There are many causes for itchy palms and soles. The remedy for itching hands and feet therefore depends upon the exact cause of the itching.
How to Treat Itchy Palms and Soles
The treatment of itchy palms and soles involves general measures and specific measures.
Treatment of Itchy Palms and Soles: General Measures
- Take care of dryness and contact sensitivity to soaps and detergents with regular application of moisturizing creams and use of protective gloves.
- Antihistamines to relieve itching: Whatever be the cause, antihistamines provide symptomatic relief to the itching most of the time, but not always. In mild to moderate itchy palms and soles, long acting antihistamines like cetrizine, terfinadine, levocetrizine etc will suffice. In severe itching of the hands and soles, in addition to long acting antihistamines, short acting antihistamines like chlorpheniramine maleate, hydroxyzine etc are used. These have the added advantage of providing the required sleep and rest.
- Topical doxepin hydrochloride 5% cream is useful as an antipruritic in itchy palms and soles. The cream is applied up to 4 times daily for 8 days. It may cause drowsiness following absorption from skin. People with narrow angle glaucoma and tendency for urinary retention should not use the cream. It should also not be used along with the antidepressants belonging to the class MAO inhibitors.
Treatment of Itchy Palms and Soles: Specific Measures
- Treatment of specific skin diseases causing the itchy palms and soles: Scabies, palmoplantar psoriasis, hand and foot eczema, pompholyx, contact dermatitis, herpes simplex, dry skin, ring worm infestation, lichen planus etc. have specific treatments available that will get rid of the itchy palms and soles or hands and feet.
- Treatment of systemic causes like thyroid diseases, Crohn’s disease, lymphomas, multiple myeloma on their own merits will relieve the itching of palms and soles as well as other places.
- Cholestyramine is effective in controlling itching in cholestatic liver disease.
- Antianxiety and/or antidepressant medications relieve psychogenic itchy palms and soles.
- Naloxone, naltrexone or odansetron help relieve severe itching of hands and feet due to many causes.
- Phototherapy with PUVA or narrow band UVB helps relieve itching in kidney, liver, aquagenic and polycythemia related palmoplantar pruritus. Immersing the hands and feet in psoralen solution diluted with water and exposing to UV radiation is particularly helpful in itchy palms and soles.
- Sweaty palms and soles: Tap water iontophoresis, topical aluminum chloride hexahydrate and botulinum toxin injection help get rid of palmoplantar hyperhidrosis.
- Injection of Vitamin B12, B1 and B6 relieves the itching of palms and soles caused by the deficiency of these vitamins.
The itchy palms and soles remedy is thus dependent upon the exact cause of the itching and diligence and patience is well rewarded in the end.
Related Reading
Reference
- Pruritus, Contact Dermatitis, in Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 7th Edition, 2004
- Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology, Fifth Ed, 2005
Disclaimer
The information given in this article is for educational purpose only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, the author or suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purpose only.
Hanish Babu - Dr.Hanish Babu, MD is a dermatologist and a feature writer on Suite101.com with more than 200 articles related to skin diseases on the ...
Join the Conversation