Cracked hands as a symptom of disease

Despite the fact that cracks on the hands almost always appear for one reason, due to dry skin on the hands, the phenomenon of changing the characteristics of the skin can be associated with many factors, some of which are disorders of the body. But how can you at least approximately understand whether it is worth sounding the alarm or just paying more attention to caring for your hands? Let's try to figure out what symptoms, in addition to cracks on the hands, will indicate that a person is sick.

Dry cracks on the hands, which can be of varying depth on the palms and other areas of the hand, without any other symptoms most often indicate dry skin on the hands, as a result of which it cracks. Such cracks usually appear in the area of the joints on the fingers (less often in the wrist area) and on the palms (usually along the lines running on them). Sometimes the appearance of cracks is preceded by slight peeling of the epidermis and mild itching.

Most often, cracks can be found on the fingers. And this is not surprising, because this is the most mobile part of the hand, which also has thin skin. Long-term contact with water, and especially with aqueous solutions of detergents, strong temperature changes, exposure to sunlight, frost or wind, working in the ground or with chemicals - all this can be considered factors that cause cracking of the skin on the fingers. But in this case, first there is a coarsening of the skin on the inner and lateral (less often the back) surfaces of the fingers, and only then cracks appear. Such wounds on the skin cause pain and severe discomfort when bending the fingers.

If cracks on the fingers appear due to disorders in the body itself, they are usually accompanied by the appearance of other symptoms. The same allergy in the vast majority of cases is accompanied not only by dry skin, but also by noticeable itching, rashes, redness and swelling of tissues.

A crack between the fingers on the hand can also appear due to many reasons. If it appeared after washing or cleaning, then it most likely became a manifestation of contact dermatitis. With subsequent contact with the allergen, a similar reaction can be expected again. In this case, the person will feel both itching and pain at the site of the wound, the wound may become wet. If contact with the allergen is excluded, the skin will soon return to normal, the wound will heal, and others will no longer appear.

If a crack that has appeared once does not heal for a long time, and after some time new cracks appear, one can suspect a fungal disease that has a recurring nature. In this case, wounds will appear with any weakening of the immune system, and not due to contact with irritants. In the area of the crack, redness and swelling of the tissues, the formation of a whitish coating can be observed. Usually, cracks in the interdigital space are quite deep and painful, under the influence of irritants, the symptoms intensify. But if these factors are excluded, they do not completely disappear, as with contact dermatitis.

And one more important point. If we are talking about a fungal infection, the use of wound-healing creams does not give a good effect.

Sometimes cracks in the interdigital space appear for the same reasons as on the palms. We are talking about one of the forms of psoriasis, affecting the hands and feet. Psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of round, clearly defined areas of damage, covered with a flaky horny layer, on which cracks appear. Eczema can also remind of itself with itching and cracks between the fingers. In this case, inflamed areas with blisters will first form on the skin, and wounds will appear after the blisters open.

Blisters and cracks on the fingers and in the interdigital space most often occur with eczema or contact dermatitis, caused by an inadequate reaction of the body to an irritant, identical to the reaction to a splinter.

Sometimes you can see cracks appearing on your fingers near your nails. Usually these cracks are deeper and can even bleed. The skin around the edges of the wound is very rough and dry. The reasons for the appearance of wounds near your nails can be different. This includes the influence of unfavorable external factors and internal reasons. But if we are talking about disorders in the body, cracks usually appear on other parts of the body (for example, on the soles, palms, elbows, etc.).

The appearance of cracks on the fingers near the nails may also indicate the development of a fungal infection. Onychomycosis of the fingernails is manifested by dry skin of the palms and fingers, hyperkeratosis (thickening, keratinization) of the epidermis in the area and near the nail bed, itching in the palms, changes in the structure of the nail plate, as a result of which cracks form on the fingernails. In this case, the nail changes its color, begins to disintegrate, and moves away from the nail bed.

But in case of fungal infection, cracks on the hands should be considered not as the first signs of the disease, but as its cause (wounds form on overdried skin, through which pathogens penetrate deep), or a symptom of complications. When the fungus penetrates and complications of the disease occur, inflammation of the nail fold often occurs. It swells, becomes painful, becomes covered with a dry crust, which begins to peel, becomes covered with scales and can crack.

But if peeling and cracks around the nail do not affect the nail plate and are not associated with the impact of negative environmental factors, then we may be talking about one of the listed pathologies: vitamin deficiency, eczema, hypothyroidism, diabetes, hormonal imbalance. Perhaps similar symptoms have not yet appeared on other parts of the body or they have simply not been noticed.

