Have you been having itchy palms of late? Your hand palms are a very important part of your body. The region is also known as a broad palm or a metacarpus, and consists of a wrist joint, seventeen muscles, as well as five-finger bones.
On any given day, you will find that you use your palms when performing most of your tasks. For instance, you rely on your palms when driving, when preparing meals, as well as when you are exercising. As you can see, it would be very difficult for you to perform the important day-to-day tasks if your palms were not fully functional. Itchy palms can therefore make it very difficult for you to go through your daily activities.
What causes itchy palms and what is the meaning, superstition and myth?
What does it mean when your left palm is itchy?
Traditionally, you will find that superstitions are primarily based on beliefs and are not supported by any facts. As much as the idea that there exists a link between your itchy left palm and receiving or giving money appears to be common across the world, how you interpret it will depend on your location.
For instance, you will find that in most Eastern European countries and cities such as Belarus, Bulgaria, and Romania, an itching left hand will normally be associated with money related matters. In Bulgaria and Belarus, when the left hand itches, it means that the individual in question is going to be getting some money on that day, or in the near future.
However, in places like Romania, you will find that such a superstition is only applicable to small kids. An itching right hand will be linked to receiving a good fortune, while an itching left hand on a child implies that the kid will receive be beaten.
Itchy palms meaning
Globally, you will find that there are varying superstitions and beliefs pertaining to itches occurring on your let palm or hand. According to one Italian superstition, an itching left hand means that you will have some money coming your way soon. There is an old women tale, which claims that an itch-taking place on the left palm means that you will be receiving a letter soon, while there is yet another superstition, which states that if the left palm begins to itch, an individual will be losing money.
In contrast, you will find that if your right palm was to start itching, the same old women tale claims that this person was set to come across some finances. Nevertheless, an itchy right hand has always seen to be a sign of a bad omen.
There is a tale that warns an itching right hand is a sign of poverty and financial loss, while another tale views the itching right hand as an indication of a greeting from a fool. When it comes to superstitious folk belief, the secrets pertaining to the future are not viewed as an exclusive domain applicable to adults only.
Itchy palms superstition
Even though the term superstition often involves a different feeling in each person, the mere fact that it allows us to ponder speaks volumes about our vulnerability when it comes to psychological matters. Globally, one of the widely known superstitions is the one that is associated with an itching palm.
You will find that there are very many theories pertaining to itchy palms. The fact that this personal beliefs are associated with superstition is something, which is bound to compound the mind even further. Let us look at some of them below:
Itchy left palm myth
In some areas, an itching left palm will be associated with money leaving your possession. Often, it implies that you will pay out money, and not receive any. According to numerous superstitious belies, when the left palm begins to itch, it means that the affected individual will most likely end up spending a large sum of money, or will lose a lot of money in a financial situation that will come without any warning whatsoever.
In today’s world, many people associate payments of huge bills will a left palm that is itchy. It is believed that touching wood or rubbing wood when the left palm begins to itch helps transfer the unwanted energy that had built up. There are also people who believe that an itching left palm means that you will receive money an unexpected point in your life, and it will come when you require it the most.
Itchy right palm
For many years, it has been believed that an itching right palm is an indication that you will receive money, or one of your financial investments will go kaput. According to one ancient pagan belief, when you scratch your palm when the tingling sensation hits you, it means that you will experience a loss.
As such, many people choose to bear with this sensation or rub their itching palms on the nearest wood that they can find. Touchwood is a term that traces its roots back to pagan beliefs, which imply that coming into contact with sacred wood helps ward off the wrath of spirits, while assisting you seek blessings, which in turn provide hope against crashing in the coming days.
Most palmists believe that an itching right palm is symbolic of active energy transfer, which in turn will bring in money. During the Renaissance era as well as the late middle Ages, there was a belief that an itching right palm meant that a new person was being brought to life.
What causes itchy palms?
It is important to note that itching palms are not deemed to be a disease, but are instead considered to mean that a person has a skin condition. Below are some of the primary causes of itchy palms:
Diabetes
According to WebMD, Eruptive xanthomatosis is a condition that is normally associated with the presence of an uncontrollable amount of blood glucose levels, which in turn causes itchy palms amongst people who are diabetic. Additional symptoms of the condition include high cholesterol levels, presence of small yellowish bumps, and itching in other body areas.
The condition is known to improve when your blood glucose levels begin to go back to their normal state. Even though no other treatment is available, it is recommended that a person take the condition seriously, as it can be a warning that a person has a heart disease.
