Watan-Camera lenses captured red spots on the palm of former President Donald Trump, sparking much controversy and speculation about his health months before the presidential elections.
Trump was photographed leaving his Manhattan apartment with clear red spots resembling pimples on his right hand, fueling collective speculation about the cause of the apparent discomfort. Trump remained unusually silent on the matter.
The British newspaper “Independent” reported that the red spots were visible on the index finger, thumb, and the top of Trump’s right hand as he waved to cameras while leaving the tower bearing his name to attend the second defamation trial in Manhattan, filed by E. Jean Carroll, who seeks compensation of $10 million.
The red spots and syphilis
This observation became a prominent point of discussion among American politicians, with many speculating whether it was a symptom of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease.
While the marks may resemble syphilis sores, there is no concrete evidence of Trump contracting the disease.
Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation, had previously received $5 million in a previous trial last spring. During the moments leading up to the face-to-face meeting between Trump and Carroll inside the courtroom, red marks were clearly visible on Trump’s thumb, hand, and index finger.
While the marks may resemble syphilis sores, there is no concrete evidence of Trump contracting the disease.
The hosts of the “Morning Joe” program on MSNBC wondered whether the red pimples were a magical sign, blood, or something that might have worsened due to Trump hitting his hands on the table during the defamation trial surrounding his statements about E. Jean Carroll.
Is it a skin rash?
The Independent quoted Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, as saying that Trump may simply be suffering from a skin rash that could be caused by a variety of factors, from gripping a golf club to dry hands.
Dr. Zeichner explained four possible explanations for this skin rash, pointing out that hand rashes are usually caused by dryness and excessive hand washing. Given Trump’s known germophobia, this theory seems plausible, especially during the colder months when dry skin is more prevalent.
The second possibility is the appearance of pimples due to physical activities such as golf, weightlifting, or baseball. Given Trump’s known passion for golf, this explanation may also be logical.
Dr. Zeichner also mentioned that exposure to lemon juice, especially when combined with sunlight, can cause a chemical skin burn known as “margarita burn.”