching can flare for weeks or months at a time, clear up and come back again, often in response to environmental triggers, per the Mayo Clinic.

Itchy skin on your palms or elsewhere can sometimes be the result of taking a new drug. Common culprits include heart medications like heparin, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers, as well as antibiotics like penicillin, per a September 2019 ‌Medicines‌ study‌.‌

Some supplements could cause itching, too, if you end up having an adverse reaction to them. That's one reason it's important to talk to your doctor before trying a new medication or supplement, so you can discuss possible side effects.

Itching without a visible rash or bite could be due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome — where a nerve that runs from your forearm into the palm of your hand becomes pinched or compressed — can sometimes include an urge to itch your hands, or a tingling sensation in the hands, wrists or forearms, per the Cleveland Clinic.

As the condition progresses, you might start to notice numbness or pain as well.

Itchy palms without a rash often indicates an underlying health issue such as an overactive thyroid gland, liver or kidney disease, diabetes or a neurological condition, per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

People with liver disease tend to have higher levels of bile salts built up under their skin, which can cause itching, per Baton Rouge General.

Autoimmune diseases can cause itchy palms, too. Lupus, hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease), type 1 diabetes and HIV can all cause an itchy rash that can manifest on the hands and other parts of the body, per the AAD. Other autoimmune blood disorders are also common culprits of itchy hands.

Finally, if you are itching and sweating from your palms more than usual, you may have hyperhidrosis, a condition where overactive sweat glands cause excessive sweat, per the Cleveland Clinic.

• ‌Avoid triggers:‌ If you know you have an allergy to a particular substance or food that causes itchy palms (or causes you to be itchy all over), avoid those triggers.
• ‌Moisturize:‌ You can also prevent itchy palms due to dry skin by applying a daily moisturizer and washing your hands with soap for sensitive skin. If itchy palms are due to eczema, you can try wet wraps with socks and plastic wrap to trap in moisture, per the National Eczema Association.
• ‌Protect your hands:‌ If you are cleaning with irritating substances, you could also choose to wear rubber gloves to protect the skin on your hands.
• ‌Talk to your doctor:‌ Discuss the side effects of any potential new medication or supplement you plan to try with your doctor.

Sometimes persistently itchy palms can be a sign of a serious underlying health condition, such as undermanaged diabetes, kidney disease or Crohn's disease.

"If you suspect the itching is a complication of diabetes, make an appointment to see an endocrinologist," Dr. Hsu says. "Otherwise, if your symptoms become severe or last for more than a few days, see a dermatologist."

If you have trouble making an appointment with a specialist or you're not sure about the underlying cause of your itchiness, you can also see your primary care doctor, who can evaluate you and make a referral.