What diseases do wrinkled fingers and toes indicate?
Wrinkling of the skin on the fingers and toes when exposed to water is quite common and is completely harmless to health. However, if the skin on the fingers and toes wrinkles without the influence of water, it can be a warning of a certain health problem.
Causes of wrinkled skin on fingertips and toes:
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when you do not drink enough water and your skin begins to lose its elasticity. Dehydration directly affects the skin, making it dry and wrinkled. Other symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, lips, headaches, dizziness, dark yellow urine, etc.
Diabetes
People with diabetes will have difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels will cause wrinkles on the fingertips, and also hinder the activity of sweat glands, causing dry skin on the hands. Diabetes is also the cause of the risk of skin diseases such as infections caused by fungi, bacteria, etc.
Raynaud's syndrome
Raynaud's syndrome is a condition that causes reduced blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and tip of the nose due to narrowed blood vessels, and often occurs when you are exposed to cold temperatures or due to mental stress. The skin in these areas will turn white or blue, numb, tingle, and appear wrinkled.
Thyroid disorders
People with thyroid disorders can develop wrinkled fingertips. Many medical researchers believe that thyroid disorders slow down metabolism, reduce body temperature, and cause wrinkled fingers. When your body temperature drops, the blood vessels in your fingers constrict to prevent heat loss.
When should you see a doctor?
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| Wrinkling of the skin on the hands after contact with water is a completely normal phenomenon. Illustration: Internet |
If the skin on your hands, especially the fingertips, wrinkles after contact with water, this is completely normal. The skin will return to normal after drying.
However, if you see wrinkles on your hands without the impact of water, you should see a specialist for timely examination.
Some helpful tips
Wrinkled fingertips due to water or dehydration will not cause any serious health effects. However, you can try some of the methods below to minimize the above condition.
Use rubber gloves when washing dishes, doing laundry and avoid soaking your hands in water for too long. Make sure to drink enough water for your body. In addition, you can also add foods with high water content such as watermelon, cucumber, orange, tomato...
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| Use gloves, supplement water-rich foods... to prevent dehydration. Illustration: Internet |
For patients with Raynaud's syndrome, try to avoid getting cold, use gloves, socks, shoes when the weather drops to avoid freezing hands and feet. If the condition becomes more severe, the doctor may prescribe medication to open the blood vessels and allow more blood to flow to the hands and feet.
People with diabetes should pay attention to their diet, lifestyle and exercise to keep their blood sugar levels stable. At the same time, keep their skin clean and dry to avoid the risk of infection.