If cracks appear on the palms of the hands, the following pathological causes can be suspected:

• Dry eczema on the hands. This is an inflammatory disease, so at first an itchy area with hyperemia and swelling is observed. Bubbles with a transparent liquid appear on this area, after which the skin begins to crack. Only a doctor can determine the cause of the disease in a particular person, because eczema is a pathology that can be caused by both external and internal reasons associated with disruption of the endocrine, nervous and other systems and organs.
• Dermatitis of the hands. This is a pathology of allergic nature, typical for people with sensitive skin. Contact with an allergen (usually repeated) leads to the formation of a rash and erosions on the skin, which last for a long time, sometimes tightening, sometimes becoming inflamed again, and lead to the formation of cracks.
• Palmoplantar psoriasis. In this case, the skin in the palm area becomes thicker and drier, becomes inflamed and reddened, becomes painful due to the formation of deep cracks on it, and light large scales appear on it. The lesions are usually round in shape.
• In palmoplantar psoriasis, cracks usually appear on the hands (in the palm area) and feet (soles and feet). An identical picture can be observed with palmoplantar keratosis. This is a disease of older people (men over 50 are more often affected), which can be caused by external factors, vitamin A deficiency or metabolic disorders. The pathology is characterized by the formation of roughness and thickening of the skin in the area of the soles and palms. The skin changes its color to yellowish or brown and begins to crack. In most cases, the disease is accompanied by increased sweating of the affected areas. Deep cracks on the hands and feet are not always accompanied by severe pain due to the thickening and coarsening of the affected areas, which are usually located symmetrically.

But cracks on the palms can also form under the influence of external causes, appearing on non-inflamed, but excessively dry skin. Peeling and cracks on the hands under the influence of external factors quite often occur in people with delicate and sensitive skin, and this does not even require long-term exposure of hands to water or severe frost. Such skin must be protected from negative external influences with the help of creams and special protective equipment.

If cracks appear on the palms of the hands and they itch, many people immediately think that the cause is a fungal disease. In fact, itching is a symptom of an allergy, a specific reaction of the body to an allergen, which may be a detergent or cleaning agent, washing powder, or food products. Itching also occurs with excessive dryness and peeling of the skin, caused by a vitamin deficiency.

In some cases, itching on the skin turns out to be a nervous reaction to stress. And even a hormonal imbalance can be stressful for the body. So, it will be difficult even for a doctor to say right away what caused the appearance of cracks and itching on the palms of the hands, let alone you and me. It is clear that such a pathology can only be treated after finding out the reasons for its development, because the treatment of vitamin deficiencies, fungal diseases, allergies and CNS disorders will proceed according to different schemes and with the use of different drugs and methods.

Cracks on the hands due to diabetes, metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders, endocrine diseases do not have a clear localization. As a result of the disease, the skin becomes dry on other parts of the body. So, with hypothyroidism, cracks can first appear on the skin of the elbows and knees, and then on the hands. But with diabetes, problems arise with the treatment of wounds, which heal very poorly due to the high level of glucose in the blood.

In pellagra, an unusual crust prone to cracking can cover all the hands if they are not protected from the sun's rays. Similar areas can appear on other exposed areas of the body. And for Sjogren's syndrome, in addition to cracks on the hands, dry eyes with complaints of itching, burning and pain, photophobia, dry mucous membranes of the oral cavity with the formation of painful cracks on the lips and in the corners of the mouth, atrophy of the mucous membranes of the genitals, rheumatoid lesions of muscles and joints, diseases of the respiratory system and kidneys, etc. are characteristic.

It is very difficult to judge the cause of cracked skin in adults without a visual examination and consultation with a dermatologist, given that cracks on the hands can appear even in a child, and childhood does not greatly limit the list of possible causes of such changes in the skin.

For example, cracks on the hands of children, as well as adults, can appear under the influence of detergents (soap), cold (children's skin is delicate, so too low temperatures can harm it), soil, sunlight, wind, etc. Both adults and children sometimes have an unusual reaction to the cold, which is called an allergy to frost. In this case, the skin turns very red, and then begins to itch and peel, sometimes with the formation of microcracks and ulcers.

Children, like their older relatives, may have diseases such as diabetes, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, which can appear at any age and are accompanied by the formation of cracks on the hands and feet. In childhood, these diseases often proceed differently than in adults, so cracking and itching of the skin may be only the first signs of a disease that parents did not even suspect. Isn't this a serious reason to show the child to a specialist when such symptoms appear, if this helps to catch the disease at the very beginning?

During adolescence, skin changes are usually associated with hormonal surges, so it is not surprising if the skin of a teenager becomes too oily or dry for a while. But even in this case, one should not exclude the influence of possible pathological factors hidden inside the body. Perhaps this is an incipient disease, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat.

