A burning sensation in the hands can manifest as tingling, prickling, or warmth, ranging from mild irritation to intense discomfort. Understanding its origins is helpful, as it can stem from various sources, some benign and others indicating a more serious underlying issue.
Everyday Triggers
Many instances of burning hands arise from common daily activities. Prolonged pressure, such as sleeping with an arm bent awkwardly, can temporarily compress nerves and blood vessels, leading to a transient burning or pins-and-needles sensation. This discomfort resolves once pressure is relieved and circulation returns to normal.
Minor skin irritations are another frequent cause, often resulting from exposure to harsh soaps, detergents, or cleaning chemicals that strip natural oils or cause inflammation. Temporary exposure to extreme temperatures, like very hot water or cold air, can also trigger a burning feeling as the skin reacts to thermal stress. Friction from repetitive actions or minor allergic reactions to common substances, such as certain fabrics or lotions, can cause a localized burning sensation. Repetitive strain from activities like prolonged typing or manual labor can irritate nerves and tendons, leading to temporary discomfort.
Medical Explanations
Beyond everyday occurrences, a burning sensation in the hands can be a symptom of various medical conditions, many involving the nervous system.
Neurological Conditions
Peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, frequently causes burning, tingling, or numbness in the hands and feet. This nerve damage can result from conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, where high blood sugar levels can impair nerve function. Vitamin deficiencies, particularly of B12, can also lead to nerve damage and burning sensations because B12 is involved in nerve sheath maintenance.
Alcohol abuse can also contribute to peripheral neuropathy by directly damaging nerve tissue. Certain medications, especially chemotherapy drugs, can induce nerve damage as a side effect. Autoimmune diseases, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome, can cause the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack parts of the peripheral nervous system, leading to rapid onset of weakness and sensory changes, including burning.
Nerve compression, like in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes squeezed, often from repetitive hand movements or anatomical factors, resulting in burning, tingling, and numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger.
Skin Conditions
Skin conditions can also manifest with a burning feeling. Eczema, an inflammatory skin condition, causes dry, itchy, and sometimes burning patches on the skin. Contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction to a substance touching the skin, can produce a burning rash. Erythromelalgia is a rare condition characterized by episodes of intense burning pain, warmth, and redness, affecting the hands and feet due to abnormal blood vessel dilation.
Circulatory and Systemic Issues
Circulatory issues may also be responsible for these sensations. Raynaud’s phenomenon involves temporary spasms of small arteries, often in the fingers and toes, reducing blood flow and causing coldness, numbness, and then a burning sensation as blood flow returns. Generalized poor circulation, stemming from conditions like peripheral artery disease, can also lead to insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues, resulting in burning.
Systemic conditions, affecting the entire body, can also present with hand symptoms. Thyroid disorders, particularly an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), can cause nerve compression or nerve damage, leading to burning or tingling. Kidney disease can lead to a buildup of toxins in the body, which can damage nerves and cause neuropathic symptoms. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, can affect the nervous system and lead to nerve pain, including burning sensations. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that affects an arm or leg, often after an injury, stroke, heart attack, or surgery, and can cause severe burning pain, swelling, and changes in skin temperature or color.
When to Seek Professional Advice
Understanding when a burning sensation in the hands warrants professional medical evaluation is important. If the sensation is persistent or worsens over time, consulting a healthcare provider is an important step. This is particularly true if the burning is accompanied by additional symptoms, such as numbness or weakness.
Loss of coordination, difficulty with fine motor skills, or noticeable changes in skin appearance, like unexplained rashes, sores, or discoloration, are also signs that require medical attention. The presence of significant pain or swelling alongside the burning sensation suggests an underlying issue that needs diagnosis. If the burning sensation interferes with daily activities, such as holding objects, typing, or performing self-care tasks, it warrants professional guidance. A healthcare professional can identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate management strategies.
At-Home Comfort Measures
For less severe or intermittent burning sensations in the hands, several at-home comfort measures can provide relief. Applying a cool compress to the affected hands can help soothe the sensation. Soaking hands in a basin of cool (but not extremely cold) water can also offer a calming effect.
If dry skin is a contributing factor, regularly applying a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer can help reduce irritation. Avoiding known irritants, such as harsh cleaning chemicals, by wearing protective gloves can prevent skin reactions. Gentle hand exercises, like slowly opening and closing your fists or rotating your wrists, can promote circulation and alleviate discomfort.
Ensuring adequate hydration by drinking plenty of water supports overall bodily function. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help manage mild pain associated with the burning sensation, though it is always advisable to consult a doctor if pain persists or worsens.