What causes itchy fingers?

Chronically itchy fingers can be uncomfortable and can get in the way of daily life. Itchy fingers may be the only symptom or may occur along with a rash or small blisters, depending on the cause. An accurate diagnosis is important to get the right treatment.

A person might feel the itchiness on the surface of their fingers, under the skin, or only on some fingers. While most of the time itchy fingers are nothing to worry about, in some cases it may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs a doctor's attention.

In this article, we look at the causes, symptoms, and treatment of itchy fingers.

Causes and symptoms

1)Contact dermatitis

Itchy fingers can be caused by various skin conditions, including contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis, also known as contact eczema, occurs when a person touches something that irritates their skin.

A person with contact dermatitis may also notice:

• itching across the fingers and hands
• pain or swelling
• patches of dry skin
• small, red bumps on the skin
• redness and inflammation

Dyshidrotic eczema

A person with dyshidrotic eczema, also called foot-and-hand eczema or pompholyx, will notice tiny, itchy, fluid-filled blisters on their hands, fingers and often toes and feet. This condition is thought to be associated with stress, skin irritants, and seasonal allergies.

A person with dyshidrotic eczema may notice:

• small, fluid-filled blisters on the fingers
• severe itchiness
• painful skin
• redness and inflammation
• flaky, scaly, or cracked skin

Psoriasis

Psoriasis causes scaly red patches on the skin.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to quickly build up, resulting in patches of flaky, itchy, scaly skin. Psoriasis can affect different areas of a person's body, primarily the joints, but also areas such as fingers and nails.

Along with itching skin, a person with psoriasis may also notice:

• redness and inflammation
• areas of slivery-white scaly skin
• very dry, cracked, and sometimes bleeding skin
• pain around the inflamed patches of skin

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition related to diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels cause nerve damage. This can affect both the hands and feet.

A person with diabetic peripheral neuropathy may notice:

• their fingers becoming sensitive to touch
• a loss of feeling or numbness in their fingers
• pain or weakness in their fingers

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy cannot be cured, though there are treatments to help relieve symptoms and to slow its progress.