Blotches on the Palm of a Hand
Unusual skin changes may take place anywhere on your body. The location, as well as any accompanying symptoms, can help provide important information regarding the cause of skin irregularities. Certain conditions can cause rashes or blotchy spots to appear on the palms of your hands.
Unusual skin changes may take place anywhere on your body. The location, as well as any accompanying symptoms, can help provide important information regarding the cause of skin irregularities. Certain conditions can cause rashes or blotchy spots to appear on the palms of your hands. Your doctor can help you determine the cause of your spots and provide any necessary medical treatment.
Symptoms
Depending on the underlying cause of your blotchy palms, you may notice accompanying symptoms. Other possible symptoms include texture changes in the skin, such as dryness, bumps, blisters, swelling or cracking. Some conditions may include the appearance of a rash on other parts of your body, such as the soles of your feet, or can include fever and feelings of general illness.
Causes
Allergic reactions, as well as certain illnesses, can cause the skin on the palms of your hand to turn blotchy. Fungal infections, such as ringworm, may affect various areas of your body, including the palms of your hands. According to DermNet NZ, hand dermatitis may occur because of hereditary factors, contact with irritants and allergy. Other possible causes include syphilis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and hand, foot and mouth disease.
Contagion
If skin sensitivity or allergies cause your blotchiness, the rash may spread to other areas of your body. While with allergies or sensitive skin, you don't need to worry about spreading the condition to others, this isn't the case with other conditions, such as ringworm and viral infections. The Centers for Disease Control warns that hand, foot and mouth disease may spread through human contact. Fungal infections can also spread to other individuals.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will consider other symptoms in determining the cause of your blotchy palms. In addition to examining your skin, he may take a small tissue sample for laboratory analysis, as well as performing a series of patch tests that can disclose possible allergies.
Treatments
Your doctor will base your course of treatment on the cause of your condition. He may recommend you avoid certain substances that cause your hands to break out. Sara L. Noble, Robert C. Forbes and Pamela L. Stamm, writing in "American Family Physicians," advise that both topical preparations and oral therapy may help treat cases of ringworm. Proper hygiene may help prevent the spread of some fungal, viral and bacterial infections.