What your hands reveal about your health

The media frenzy of Queen Elizabeth’s death and King Charles’ inauguration hasn’t exactly petered out as we thought it would. Reason: His Majesty’s sausage hands.

The public grew quite concerned over his general health due to his swollen hands, which apparently is nothing new. According to WalesOnline, the late Queen Elizabeth once wrote a letter to her former music teacher after Charles was born, saying:

The baby is very sweet and we are enormously proud of him. He has an interesting pair of hands for a baby.

To say the least. With this being said, hands are extremities which could give away a lot, especially about a person’s health situation. Their form, function and appearance can offer doctors important clues without having to dig a lot.

Small bumps and blisters

If you notice a red rash of small bumps or blisters which can become irritating or itching, you might have a nickel allergy, which according to the American Academy of Dermatology is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel can be found in rings, watches, and even cell phones.

Long ring fingers

No one saw this coming, except scientistswho found that the length of the second finger compared to the length of the fourth (ring) finger is an indicator of testosterone exposure in the womb.

Pus filled bumps or red scales

If you notice red scales or pus-filled bumps in your hands, that could be psoriasis. According to WebMD, psoriasis is an autoimmune condition:

Psoriasis is a skin disease that results from a faulty immune system. Instead of only targeting viruses and bacteria, your immune system turns on healthy tissue.

White, blue, or red fingers

If your fingers lose colour and suddenly turn blue when temperatures drop or stress climbs up, you might have Raynaud’s. According to MayoClinic:

Women are more likely than men to have Raynaud's disease, also known as Raynaud's or Raynaud's phenomenon or syndrome. It appears to be more common in people who live in colder climates.

Once you move from a cold to a hot environment, your blue or white fingers might suddenly turn red and are usually followed by a throbbing or tingling sensation.

Sources used:

WalesOnline: Doctor explains what King Charles' swollen fingers say about his health

American Academy of Dermatology: NICKEL ALLERGY: HOW TO AVOID EXPOSURE AND REDUCE SYMPTOMS

National Library of Medicine: Why is digit ratio correlated to sports performance?

WebMD: Psoriasis and health

Mayo Clinic: Raynaud's disease

Read more:

⋙ This is why your hands and feet are tingling

⋙ Sweaty hands: These common household items will keep your palms fresh and dry

⋙ Can the length of your fingers predict how sick you will get from this disease?