Living with Aquagenic palmoplantar keratoderma
A skin condition in which the palms develop white bumps, burning, and tightness after brief contact with water.
Understanding Aquagenic palmoplantar keratoderma
Small white or shiny bumps can join into plaques on the palms. The feet are unaffected. There can be burning pain, tightness, and extra sweating. Most often it is temporary and clears within minutes to hours of drying (the "hand in the bucket sign"). A less common type has lesions that last. It is more often found in young women.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Small white bumps on the palms (white papules)
- Extra wrinkling of the hands after water
- Too much sweating of the palms and soles
- Itchy palms
- Thickened skin on the palms and soles
- Burning pain and tightness in the palms
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include skin, hair, and nail specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says the cause is unknown but likely relates to sweating. It has been found in many people with cystic fibrosis and in carriers, which suggests changes in the CFTR gene may be involved. It is also seen with some conditions and drugs.
Also known as: aquagenic keratoderma; aquagenic syringeal acrokeratoderma; aquagenic wrinkling of palms; aquagenic wrinkling of the palms; transient reactive papulotranslucent acrokeratoderma
Patient organizations
- Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin TypesAquagenic palmoplantar keratoderma · United States
- Children's Skin Disease FoundationSkin diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Aquagenic palmoplantar keratoderma.
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