What should you know about palm itching and swelling?

Contact Dermatitis may follow soaps, sanitiser, gloves, metals, cleaning products, or other exposures and can cause itch, redness, scaling, or cracks. Atopic Dermatitis and Asteatotic Eczema can weaken the barrier and make the palms dry and irritated. Psoriasis or Lichen Planus may cause persistent, well-defined or scaly changes. Skin Yeast Infection, Scabies, and Hives have different patterns; bumps, burrows, ring-like scaling, or short-lived raised welts can help guide assessment.

Remove suspected irritants, wash with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, then apply a fragrance-free moisturiser. Wear protective gloves for wet or chemical work, with a breathable layer underneath, and avoid scratching or sharing towels. Note whether both palms are involved, when swelling began, what touched the skin, whether others itch, and whether the rash comes and goes. A clinician may need to examine scaling, cracks, blisters, or burrows before recommending treatment.

Seek urgent help for palm swelling with lip, tongue, or throat swelling, wheezing, faintness, or widespread hives. Arrange prompt care for rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, warmth, pus, fever, spreading redness, or reduced finger movement. Persistent itch, night-time symptoms, recurrent blisters, or household members with itch also warrant medical review.

Could this be Contact Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis, or Hives? Do the palms show signs of infection or Scabies? Which products and gloves should I avoid? Do household contacts need assessment if Scabies is suspected?