Washerwoman Hands: Causes, Treatment & Help

Washerwoman’s hands have wrinkled and swollen skin on the fingertips. The appearance may occur, for example, after death or in Costello syndrome.

What are washerwoman’s hands?

Normally, the skin on the fingertips is smooth. However, under various circumstances, washerwoman’s hands, also known as flushing hands, can develop. In this case, the skin is swollen and wrinkled. In this condition, it is also called washer skin. In washerwoman hands, the epidermis is swollen and wrinkled. The epidermis is the epidermis. It is the outermost layer of the skin and thus serves as a protective cover against the environment. From the inside out, five different layers can be distinguished: Basal layer, prickle cell layer, granular layer, shiny layer and horny layer. For various reasons, this skin layer can swell. Possible causes of washerwoman’s hands include excessive washing, prolonged exposure to moisture or Costello syndrome. The dry, cracked, and parchment-like skin on the hands in dystrophic births as part of the transmission syndrome is also referred to as wash women’s skin.

Causes

If the pregnancy continues past the expected delivery date, it is a transmission. However, transmission is not said to occur until the due date is exceeded by two weeks. About one percent of all pregnancies end in transmission. If a newborn has been transmitted, it is considered a high-risk newborn. Washerwoman’s hands are one of the objective signs of transmission. These are also referred to as stanchion signs. Clifford syndrome may develop as a result of transmission. The washerwoman hands belong to the grade I of Clifford syndrome. At this stage, the newborns do not show any cheesiness. They have barely developed fat pads and show skin atrophy. In grade II Clifford syndrome, the newborns exhibit green skin color in addition to washerwoman’s hands. In stage III, however, the skin is yellow in color. Washerwoman’s hands, however, develop most often under moist conditions. Thus, contact with water for 30 minutes usually causes washerwoman’s hands. Contact can occur, for example, while swimming, bathing, working in water, or wearing waterproof gloves. It is likely that washerwoman’s hands develop as a result of the epithelial keratin-rich skin absorbing the moisture and expanding in response. As the expansion increases the surface area of the skin, wrinkling occurs. Although the entire skin on the hands and also on the feet absorbs the moisture, wrinkles initially form only on the fingers and toes. The skin on the fingers and toes has a thick keratin layer but no hair. It therefore does not have sebaceous glands that can secrete protective oils. However, the influx of fluid into the skin is only one factor influencing the formation of wrinkles. A nervous impulse causes the blood vessels in the fingers to contract. This also provokes the formation of wrinkles. Thus, after an injury of the nerves in contact with water, the formation of washerwoman’s hands can be completely absent. In addition, after degreasing of the skin, more water flows into the skin. With more frequent occurrence of washerwoman’s hands, the risk of so-called housewife eczema also increases. Washerwoman’s hands can also occur in the context of cholera. Cholera is an infectious disease that mainly affects the small intestine. The trigger is the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Infection usually occurs through contaminated drinking water or food. The bacteria produce toxins that cause diarrhea and severe vomiting. This results in dehydration (desiccosis) and electrolyte loss. Dehydration causes the fluid to withdraw from the skin, resulting in wrinkling. However, this is only wrinkling and not swelling of the skin. Washerwoman’s hands are noticeable by wrinkled and wrinkled skin on the fingertips. The skin on the toes may also be affected by the phenomenon. Beyond that, washerwoman’s hands do not cause any symptoms. However, it should be noted that the swollen skin is more sensitive than the skin in its normal state, so it may tear more quickly.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Costello syndrome
  • Cholera

Diagnosis and course of the disease

The diagnosis of washerwoman hands can be made solely on the basis of the clinical picture. Wrinkled and swollen fingertips can be taken as an indication of the presence of washerwoman’s hands. The diagnosis can be confirmed by inquiring about the cause. Wrinkled fingertips after exposure to moisture are typical of washerwoman’s hands.

When should you see a doctor?

In many cases, washerwoman’s hands occur even after the death of a patient. In this case, of course, special treatment is no longer necessary. This is a common symptom that usually cannot be avoided. However, it is not uncommon for washerwoman’s hands to occur in cholera. In this case, the treatment by the doctor is mandatory, otherwise the death of the affected person will occur. Furthermore, patients also suffer from fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, if these complaints occur together with the washerwoman hands, an urgent visit to the doctor or hospital is necessary. In most cases, however, the washerwoman’s hands disappear on their own after the exposure to water has ended. Therefore, there is no need to see a doctor in this case. The visit to the doctor is necessary only if the complaint persists for a long period of time. First and foremost, a general practitioner can be consulted if the cause of washerwoman’s hands is unknown to the patient. Further treatment is then carried out by a specialist.

Treatment and therapy

Washwoman’s hands usually do not require therapy. Once the exposure to moisture is over, the wrinkles on the fingers completely regress within a few hours. Only washerwoman’s hands, which can occur as part of the infectious disease cholera, require treatment. Here, treatment of the underlying disease is done with fluid replacement, replacement of sugar and replacement of salts. The WHO recommends the administration of a salt and glucose solution in water. In severe cases, an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone type is also used. With the help of these therapeutic measures, mortality can be reduced to less than 1 percent.

Outlook and prognosis

Washerwoman’s hands are usually well treatable. The typical symptoms can be relieved by simple measures and caring ointments. In the case of cracks and other injuries to the hands, medical preparations promise rapid improvement and thus usually a positive general prognosis. However, if the hands are repeatedly overworked, chronic complaints can sometimes develop that require prolonged treatment. People who put a lot of strain on their hands at work or suffer from an obsessive-compulsive disorder that forces them to wash their hands excessively are particularly affected. If the cracks and cornifications on the hands remain untreated, severe inflammation and infection can result. This, in turn, can develop into severe complications such as chronic pain and dysfunction. Generally, however, the prospect of recovery is good. Insofar as washerwoman’s hands are well treated, the typical symptoms at least do not increase. Accompanying this, the underlying cause must be determined and treated as part of therapeutic or medical measures. If this is done before chronic symptoms have developed, the prospects of recovery from washerwoman’s hands are usually very good.

Prevention

Washwoman’s hands can be prevented by not having contact with water for more than half an hour. People whose jobs require them to wear waterproof gloves should take regular breaks from wearing them. Since degreased skin swells considerably more than greased skin, hands should be creamed regularly. Washed hands, which occur in the context of cholera, can be counteracted by adhering to hygienic standards. In crisis areas, care should be taken to ensure that drinking water is hygienic and disinfected. Vaccinations against cholera are now very rarely used.

What you can do yourself

Against washerwoman hands helps in the first place sparing. Those who wear gloves when working with liquids and chemicals significantly reduce the stress on the skin and contribute to the healing of cracks and calluses. If possible, hot water and direct sun contact should also be avoided, as both make the hands more sensitive to other environmental influences.Overnight, the hands can be protected with thin cotton gloves or nourishing creams from the pharmacy. The use of moisturizing cream or Vaseline is also recommended. However, such care products should not contain any irritating substances and should generally be as gentle as possible. Among other things, cleansing milk, highly fatty soaps and care products containing the active ingredient Cetaphil have proved effective. Suitable natural remedies include calendula ointment, rose water, sunflower oil and almond skin care oil. An avocado mask promises acute relief and can be combined with lemon juice or olive oil, for example. Applications of ripe bananas, sage extract or milking grease also reduce wash women’s hands. However, if the symptoms persist or are particularly severe, a dermatologist should be consulted. It is possible that the cracked hands are based on a serious skin disease that requires medical treatment.