Having red spots on the hands or palms can be very concerning for many especially if it is itchy in nature and causes pain. It is quite difficult to identify the causes of having red spots on the hands, where doctors usually will take a thorough history and few assessments to diagnose the cause behind the spots. To find out what is behind the red spots, do visit a doctor (Doktor) to have them examined. These red spots are usually detected from its nature of itching, burning, painful and morphology.
In the meantime, here are some common causes of having red spots on hands.
- Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is one of the most common causes of red spots on the hand which is usually associated with redness of the skin and itching. However, these symptoms are usually tolerable and go away by themselves. Contact dermatitis happens when your skin is exposed to any substance that you are allergic to.
For instance, if you are allergic to any fabric materials, touching them with hands can cause red spots on hands. Sometimes, these spots can eventually progress to blisters that can ooze and cause crusting and scaling once it breaks. Most contact dermatitis does not require treatment. However, antihistamine or any over the counter anti-allergic creams. In severe cases, prescriptions from doctors are required.
- Heat rash
Heat rashes happen when your skin pores are clogged up by sweat. Your sweat glands beneath the skin produces perspiration and releases it out from the pores. When these pores are blocked, the swear produced are clumped and forms red spots on the surface of the skin. These spots can be very itchy and painful
They usually form at areas where your skin rubs together, for example at your groins, armpits and at areas where your clothes rub with the skin. These spots usually go away with cooling off the skin. In severe uncomfortable cases, steroid creams are helpful to soothe the heat rash.
- Petechiae
Petechiae are tiny red spots on your skin which results from bleeding in your blood vessels. This is due to deficiency in platelets, the cell that is responsible for blood clotting. Quite often, these red spots are mistaken with purpura or ecchymosis. Purpura and ecchymosis are larger and have an irregular poorly demarcated border.
There are many possible causes for petechiae to happen including the most common being dengue fever and other autoimmune diseases like ITP and PTP. Petechiae cannot be treated with creams, you will need to see a doctor and run a few investigations to find the possible cause beneath these red spots and having them treated.
- Ringworm
Ringworms are red blotchy, raised red spots on the skin. There will also be a circular ring-like pattern surrounding the red spot. They result from fungal infection and it is common in areas such as the hand, food, groin and neck. When ringworm appears at the foot, it is known as Athlete’s foot and It is known as Jock Itch if it is present at the groin.
Ringworm doesn not go away by itself. Your doctor will prescribe antifungal medications to kill the fungus causing it.
- Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors that causes build up of scaly, itchy red patches on skins, commonly at the elbow, knees and the scalps. The spots can be very itching and burning. There are different types of psoriasis, namely guttate, inverse, pustular, plaque psoriasis and many more. Your doctor will make a treatment plan based on this diagnosis and treatments are usually creams, light therapy, and injectable drugs.
