what are these marks in my palm?

March 31, 2015 3:01 AM

These marks or similar appear in my right palm from time to time. They are mildly painful, and eventually fade away, but nothing makes them improve or go away. YANMD, but - does this look at all familiar?

It seems too trivial to make a doctor's appointment for, but here's why I kind of worry: checking a Chinese medicine diagram, this is the area for the gall bladder. 2.5 years ago, I had my gall bladder removed by a lunatic surgeon (goofy variety; designated by my then-GP), and these marks started after that, sometimes lasting for months. And while surely psychosomatic, I feel localized twinges in the area of my missing gall bladder, coincident with the arrival of these "stigmata." My blood work last summer was fine.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)

That looks like eczema, to me. I'd consult a doctor to get a treatment for it.
posted by happyroach at 3:07 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

I agree that it looks like eczema. Have you tried a mild steroid cream?
posted by missmagenta at 3:15 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Looks like a fungal infection (tinea manuum) to me.

And no, it's not too trivial to see a doctor for a recurring infection. If it's a fungal infection, it can take months to resolve with medication.
posted by ellenaim at 3:19 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Um. It's not your gall bladder.

Could be fungal or a contact allergy. Do you live in a wooded area? Could be that you periodically come in contact with dogwood or poison oak or something like that.
posted by deathpanels at 3:45 AM on March 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

Nthing eczema. I get a small patch once in a great while at the base of my thumb. I've never done anything about it, just ignore it until it goes away. It might be bothersome enough in the middle of your hand to see someone about.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:28 AM on March 31, 2015

Palms of hands are a very reasonable place to get a fungal spot. Buy some OTC athlete's foot cream, dab it on there morning and evening, and you should know by the end of the week if it's making a difference. If it is, just keep up with the cream for at least a week after it seems to be entirely gone. Then if it keeps coming back, that's time to see the doctor.
posted by aimedwander at 4:58 AM on March 31, 2015

If it were eczema, it would be itchy. It's definitely not so trivial as to avoid seeing a dermatologist.
posted by kisch mokusch at 5:04 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you check two or three different Chinese medicine accupressure charts for the right hand, you'll find the gall bladder (and every other organ) all over the place. So relating this to the gall bladder is simply confirmation bias. This is just a skin problem on your hand; see a dermatologist.
posted by beagle at 6:03 AM on March 31, 2015

Eczema is not necessarily itchy, actually. Get an appointment with a dermatologist, it'll be an easy conversation.
posted by lydhre at 6:45 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

My kids' pediatrician once said, "put some OTC cortisone cream on that and see if it gets better. If cortisone makes it worse, try some anti-fungal." I forgot this rule, thought I was dying from some strange rash, making emergency dermatologist appointments - finally tried 88 cent walmart antifungal cream and it was a little better in an hour and completely gone in a few days. I cancelled the derm appt. Something to try while you're waiting to see a dermatologist.
posted by artychoke at 7:09 AM on March 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

Put triple antibiotic cream on it at night, and sleep wearing a cotton glove. It looks like you may clutch this tight when you sleep and cut your palm with your own fingernails. Make sure your nails are cut short and filed to be dull edged. Get an anti fungal cream too, if the antibiotic doesn't do it then hit it with the other. Or do anti fungal at night, and antibiotic in the day.
posted by Oyéah at 8:47 AM on March 31, 2015

I have this exact thing - that could be a picture of my hand. I don't know exactly what it is.

It usually comes and goes with the cold, dry weather. For me, it is mitigated by consistently wearing gloves when going outside in the cold, and it is almost cured by consistent use of steroid creams (which I generally don't do, because it's only mildly painful, and I hate using creams of all kinds). For me, it occurs in both hands, though, mostly on the palms, to some extend on the fingers too.

I still have my gallbladder, btw.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 2:44 PM on March 31, 2015

It really does look fungal. Easy fix but takes a couple of weeks, otc cream will work just fine and be sure to follow the instructions and continue to use for a while after the symptoms go away.
posted by nenequesadilla at 6:26 PM on April 3, 2015

I developed an allergy to a preservative in wet wipes (search "allergy to methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone") and this is exactly what happens to one part of my hand whenever I come in contact with it (it is also in shampoos and soaps). So if you use wet wipes, check for methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone in the ingredients and if present discontinue using them for awhile to see if that helps.
posted by wherever, whatever at 2:04 PM on April 5, 2015

Eczema is not necessarily itchy, actually. Get an appointment with a dermatologist, it'll be an easy conversation.

If it is atopic eczema we're talking about, it absolutely is itchy. Pruritus is the defining feature!
posted by kisch mokusch at 8:57 AM on May 25, 2015