Diagnostics cracked hands

Cracks on the hands themselves say little about the reasons that caused their appearance, so the result of self-diagnosis is often erroneous. Even an experienced therapist and dermatologist, who you should contact about dry and cracked skin, cannot always immediately make a clear verdict. In order to get an accurate diagnosis, sometimes you have to undergo multiple examinations.

A preliminary diagnosis, which will tell the doctor in what direction to conduct further research, requires a physical examination and a dialogue with the patient. After all, in order to understand the cause of the symptom, it is necessary to clarify what factors preceded its appearance. The dermatologist may ask whether the skin had contact with household chemicals the day before, clarify the patient's profession (such a symptom may be a consequence of professional activity, when a person's hands are regularly exposed to water, cold, earth or chemicals) and the peculiarities of his diet. It is clear that if there are other symptoms of malaise, you will definitely need to tell the doctor about them.

More information about the pathology can be given to the doctor by the results of tests. A general blood and urine test will tell about the condition of the patient's internal organs. Blood biochemistry will help not only to clarify the condition of the organs, but also to obtain information about the metabolism, to identify a deficiency of vitamins and microelements. A blood test for glucose will help to assess the concentration of unprocessed sugar in the body and to identify such a pathology as diabetes. If helminthiasis is suspected (and vitamin deficiencies often develop against the background of this pathology), you will have to take a stool and blood test.

If the cracks become inflamed and heal poorly, the doctor will take a scraping of the wound contents for bacteriological analysis. In this way, it is possible to detect the pathogen that caused the tissue inflammation (and this can be either bacteria or fungi).

If cracks appear on reddened, inflamed skin covered with a layer of scales, it will be necessary to scrape the tissue in this area. This will help differentiate lesions of dermatitis and eczema from lesions of psoriasis, fungal infection and other diseases that have similar manifestations.

If we are talking about diseases of an allergic nature, then in this case it is advisable to do a test to identify the allergen. This will help in the future to avoid contact with the substance that causes allergic reactions, and make the choice of drugs for the treatment of dryness and cracks on the hands more effective.

If a hormonal imbalance is suspected, your doctor may order a blood test to check your hormone levels.

Doctors rarely resort to instrumental diagnostics of cracks in the skin of hands and feet. For example, ultrasound and other types of examinations may be prescribed rather to assess the degree of damage to organs by identified diseases (helminthiasis, diabetes, autoimmune diseases).

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Differential diagnosis

Since there are quite a few reasons for cracks on the hands, and the symptom itself says little, a doctor is required to have a certain level of professionalism when conducting differential diagnostics, since different reasons will indicate completely different pathologies in the body. And even if we are talking about an allergic reaction, it is important to differentiate diseases of this nature from each other so that the diagnosis is as accurate as possible. For example, a doctor must clearly understand what he is dealing with: an allergy, or dermatitis developing against the background of a predisposition to allergic reactions.

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Complications and consequences

Peeling and cracks on the hands could be considered a cosmetic defect, if not for the suffering they bring to their owners. After all, a crack in the skin, even the shallowest, can cause quite sensitive pain, which intensifies in the cold. Under the influence of water and detergents, when bending fingers or clenching them into a fist, etc. Any manual work becomes a noticeable test for a person, because it is associated with pain.

For women, the appearance of unsightly cracks and peeling on the hands is a double disaster, because women's hands, as has been the custom since ancient times, should be a source of pride for a lady, and not a reason for condemnation. Dry, peeling skin with wounds and red spots looks very unkempt, and no manicure can fix the situation. That is, when such defects appear on the hands, a woman is forced to experience not only pain, but also shame, irritation, self-doubt and lack of attractiveness.

But treating painful cracks turns out to be not so easy. If a wound on a leg or other part of the body can be treated with an antiseptic, lubricated with ointment and covered with a bandage (or sealed with a plaster), which will prevent infection and allow the wound to heal quickly, then cracks on the hands will be more difficult. Our hands are constantly in motion: they take something, wash, clean, wash, and they themselves regularly have to be washed, so neither a plaster nor a bandage helps effectively protect the wound from negative factors so that it heals faster.

It turns out that the wound is often unprotected and an infection can easily get into it. Redness of a crack on the hands in most cases indicates that the wound has become inflamed due to dirt, bacteria, and fungal infection. If nothing is done in this case, then pus will appear at the site of redness after a while, which will further complicate the treatment. And it can have unpleasant consequences in the form of sepsis (blood poisoning).

