Localized swelling of the hands can be caused by many possible conditions. Some of these include: infection, a hand injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, arthritis, hypothyroidism and more. Oftentimes, though, hand swelling occurs as a result of a general swelling of the body, and this can be caused by many other conditions, such as liver or kidney conditions, malnutrition and heart failure. Edema also is a common cause of general swelling in the extremities of the body and is simply an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin that is typically caused by too much secretion of tissue fluid that normally flows through blood vessels or impaired removal of the same tissue fluid.

Swelling can sometimes occur throughout the body or, like in hand swelling, it can be contained to a general location or organ. Body parts might swell in response to injury, disease or infection, or a body part might appear to be swelling because of an underlying lump. Swelling, especially swelling of appendages, can also occur if bodily fluids are not circulating well. A swelling of the skin can cause the hands to appear swollen as well. Some common causes of skin swelling include skin infection, allergic reaction, insect bites, hives, cellulitis and eczema.

Swelling is considered to be a protuberance or an enlargement of part of the body, and depending on its cause, it can be congenital, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic or miscellaneous. Congenital swelling is associated with a disorder that must have existed at birth and sometimes might be the result of genetic abnormalities. Inflammatory swelling can have a variety of causes and can be chronic or acute in nature, sometimes presenting as redness, pain, local fever or impairment of function of affected organs. Traumatic swelling is probably the most common, and it develops immediately after a trauma or injury. Neoplastic swelling occurs as a result of the growth of an abnormal mass of tissue than can be either benign or malignant.

To alleviate swelling, doctors often recommend a first-aid treatment that includes rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) as a short-term solution. To ice an area, bagged ice cubes or cold packs are usually placed on the affected area and an elastic bandage or hand towel can be used to compress the ice. The person affected by hand swelling should rest and elevate as the area is iced and compressed, in order to minimize healing time if injured and/or to alleviate as much swelling as possible until medical attention can be sought. This treatment should not be used as a cure though, and unless the cause is clear, any indicators of hand swelling or general swelling of the body should be evaluated by a medical professional.