Bumps on palms
Dyshidrosis or dyshidrotic eczema is a condition of the skin where blisters start to develop on the palm of the hands, as well as on the soles of the feet. Often, the blisters tend to be quite itchy, and may come accompanied by a fluid-like substance. On occurrence, the blisters will normally last for between two and four weeks.
Bumps on palms may cause itching.
Most medical experts do not know what causes this condition. There is however, a belief among the experts that the condition could be related to seasonal allergies such as hay fever. As such, you may find that these blisters will start to appear during the spring season.
Pregnancy
During late pregnancy, you will find that there are women who will experience severe itching in their palms. Normally, itchy palms on a pregnant woman are caused by cholestasis. It is a liver disease that is only common among women who are pregnant.
In this condition, you will find that the normal bile flow in the woman’s gall bladder will be affected by the presence of high pregnancy hormones. Normally, the condition occurs during the last pregnancy trimester, as this is when the hormones are at their peak, but will often go a few days after the woman has delivered her baby.
STDs
According to the recent trends noted in STDS, itchy palms have become a common symptom that can be used to catch these conditions early on before they become problematic. Itching palms are common in people with STDs, and are becoming more common with each passing day. One of the STDs known to cause this condition is syphilis, hence the need to be tested as soon as possible.
Palms itching at night
A number of factors, which include the following, can cause itchy palms at night:
Dry skin
It causes your palms to become very dry. You will therefore find that dryness, flakiness, and inflammation from your skin will then lead to your palms becoming very itchy. There are certain factors that have been known to cause dry skin, which may include sun light exposure, weather changes, and being exposed to air-conditioning.
Having dry skin is also referred to as xerosis cutis. On the other hand, extremely dry skin is known as dermatitis, which comes in four types namely: contact, eczema, and atopic dermatitis.
Allergies
Another common cause of itching palms is an allergic reaction. it is common for allergies to take place when your immune system mistakes a substance that is not normally harmful to you as being harmful. Such substances may comprise of grass, pollen, and detergents.
When exposed to such substances, your immune system will respond by releasing histamines. When this happens, eczema, rashes, and hives, as well as other types of skin eruptions may start to occur, and this may lead to your skin becoming very itchy at night. Additionally, nutritional deficiencies, and poor digestion are other causes of allergic reactions.
Scabies
The condition is not only contagious, but it also happens to be very itchy, and is often caused by an itch mite called Sarcoptes scabiei. It is a small eight-legged bug, which is known to dig into your skin. Common scabies symptoms include scales, itchy palms, wrists, and tiny blisters.
Itchy palms no rash
It is common for itchy skin to result from a condition such as a rash. According to Mayo clinic, itching takes place in small patches all over your body, and in some cases, your entire body could be affected by the itching. Often, bumps, blisters, dryness, redness, or roughness will accompany the affected skin.
There are a number of conditions, which may result in an itchy skin without a rash, and which include:
- Kidney failure
- Lymphoma
- Cholestasis
Home Remedies and treatments
Have your palms become really itchy of late? Itchy palms are a common skin condition affecting many people across the globe. Depending on the itchiness severity, the condition could range between being mild annoying to being intensely aggravating, at which point it may end up disrupting your day-to-day activities, including your normal sleeping pattern.
There are a number of factors that are known to cause itching palms and which include dry weather, allergic reactions, as well as skin infections. Even though scratching your palms will provide you with momentary relief, it may also lead to you incurring infections or injuries. The good news is that there are home remedies that you can use to obtain relief from the itching skin on your palms.
Baking soda
It is one of the most common home remedies relied upon when a person is dealing with itching palms, as well as when dealing with rashes on your skin. The home remedy comes with a soothing effect, thanks to the presence of anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to having an acid neutralizer, which does away with the itchiness.
What to do at home
- Measure a single sup of this home remedy and pour it into a bathtub that you have filled with cold water. Stir the water well to ensure that the baking soda is distributed properly. You will then need to soak in the bathing water for at least one hour. Once this time has elapsed, get out of the tub, and proceed to pat your skin dry using a towel. You need to soak in this water at least once each day
- For localized itchiness, such as the one on your palms, you need to prepare a baking soda paste by combining three teaspoons of baking soda with a single tablespoon of warm water. Take this paste and proceed to apply it over the affected areas of your palm, making sure to leave the paste in place for at least ten minutes. Ensure you apply the paste on your palms once each day
Make sure that your palms do not have any open wounds before using the baking soda
Colloidal oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is the term used for oats that have been ground to form a fine powder, and which comes in handy when you are looking to soothe and comfort skin that it extremely itchy. The oatmeal comes with soothing, anti-irritating, and anti-inflammatory properties, all of which will provide you with instant relief from the itchiness.
