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Published on: 3/17/2025

What Might Cause My Palms to Feel Unusually Hot?

Hot palms can happen when the nerves and sweat glands in your hands don’t work as expected, sometimes causing extra warmth or sweating without an illness.

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Explanation

Your palms might feel unusually hot because of how your body’s nervous system controls temperature and sweat. The nerves in your hands send signals that tell your sweat glands when to produce sweat to cool you down. Sometimes, this system might be overactive or work in a slightly different way, leading to extra warmth or sweating, even when you are not feverish. One example of this is palmar hyperhidrosis—a condition where the palms sweat excessively. Research suggests that this might be due to a central nervous system dysfunction where the signals are too strong. In addition, when your body experiences stress or is in a warm environment, the nerves and blood vessels in your palms can become more active, making them feel warmer than usual. If you notice that your hot palms come with discomfort or other changes, it might be helpful to talk with a healthcare provider. They can check if it is a normal variation or if you might benefit from treatments that help regulate sweating and temperature control.

(References)

  • Wohlrab J, Bechara FG, Schick C, Naumann M. Hyperhidrosis: A Central Nervous Dysfunction of Sweat Secretion. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2023 Feb;13(2):453-463. doi: 10.1007/s13555-022-00885-w. Epub 2023 Jan 10. PMID: 36627476; PMCID: PMC9884722.

  • Cramer MN, Gagnon D, Laitano O, Crandall CG. Human temperature regulation under heat stress in health, disease, and injury. Physiol Rev. 2022 Oct 1;102(4):1907-1989. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00047.2021. Epub 2022 Jun 9. PMID: 35679471; PMCID: PMC9394784.

  • Jeong SM, Kim TY, Jeong YB, Sim JY, Choi IC. The changes of skin temperature on hands and feet during and after T3 sympathicotomy for palmar hyperhidrosis. J Korean Med Sci. 2006 Oct;21(5):917-21. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.5.917. PMID: 17043429; PMCID: PMC2722005.

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