Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
In this article, learn more about palmar erythema and its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Physiologically, palmar erythema is the result of dilated capillaries, which are very small blood vessels.
The exact reason this happens is not well-known, and may differ from case to case. However, it is believed that there is an increased production ofangiogenicfactors, which is what causes more new blood vessels to grow.
Problems in the liver, where hormones are metabolized, may also lead to a hormone imbalance and subsequently palmar erythema.
Primary Cause
It is rare, but some people develop palmar erythema without any identifiable underlying medical condition. This is callederythema palmare hereditariumand sometimes referred to as Lane’s disease.
To date there is relatively little research published on Lane’s disease. It is believed to be genetic, but the exact pattern of inheritance has not yet been discovered.
Secondary Cause
It is more common for palmar erythema to occur secondarily to an underlying medical condition. Conditions that have been associated with palmar erythema include:
In most cases, there are no other symptoms. The red area is typically not painful, itchy, irritated, or hot.
When to Talk to Your Healthcare ProviderIf you notice the color of your palms changes, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider, even if it is not painful or itchy. Palmar erythema can be a sign of more serious underlying conditions, and early diagnosis can be key to better outcomes.
When to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
If you notice the color of your palms changes, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider, even if it is not painful or itchy. Palmar erythema can be a sign of more serious underlying conditions, and early diagnosis can be key to better outcomes.
Your healthcare provider can look at your palms and suspect palmar erythema. However, they will want to put you through some additional tests to rule out any other explanations and identify any possible underlying conditions.
In the case of palmar erythema, there are other skin conditions that can present similarly and should be ruled out first.These include:
If after this evaluation your healthcare provider still suspects palmar erythema, then they may run some tests to identify underlying conditions like an infection, autoimmune disease, liver disease, or cancer.
There is no treatment specifically for palmar erythema. On its own, palmar erythema is benign, meaning it is not harmful to you.
However, if you are experiencing palmar erythema as the result of an underlying condition, then you may notice changes in your palms as the underlying medical condition is treated. For instance, most people who develop palmar erythema during pregnancy will find their palms return to their normal shade postpartum.
However, there is no guarantee that palmar erythema will resolve with treatment for your underlying condition. You should discuss any concerns about this with your healthcare team.
Summary
Palmar erythema occurs when the palms develop a reddish rash that is not painful or itchy. It can occur on its own, although this is rare. Usually it occurs secondarily to a variety of conditions, such as pregnancy, cancer, liver disease, and infections. Treatment involves resolving the underlying condition.
A Word From Verywell
Even if your red palms aren’t bothering you, it’s still worth bringing up to your healthcare provider. It might be that you have hereditary palmar erythema and there is nothing to worry about. Or, this might be a warning sign of a more serious condition. Be sure to talk about your concerns with your provider, including ruling out other skin conditions or ways to treat any underlying cause.
Palmar erythema may occur on its own, or it may be secondary to other conditions such as interstitial lung disease, cancers, liver disease, infections, endocrine disorders, autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, or alcohol use disorder.
For some people, palmar erythema may go away as their underlying condition resolves. For example, palmar erythema that developed during pregnancy typically goes away postpartum.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Langenauer J.Erythema palmare hereditarium (‘red palms,’ ‘Lane’s disease’).Case Rep Dermatol. 2014;6(3):245-247. doi:10.1159/000368822Maekawa M.Palmar erythema as a sign of cancer.CCJM. 2017;84(9):666-667. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84a.16114Serrao R, Zirwas M, English JC.Palmar erythema.American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2007;8(6):347-356. doi:10.2165/00128071-200708060-00004Chiu YH, Lu CC, Liu FC, Chen HC.Palmar and plantar erythema, pulmonary fibrosis and the anti-synthetase syndrome.QJM. 2018;111(5):329-330. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcy035Panda PK, Sharawat IK.Fluctuating palmar erythema in a toddler during covid-19 pandemic: do you know the offender?.Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2021;67(1):fmab011. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmab011Panambur B, Kakkilaya SB.Palmar erythema as the sole manifestation of covid-19.Cureus. 2020;12(11). doi:10.7759/cureus.11291
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Langenauer J.Erythema palmare hereditarium (‘red palms,’ ‘Lane’s disease’).Case Rep Dermatol. 2014;6(3):245-247. doi:10.1159/000368822Maekawa M.Palmar erythema as a sign of cancer.CCJM. 2017;84(9):666-667. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84a.16114Serrao R, Zirwas M, English JC.Palmar erythema.American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2007;8(6):347-356. doi:10.2165/00128071-200708060-00004Chiu YH, Lu CC, Liu FC, Chen HC.Palmar and plantar erythema, pulmonary fibrosis and the anti-synthetase syndrome.QJM. 2018;111(5):329-330. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcy035Panda PK, Sharawat IK.Fluctuating palmar erythema in a toddler during covid-19 pandemic: do you know the offender?.Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2021;67(1):fmab011. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmab011Panambur B, Kakkilaya SB.Palmar erythema as the sole manifestation of covid-19.Cureus. 2020;12(11). doi:10.7759/cureus.11291
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Langenauer J.Erythema palmare hereditarium (‘red palms,’ ‘Lane’s disease’).Case Rep Dermatol. 2014;6(3):245-247. doi:10.1159/000368822Maekawa M.Palmar erythema as a sign of cancer.CCJM. 2017;84(9):666-667. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84a.16114Serrao R, Zirwas M, English JC.Palmar erythema.American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2007;8(6):347-356. doi:10.2165/00128071-200708060-00004Chiu YH, Lu CC, Liu FC, Chen HC.Palmar and plantar erythema, pulmonary fibrosis and the anti-synthetase syndrome.QJM. 2018;111(5):329-330. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcy035Panda PK, Sharawat IK.Fluctuating palmar erythema in a toddler during covid-19 pandemic: do you know the offender?.Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2021;67(1):fmab011. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmab011Panambur B, Kakkilaya SB.Palmar erythema as the sole manifestation of covid-19.Cureus. 2020;12(11). doi:10.7759/cureus.11291
Langenauer J.Erythema palmare hereditarium (‘red palms,’ ‘Lane’s disease’).Case Rep Dermatol. 2014;6(3):245-247. doi:10.1159/000368822
Maekawa M.Palmar erythema as a sign of cancer.CCJM. 2017;84(9):666-667. doi:10.3949/ccjm.84a.16114
Serrao R, Zirwas M, English JC.Palmar erythema.American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2007;8(6):347-356. doi:10.2165/00128071-200708060-00004
Chiu YH, Lu CC, Liu FC, Chen HC.Palmar and plantar erythema, pulmonary fibrosis and the anti-synthetase syndrome.QJM. 2018;111(5):329-330. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcy035
Panda PK, Sharawat IK.Fluctuating palmar erythema in a toddler during covid-19 pandemic: do you know the offender?.Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2021;67(1):fmab011. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmab011
Panambur B, Kakkilaya SB.Palmar erythema as the sole manifestation of covid-19.Cureus. 2020;12(11). doi:10.7759/cureus.11291
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
