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What's wrong with cracked, dry, hard, and itchy palms?

Nov 29, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Cracked, dry, hard, and itchy palms may be caused by skin dehydration, exposure to irritants, tinea manuum (fungal infection), eczema, or contact dermatitis. Symptoms can be improved by moisturizing, avoiding irritants, and medical treatment. If symptoms worsen or are accompanied by redness, swelling, or fluid oozing, prompt medical attention is necessary. Dry skin or insufficient water intake can lead to moisture loss and dryness of the stratum corneum.

Cracking, dryness, and itching of the palms may result from skin dehydration, exposure to irritants, tinea manuum (fungal infection), eczema, or contact dermatitis. Symptoms can be improved by moisturizing, avoiding irritants, and medical treatment. If symptoms worsen or are accompanied by redness, swelling, or fluid oozing, prompt medical attention is necessary.

1. Skin Dehydration: In dry climates or with insufficient water intake, the skin on the palms loses moisture, causing the stratum corneum to become dry, thickened, and brittle, leading to cracking and dryness. Nerve irritation from dryness causes itching. It is recommended to drink more than 1500 mL of water daily, apply moisturizer immediately after handwashing, and avoid frequent contact with water.

2. Exposure to Irritants: Prolonged contact with chemical substances such as detergents or disinfectants, or repeated friction on the palms, can damage the skin barrier, resulting in dryness, hardening, cracking, and itching. It is advised to wear rubber gloves when handling chemicals, minimize palm friction, and use gentle cleansing products.

3. Tinea Manuum (Fungal Infection): A fungal infection affecting the palm skin invades the stratum corneum, causing thickening, dryness, scaling, and severe cases may develop cracks, along with intermittent itching. Patients may use antifungal medications such as clotrimazole cream, terbinafine hydrochloride gel, or itraconazole capsules under medical guidance to relieve symptoms.

4. Eczema: Palm eczema triggered by genetic factors or allergies leads to skin inflammation, causing hyperplasia, dryness, and hardening of the stratum corneum. Scratching easily causes cracking and intense itching. It is recommended to use medications such as desonide cream, urea ointment, or loratadine syrup under a doctor's supervision to alleviate discomfort.

5. Contact Dermatitis: After contact with allergens such as metals or pollen, inflammatory reactions occur on the palms, manifesting as dryness, hardness, erythema, and fissures, accompanied by noticeable itching. Patients may follow medical advice to use calamine lotion, hydrocortisone butyrate cream, or cetirizine drops to improve symptoms.

Apply moisturizing hand cream promptly after washing hands, avoid scratching affected areas, wear breathable cotton gloves to protect the hands, consume vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables, reduce spicy and irritating foods, and support skin barrier recovery.

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