What disease is palmar erythema?
Jan 03, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
In general, liver palms (palmar erythema) are a physical sign closely associated with liver disease, rather than an independent disease. Liver palms are mainly characterized by patchy congestion, red spots, or patches on the skin of the thenar and hypothenar eminences at the base of the thumb and little finger. The affected areas turn pale when pressed and return to red after pressure is released, while the center of the palm maintains a normal color.
Generally, liver palms (palmar erythema) are a physical sign closely associated with liver disease rather than an independent disease. Detailed analysis is as follows:
Liver palms are mainly characterized by patchy congestion or red spots or patches on the skin of the thenar and hypothenar eminences at the bases of the thumb and little finger. These areas turn pale when pressed and return to red when pressure is released, while the center of the palm maintains a normal color. Liver palms are one of the important markers of chronic hepatitis, especially cirrhosis, and can also occasionally appear in a few healthy individuals.
The formation of liver palms is closely related to multiple factors, including genetic factors, hormonal imbalance, liver diseases, and other chronic illnesses. Among these, liver disease is the primary cause of liver palms. When the liver is affected by pathological factors such as inflammation, fibrosis, or tissue damage, it may lead to decreased liver function and weakened detoxification ability, thereby affecting the inactivation of estrogen. This results in elevated estrogen levels, which stimulate capillary dilation and lead to the formation of liver palms.
In daily life, it is important to maintain healthy habits, avoid alcohol consumption, ensure adequate sleep, and avoid excessive fatigue in order to protect normal liver function.
