Feeling unusually warm in your hands is a common experience. This sensation, sometimes called palmar erythema when accompanied by redness, typically stems from a temporary increase in blood flow to the skin’s surface. While often a harmless, short-lived physiological response, persistently hot hands can occasionally signal a more significant underlying issue. Understanding how your hands manage temperature helps distinguish between a simple reaction and a symptom requiring medical attention.
How Hands Regulate Temperature
The sensation of heat in the hands results from the body’s temperature regulation system. The hands and feet are primary sites for heat dissipation, containing a dense network of specialized blood vessels. These vessels include arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs), which are direct connections between small arteries and veins designed to either conserve or shed heat.
The hypothalamus controls the AVAs to maintain core body temperature. When the body needs to cool down, nerve impulses signal the AVAs to open, a process called vasodilation. This shunts a large volume of warm blood into the superficial venous network near the skin’s surface. This increased blood flow raises the skin temperature, allowing heat to radiate into the environment, causing the sensation of “hot hands.” Conversely, when the body is cold, the AVAs constrict, diverting blood away from the surface to preserve core heat.
Temporary and Environmental Causes
Most instances of hot hands are transient and relate directly to external conditions or recent activity. Physical exertion, such as a workout or repetitive hand movements, increases the body’s overall metabolic rate and core temperature. To prevent overheating, the body directs more blood to the extremities, including the hands, making them feel warm as they work to cool the blood.
Environmental factors are another frequent cause, as the hands are highly sensitive to external temperature changes. Sitting in a hot, humid environment or wearing gloves can impede the body’s ability to cool the skin, leading to a noticeable build-up of heat. Emotional states can also trigger this response, as anxiety or stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing a rush of blood flow that momentarily warms the hands. Additionally, consuming spicy foods or alcohol can induce a temporary flush and increase peripheral blood flow, mimicking the body’s natural heat-shedding response.
Systemic and Chronic Health Conditions
When hot hands are persistent, recurring, or accompanied by other symptoms, they may signal a systemic health condition affecting circulation or nerve function.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy, often a complication of diabetes, involves nerve damage that disrupts the signaling controlling blood vessel dilation. This damage can cause a sensation of burning or heat in the hands and feet, even if the actual skin temperature is not elevated.
Inflammatory Disorders
Inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause localized warmth in the hands. This warmth results from chronic inflammation in the small joints, where increased blood flow is part of the immune system’s response to tissue damage.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism causes the thyroid gland to produce an excess of hormones, accelerating the body’s entire metabolism. This increased metabolic rate generates more heat overall, leading to persistently warm skin and increased sensitivity to environmental heat.
Rare Vascular Conditions
A more specific cause is erythromelalgia, sometimes called Mitchell’s disease, characterized by episodes of intense, burning pain, redness, and heat, typically in the hands and feet. This condition is caused by small blood vessels dilating excessively, resulting in increased blood flow and the distinct burning sensation. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can also cause severe pain, swelling, and changes in skin temperature in an affected limb due to an abnormal nervous system response.
When to Seek Medical Advice
While most cases of hot hands are not a cause for concern, certain signs suggest a medical evaluation is warranted. Consult a healthcare provider if the warm sensation is persistent, lasting for days or weeks without a clear environmental or activity-related cause. This is especially important if the symptom is new or unexplained, as a doctor can rule out underlying issues like thyroid problems. Immediate medical attention is necessary if hot hands are accompanied by more severe symptoms.
These red flags include:
- Sudden, unexplained swelling
- Intense pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Discoloration of the skin
- Unexplained fever or significant weight loss
- A racing heartbeat or any alteration in mental status