Former President Donald Trump left his New York home on Wednesday to attend E. Jean Carroll‘s second defamation trial, revealing mysterious red marks on his hand. People on X (formerly Twitter) speculated about what caused the red marks on Trump’s hand. Just as they had done with Trump’s health in the past. Some suspected he had “hand herpes” or had recently fallen.
Multiple photos show Trump waving to the press as he leaves Trump Tower on Wednesday morning, with small red dots. It’s unclear what’s causing the odd splotches. A spokesperson for the former president’s campaign did not immediately respond to BreezyScroll’s request for comment.
According to photos from Trump’s campaign stop in Atkinson, New Hampshire, he did not appear to have the dots on his hand Tuesday evening.
While it is difficult to diagnose a skin condition based on a single photo, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Business Insider that Trump most likely has a rash, which can be caused by almost anything.
“Rashes on the hands can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from infections to inflammatory conditions to external exposures,” Zeichner said.
The doctor proposed four explanations for Trump’s hand rashes, all of which are probably less interesting than what the internet is speculating.
Decoding the mysterious red marks on Trump’s hand?
1. Dry skin
The most common causes of hand rashes are dryness and excessive washing. Given that Trump is a self-proclaimed “germophobe,” the theory of excessive handwashing could be plausible. Cold temperatures can also cause dry skin, which is more prevalent in the winter.
2. Blisters
Another possibility is blisters, which the doctor believes could be caused by “friction from activities like golf, weightlifting, or baseball.” This is also a plausible scenario, given Trump’s fondness for golf.
Later Wednesday, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan chastised Trump for his actions during columnist E. Jean Carroll’s second trial. The trial centers on the former president’s comments about Carroll’s claim that he raped her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. A previous trial found Trump liable for defaming Carroll, but this trial is about a different set of comments, including ones he made after losing the first case.
3. Lime juice exposure
The dermatologist claims that “even lime juice exposure in the presence of sunlight can cause a chemical burn to the skin,” also known as “margarita burn.” While Trump does not consume alcohol, a citrusy mocktail may cause the welts.
4. Bug bites
As the skin expert pointed out, hand rashes can be caused by a variety of factors, including something as simple as bug bites. Unless the former president confirms what caused the marks, we may never know.