A burning sensation in the palm can be an uncomfortable and perplexing experience. This feeling, ranging from mild warmth to intense heat, can emerge suddenly or gradually. Understanding its various potential origins helps clarify why it occurs. This article explores several possibilities, from everyday occurrences to underlying health issues, to provide insight into what might be causing the burning.
Immediate and Common Causes
Repetitive motions or sustained pressure on the hands can lead to a burning sensation in the palms. Activities like gripping tools, extensive typing, or certain sports movements create friction or stress on the skin and underlying tissues. This constant rubbing or pressure can irritate nerve endings and superficial blood vessels, resulting in warmth or a direct burning sensation.
Direct contact with extreme temperatures is another common cause of a burning palm. Touching hot surfaces, liquids, or steam can result in thermal burns, activating the skin’s nerve endings and causing immediate pain. Conversely, prolonged cold exposure, such as in freezing conditions, can lead to frostnip, which might manifest as a burning or tingling sensation as the skin rewarms.
Exposure to certain chemical substances can trigger a burning sensation upon contact with the palm. Common household cleaning products, solvents, or some cosmetics contain skin-irritating ingredients. These irritants can disrupt the skin’s protective barrier, leading to an inflammatory response that includes redness, discomfort, and a distinct burning. Severity often depends on the concentration and duration of contact.
An allergic reaction, known as contact dermatitis, frequently causes a burning sensation on the palms. This occurs when the skin contacts a specific allergen, such as metals like nickel, latex, or plants like poison ivy. The immune system reacts to these substances, leading to an inflammatory response that can manifest as redness, itching, and a prominent burning.
Neurological and Systemic Conditions
Nerve compression is a common neurological cause for a burning sensation. Carpal tunnel syndrome, for instance, involves the median nerve becoming compressed in the wrist’s narrow passageway. This compression can lead to symptoms like burning, tingling, and numbness, often affecting the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger, extending to the palm. Other nerve entrapments in the arm or neck can manifest similar sensations.
Damage to small nerve fibers, known as small fiber neuropathy, can cause burning pain, often symmetrically in both hands and feet. These fibers transmit pain and temperature sensations; when damaged, they send abnormal signals to the brain. The burning discomfort can be constant or episodic, varying in intensity.
Erythromelalgia is a rare condition characterized by episodes of intense burning pain, warmth, and redness, typically affecting the hands and feet. Heat, exercise, or standing can trigger these episodes. The condition involves dysfunction in small blood vessels and nerve fibers, leading to severe burning that can be debilitating.
Systemic diseases can contribute to burning sensations in the palms due to their impact on nerve health. Diabetes, for example, can lead to diabetic neuropathy, where high blood sugar levels damage nerve fibers throughout the body, including the hands. Thyroid disorders, particularly an underactive thyroid, can cause nerve compression or damage, resulting in burning or tingling sensations in the extremities.
Skin-Related Conditions
Chronic inflammatory skin conditions can contribute to a burning sensation in the palms. Eczema, a common condition, involves patches of skin becoming inflamed, dry, itchy, and sometimes cracked. The persistent inflammation and dryness can lead to a constant or intermittent burning feeling, particularly if the skin barrier is compromised or exposed to irritants.
Psoriasis is another chronic autoimmune condition that can affect the palms, causing thick, red patches covered with silvery scales. These psoriatic plaques can be intensely itchy and, in some cases, may present with significant burning. Discomfort arises from the rapid turnover of skin cells and the underlying inflammatory process.
Dyshidrotic eczema, a specific type of eczema, commonly affects the palms and soles of the feet. This condition is characterized by the sudden appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters that are intensely itchy. As these blisters develop and sometimes rupture, they can cause a distinct and uncomfortable burning on the palms, along with peeling and cracking skin.
When to Seek Professional Advice
Seek medical attention if a burning sensation in your palm persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms. If the burning is severe, interferes with daily activities, or shows no improvement with self-care, a healthcare professional should evaluate it. Persistent numbness or tingling alongside the burning sensation could indicate nerve involvement requiring a medical diagnosis.
Other warning signs that warrant a doctor’s visit include signs of infection, such as increasing redness, swelling, pus, or warmth around the area. If the burning sensation is accompanied by systemic symptoms like unexplained fever, significant weight loss, or general malaise, consult a physician promptly. When the cause of the burning is unknown, a medical professional can conduct tests to identify the underlying issue.
While awaiting professional advice, some simple measures might offer temporary relief. Cooling the affected area with a cold compress can reduce the burning sensation. Gently washing the hands with a mild, fragrance-free soap and avoiding known irritants can help prevent further aggravation. These actions are not substitutes for a medical evaluation, especially if concerns about the burning exists.