What to do at home
- Take a small amount of water and add two tablespoons of colloidal oatmeal to it. You will then need to leave it as it is until it begins to thicken to form a paste like substance, which has equal consistency. You will need to take this mixture and apply it over your itchy palms, before covering your palms using a piece of cloth, and leaving them for at least half an hour.
- If your entire body is itchy, you will need to add two cups of colloidal oatmeal to the bathtub that has been filled with warm water. Stir the water properly to allow the colloidal oatmeal to mix with the water, before proceeding to soak your body in it for the next twenty minutes. It is recommended that you do not use hot water as it may end up irritating your skin even further. Depending on the severity of the itchiness, you may need to take an oatmeal bath for as many as three times a day
Cool water
It has been found that the sensations of itching and cold both travel using the same nerve fibers in the human body. As such, applying cool water in a skin area that is affected will assist in brining instant relief from any itchiness affecting you. You can use cool water to cool itchy palms in a number of ways:
- Take a cool bath or shower
- Place your palms under cool water and allow it to run for as long as needed
- Apply a wet cloth or a cold compress on the area that is affected
- Take an ice cube wrapped using a cloth and place it over the affected region
Lemon
Lemon has been used by many people across the world to deal with itching palms for many years. It contains acetic and citric acids, both of which come with anti-irritating, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
What to do at home
- Take two lemons and extract the juice from them
- Use a cotton ball to apply the extracted lemon juice all over your palms
- Allow it enough time to dry out on its own, before washing the entire area using warm water
- Repeat application at least two times a day until you notice an improvement
Note: People with sensitive skin should not use this remedy
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar comes with antibacterial, anti-itching, and antiseptic properties, which assist in eliminating all itchiness from your skin surface.
What to do at home
- Measure three cups of acv and add them to your bathing water. You will need to soak in the bathing water for between fifteen and thirty minutes. Once this is done, take a towel and use it to dry your palms, before applying moisturizer over the area that is affected. It is recommended that you do this each day
- Alternatively, you can take a cotton ball and use it to apply the acv over your affected palms. Allow the acv to stay in place for thirty minutes before you can rinse it off using water. Repeat application at least two times each day
Cloves and juniper berries
Cloves and juniper berries can be used to come up with an excellent remedy for the itching palms. The juniper berries contain great anti-inflammatory properties, while the cloves come with essential oils needed to numb your nerve endings to assist eliminate the itchiness.
What to do at home
- Take six teaspoons of unsalted butter and melt it in your saucepan
- Place two teaspoons of beeswax in a second saucepan
- Take the melted butter and combine it with your melted beeswax and proceed to stir it gently
- Measure five teaspoons of ground juniper berries as well as three teaspoons of ground cloves
- Allow this mixture enough time to cool down
- Take the mixture and apply it over the affected areas, before leaving it through the night
- When you wake up the next day, wash off the mixture using warm water
- You will need to repeat application each day
Thyme
It contains a significant amount of thymol. Thymol comes with anti-inflammatory and contains anesthetic properties as well. It comes in handy in numbing your nerve fibres, as well as in reducing inflammation, which can lead to itchiness.
What to do at home
- Take a single teaspoon of dried thyme leaves and place them in three cups of boiling water
- Cover this solution and allow it enough time for it to cool down
- Ensure you strain the solution properly
- Take a clean cloth and use it to apply this solution on the skin that is affected
- You will need to repeat application for as many times as you see fit
- Leftover solution can be placed in a jar and used at a later date, or in the next application
You can also relieve itching palms by using vitamin C and Quercetin supplements, both of which come with an antihistamine effect, and is highly useful when dealing with allergies, which may be causing an allergic reaction. You can also rely on Vitamin B6, which is known to assist in reducing the inflammation of your nerves, as well as itching palms that have been caused by the carpal tunnel syndrome.
References;
- http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/skin-care-articles/itchy-palms
- http://www.livestrong.com/article/303693-itchy-skin-on-the-palms-of-the-hands/
- https://www.reference.com/health/causes-itchy-palms-diabetics-c0118b38ae426123
- http://www.simple-remedies.com/home-remedies/diabetes-mellitus/itchy-palms-diabetes.html
- http://itchy-itch.blogspot.com/2012/07/std-related-to-itchy-palms.html
