Palms rough when wet

January 26, 2016 8:07 AM

My five year old's palms feel rough when they're wet but normal when they're not wet. What gives?
posted by kristymcj to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

Could it be the same effect that causes fingers to wrinkle when wet - it's an evolutionary thing to improve grip?
posted by pipeski at 8:57 AM on January 26, 2016

Does it look whiter? Are there what look like a bunch of fine scratches? (Usually on the fingers/thumb) If so it might be a fungal infection. Not a really big deal (treat with antifungal cream), but something to bring up during your next doctor visit.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:15 AM on January 26, 2016

Best answer: Anecdata: My husband's pruney hands do this. His fingers get wrinkly but his palms get really rough and feel like scales and it creeps me out. He will literally chase me around the house trying to touch me with his creepy damp reptile prune hands. I didn't know people's hands did that until I met him, because my fingers just get wrinkly. But his hands and feet have always done that. It seems like some people prune differently. Seems normal unless there's something else wrong or it's a sudden development.
posted by Crystalinne at 1:45 PM on January 26, 2016 [2 favorites]