Comments on: Why are my hands independently behaving like they've been soaked in water?

Question: Why are my hands independently behaving like they've been soaked in water?

blue_wardrobe — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:06:46 -0800

Just recently, my fingers and hands are suddenly going prune-like (shriveled and wrinkled at the ends), just as though I've had a long bath. When it happens, it happens for a few minutes at a time, and then they return to normal. I get a few episodes in an hour or so, then nothing for a few days. Oh, and it's mostly one hand at a time. The beginning and end of each episode seems quite short duration. While I can't exactly see the wrinkles develop or disappear, they appear or disappear within about two to three minutes. What gives?

By: numinous

numinous — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:13:47 -0800

IANAD, so my first suggestion would be to consult a dermatologist. My first medically-uneducated guess would be that you're dehydrated, but that seems a little too reductive, given that the "prune-like-ness" of your fingers only lasts a couple of minutes. Are you perhaps touching a common item/object before the onset of symptoms occur? It may be an allergic reaction to something which only manifests itself for a short period after exposure.

This woman has experienced similar symptoms. Obligitory disclaimer: I do not suggest you take this as medical advice or information suggestive of your own condition.

By: 517

517 — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:39:33 -0800

The skin on your hands gets pruney after a bath because the cells in the skin get hyper-hydrated. Dehydration would not do this.

If I had to guess, (and this is a complete guess) I would say that something is causing a shift in the osmotic pressure within the cells of the skin of your hand. This shift is causing them to absorb more water from your blood and expand. Since it only occurs in one hand, it's probably related to something you have touched.

I would also say that the oddness factor alone makes it worthy of seeing a real doctor about.

By: IndigoRain

IndigoRain — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:08:04 -0800

It's not a standard manifestation, but I suppose it could be Raynaud's.

By: Divine_Wino

Divine_Wino — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:56:57 -0800

Go to a doctor. You need to see a doctor.

By: Ruki

Ruki — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:56:12 -0800

For what it's worth, this happens to me, too. For me, the best I can think of is anxiety and the subsequent sweaty palms.

By: Ruki

Ruki — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:02:09 -0800

And if I had read numinous's link before I posted, I could have added that I also have mitral valve prolapse and dysautonomia in the form of inappropriate sinus tachycardia. So, that's weird.

By: effugas

effugas — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 03:42:13 -0800

Divine Wino is correct. There are a number of potentially innocent explanations, but anything that's visibly altering your body's ability to handle fluids is a sign that medical examination needs to be scheduled immediately.

By: blue_wardrobe

blue_wardrobe — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:13:29 -0800

@IndigoRain: thanks for the thought. A number of the Raynaud's websites mention the possibility that a pinched nerve could be involved if it's not Raynaud's. I happen to have a pinched nerve above my shoulder blade on the primarily affect arm rear its ugly head today. Extremely painful, and I wonder if it's been getting irritated for a little while before I felt it.

I'll give it a few days of Aleve and see what happens. Then perhaps the doctor.