Personality, profession, life circumstances, fertility — you can read a lot from someone’s hands. However, there isn’t much scientific evidence to support that. When it comes to our health, though, our hands often provide clues about its state.
Recognizing deficiencies from looking at your hands
Countless symptoms can be derived just from looking at our nails. Deformations, spots, ridges, or brittle nails can indicate deficiencies or even more serious conditions like kidney, lung, or liver diseases. Sudden changes and new symptoms should not be underestimated.
However, fingers, palms, and the back of the hand can also reveal what’s happening in your body and mind. Let’s get one thing straight: these symptoms mentioned can indicate a nutrient deficiency or illness, but they don’t have to! If your suffering becomes unbearable, or you feel uncertain, it’s best to consult your trusted doctor.
Sweaty palms
When sweat takes over your palms, stress usually plays a significant role, or perhaps an excessive amount of alcohol. This symptom is also not uncommon during menopause.
However, an overactive thyroid can be to blame for excessive sweating, as well as a condition called hyperhidrosis. The latter is often hereditary (primary hyperhidrosis), although the causes of increased sweat production are still relatively unknown. If your palms and soles are affected, the German Dermatological Society recommends a step-by-step approach, ranging from topical therapy to surgical intervention, depending on the severity. It’s best to seek advice from your doctor.
Cold hands
If your hands are shivering, it could simply be due to the cold weather or being under significant stress. However, if this is a persistent condition, poor circulation or consistently low blood pressure could be the cause. Cold hands can also be a symptom of an underactive thyroid, along with other signs such as high cholesterol, obesity, heartburn, and bloating. There is another condition that accompanies cold fingers…
White, blue, red: Discolorations on hands
Blood circulation disorders can also occur with a condition called Raynaud’s syndrome, which not only leads to painful and cold fingers (or toes) but also causes discolorations. With this vascular disease, also known as Raynaud’s disease, there is a spasmodic constriction of blood vessels, resulting in the fingers turning pale and white. Due to lack of oxygen (hypoxia), a bluish discoloration occurs, and subsequent increased blood flow (hyperemia) leads to tingling and a reddish color. The syndrome can be a secondary manifestation of other illnesses or can be “primary,” triggered by sudden cold or severe psychological stress, for example. In most cases, the syndrome is not dangerous. It can often be prevented by keeping warm, promoting blood flow through sufficient movement, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle: reduce coffee and cola consumption, manage stress, and consider quitting smoking if applicable. However, it should not be taken lightly, as prolonged symptoms can lead to permanent damage to blood vessels.
A low oxygen level can also be indicated by blue-tinted fingertips and bluish backs of the hands. When combined with a fever, this could be a sign of pneumonia. If these symptoms occur during physical activity, they may indicate other lung conditions.
Dry, cracked, and itchy skin
Many people are familiar with this, especially in winter: the skin on their hands becomes red and dry, struggling with the dry air from heating. Excessive washing and moisturizing of hands, reactions to certain chemical products, dehydration, as well as menopause, diabetes, kidney, and thyroid diseases can all contribute to dry skin. However, if you have particularly cracked and scaly areas on your fingertips and between your fingers that also itch, you may be suffering from a mild form of eczema (neurodermatitis). In this case, it is advisable to consult a doctor regarding the use of fragrance-free emollient creams or even cortisone ointments.
In general, it is recommended to include vitamins A and B (especially niacin, vitamin B3, and biotin, vitamin B7) in your diet or find them in specific creams when dealing with dry skin. Highly recommended sources include fish, peanuts, mushrooms, avocados, and seeds.
Red palms
No need to panic, everyone can have red palms at times, especially when hands are heavily used, during pregnancy, or after a minor burn. However, if it is a persistent condition and the palms also have a yellowish tint, it could indicate a condition called palmar erythema. The redness of the palm is not only associated with liver dysfunction but also with other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hepatitis, increased metabolism, smoking, and the use of certain long-term medications. In this case, it is important to consult a doctor.
Swollen fingers
Speaking of rheumatoid arthritis, another symptom of it is swollen fingers. Hypothyroidism can also contribute to finger swelling: Due to lower hormone production that stimulates metabolism, weight gain and water retention, usually visible in the fingers, can occur. Other causes of swollen fingers can include premenstrual syndrome, mild dehydration, and a diet high in salt. And if you have just gotten off an airplane, there’s usually no cause for concern.
However, only the knuckles of the fingers can also be swollen. If there is severe swelling of the finger joints leading to the metacarpal bones, it may indicate a form of hypercholesterolemia, i.e., high cholesterol levels in the blood. Since this can lead to heart attacks at a young age, it is important to seek medical attention.
Deformities and nodules
The most common causes of painful nodules at the middle and end joints of the fingers are joint wear and tear, known as osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation and pain due to an autoimmune condition. In addition to medications, surgical interventions, physiotherapy, and alternative treatments, dietary changes can also help alleviate the symptoms.
Spots on your hands
Spots on the hand are often age spots, which occur due to the accumulation of the brownish pigment lipofuscin as a result of increased UV radiation. They usually appear not only on the hands but also on the shoulders, forearms, and face. By adopting a corresponding lifestyle and diet, they can be effectively prevented.
Although age spots themselves are not pathological changes, any evolving spots should be examined by a dermatologist to rule out subtypes of skin cancer.
If reddish and violet spots appear on the hands, it could be caused by an autoimmune disease called lupus erythematosus. In this case, a visit to the doctor is recommended.