This is despite the fact that so far we have been talking about cracks that appeared as a result of exposure to external factors. But a change in the skin condition can be a symptom of a disease. And it does not matter how dangerous the disease is. Take, for example, an allergy. A local allergic reaction itself does not pose a great danger, although it has unpleasant manifestations. But if such reactions occur regularly, a person may develop a disease such as atopic dermatitis, the treatment of which is sometimes quite difficult.

In addition, it is quite difficult to predict how the immune system will behave with each subsequent contact with an allergen. At first, these may be local reactions, and in the future, it is not surprising that general ones will appear (runny nose, sneezing, coughing, laryngeal edema, etc.), which in turn can lead to the appearance of chronic diseases (rhinitis, bronchitis, otitis, bronchial asthma, etc.).

If a crack on a finger does not heal for a long time, this may indicate a complication such as infection of the wound or be a sign of diabetes. With this disease, cracks and ulcers on the skin appear quite quickly, but heal with great difficulty. Ignoring such a symptom, you can start a disease that causes complications in various human organs.

What can I say, whatever the disease that reminds us of itself with dry skin and cracks on the hands, it cannot be ignored. After all, the earlier the pathology is detected, the greater the chances of coping with it or at least preventing possible complications.

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Prevention

Prevention of dry and cracked skin is not so complicated as to cause significant difficulties. Popular preventive measures include:

• Regular protection of hands from adverse weather conditions (in frosty weather you need to wear mittens and gloves, you cannot go out in the cold and wind with wet or steamed hands, in the summer the skin of the hands needs to be protected with special sunscreens, in the winter - creams to protect against cold and wind).
• Protection from adverse environmental conditions (working in the garden, repairs, washing dishes, cleaning the apartment using household chemicals, etc., these are activities in which it is advisable to protect your hands with fabric and rubber gloves).
• If work is carried out without gloves, the skin of the hands should be protected with products that form a strong film on the skin surface (silicone glue has such properties), or at least with regular protective creams. After finishing work that can increase skin dryness (for example, washing clothes or painting), it is advisable to lubricate the hands with glycerin, lanolin, any moisturizing or greasy cream.
• Hygiene is a prerequisite for a healthy lifestyle. But for washing hands it is recommended to use mild detergents, for example, baby or cosmetic soap, bath soap with glycerin, liquid soap (laundry soap, although considered the most natural, has a strong drying effect, so it is not suitable for dry skin of hands).
• After washing your hands with tap water, you must dry your skin with a towel, but do so gently, without rubbing or using electric dryers.
• It is necessary to regularly carry out care procedures for the skin of the hands. These can be baths, compresses, masks and hand creams with a moisturizing and nourishing effect. When choosing professional cosmetics, you need to pay attention to what age category they are intended for.
• People who have allergic reactions should definitely identify the allergen that is causing the symptoms. In the future, it is better to avoid contact with such substances and take antihistamines.
• To avoid a deficiency of vitamins and minerals useful for the skin in the body, you need to switch to a balanced diet, adjusting your diet towards healthy products. In the spring-winter period, when the vitamin content in vegetables and fruits is noticeably reduced, it is useful to switch to vitamin-mineral complexes.
• In any case, you need to try to avoid stress, which, it turns out, can have a negative effect on the condition of our skin, manifesting itself in the form of itching and cracks on the hands.
• If you have noticed unusual symptoms indicating the development of the disease, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible for advice and treatment, which will help prevent such disorders in the body that lead to increased dryness and roughness of the skin of the hands and feet.

Cracks on the hands are usually not the first sign of pathology, but its complication, indicating that a person simply overlooked the onset of the disease and is now reaping the fruits of his carelessness and inattention to his body. However, this is not yet a sentence, which means that it is worth fighting for your health and the beauty of your skin.

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Forecast

Cracks on the hands are not a life-threatening pathology and, if desired, can be treated without consequences and marks on the skin. Complications can usually arise in the absence of treatment for deep bleeding cracks, failure to comply with hand hygiene requirements, insufficient protection of wounds from contamination (especially when working with soil, dirty water, raw meat, swimming in open water, etc.). The prognosis is not so favorable when cracks appear on the hands of patients with diabetes, for whom any wounds heal for a very long time and are therefore more susceptible to infection.

Surgical treatment of a skin defect is usually not used, unless the lack of timely and effective treatment of a deep crack leads to infection and severe tissue necrosis of the finger (gangrene), which will have to be amputated to stop the process. This situation is possible in patients with diabetes.

Cracks on fingers and palms may not pose a big danger, but the pain and itching that accompany them can seriously ruin a person's life, and the treatment of such defects can take several days and weeks. Perhaps, in this regard, it is worth thinking about how to prevent cracks on hands and feet.