A red palm, known as palmar erythema, means the palms are reddened due to dilated blood vessels, often a normal sign during pregnancy or from exertion, but can also signal underlying issues like liver disease (cirrhosis), thyroid problems, autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis), diabetes, or even smoking, so it's best to see a doctor if it persists without an obvious cause, as it may indicate a serious underlying condition.
Palmar erythema, or red palms, is a common condition that happens when the heels of the palms turn red or pink and feel slightly warm. Reasons the palms may turn red include genetics, eczema, psoriasis, pregnancy, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
Palmar erythema is a skin condition that causes the palms of your hands to turn red. It is common during pregnancy but can also result from other conditions. The increased dilatation of surface capillaries in the hand causes redness in the palms. It is not painful or itchy, but it can feel slightly warm.
Key facts. Erythromelalgia is a rare skin condition that causes red, painful, warm skin. It most often affects your feet but can also affect your hands. Erythromelalgia is also known as Weir-Mitchell disease and erythermalgia.
Warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include extreme fatigue, weakness, pale/yellow skin, numbness/tingling (pins and needles), cognitive issues (memory fog, confusion), mood changes (depression/irritability), and a sore, red tongue, alongside potential shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and balance problems, as symptoms develop slowly and can worsen over time. It's crucial to see a GP, as early treatment prevents potentially irreversible neurological damage, say NHS, Cleveland Clinic, and WebMD.
Early signs your liver is struggling often include persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain/bloating (especially upper right), and itchy skin, with changes in urine/stool color and easy bruising also being key indicators, though sometimes symptoms are absent in early stages. Pay attention to changes like dark urine, pale stools, or jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), as these signal the liver isn't filtering toxins or processing bilirubin properly.
Findings in the Hands with Liver Disease
Palmar erythema is a skin condition that makes the palms of your hands turn red. It can be hereditary but can also be the result of a variety of health conditions. It's also relatively common during pregnancy. Palmar erythema is also known as liver palms, red palms, or Lane's disease.
This can include tests that measure:
Hyperthyroidism increases blood flow in the extremities, which often causes the face to flush and the palms to turn red. Hypothyroidism produces the opposite effect and can leave you pale.
Pale or blue skin color. Cold fingers or toes. Numbness.
Blotchy Red Palms: In the short term, red palms might mean you gripped the shovel too hard, washed a few too many dishes, or grabbed the teakettle too soon (or you are pregnant, as red palms may be normal due to increased blood flow).
Erythromelalgia. Erythromelalgia is a rare syndrome in which small arteries (arterioles) of the skin dilate periodically, causing a burning pain, making the skin feel hot, and making the feet and, less often, the hands turn red. Erythromelalgia is a functional peripheral artery disease.
There is no specific treatment for palmar erythema. If an underlying disease process is found to be the cause, this will dictate management. If a drug is thought to be responsible, this should be discontinued if possible. There is no treatment for idiopathic palmar erythema.
Four stages of liver failure define the progression of the disease: Stage 1: Inflammation. Patients may not have any symptoms at this stage, but some people may have tenderness on the right side of their abdomen. Elevated liver enzymes can be a sign of liver inflammation.
Symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
To cleanse your liver, focus on a healthy lifestyle by eating antioxidant-rich foods (berries, leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, citrus), staying hydrated with water and green tea, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drastically reducing or eliminating alcohol, processed foods, and sugar, as your liver naturally detoxifies itself with proper support.
How do you check your liver health?
Some liver and kidney disorders and some urinary tract infections can turn urine dark brown. So can bleeding inside the body called a hemorrhage. A group of illnesses that mainly affect the skin or the nervous system, called porphyria, also can cause brown urine.
Fetor hepaticus is a distinct smell on the breath of someone with liver disease. It happens when your liver can't filter certain toxic substances from your blood anymore. These substances build up in your blood and come out in your breath. You may also detect the same smell in your pee or sweat.
B12 deficiency can trigger specific food cravings, most notably for meat, fish, or eggs, as the body seeks animal-based sources to replenish the vitamin, especially in those on vegetarian/vegan diets or older adults. While cravings for sugary or salty foods can also signal general B-vitamin issues, the distinct urge for protein-rich animal products is a key indicator, but professional testing is crucial for confirmation.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. A diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is often overlooked in its early stages because these signs are not specific to vitamin B12 deficiency alone.
The Boots Vitamin B12 Blood Test Kit checks your vitamin B12 levels, using a finger-prick blood sample. Use of this kit requires internet access. All personal data in relation to this product, services and online platforms are collected and processed by MyHealthChecked.