What is Viking's disease?

Viking's disease is a condition where the skin in the palm of the hand gets thicker and shorter, resulting in fingers that painfully bend forward. It is medically referred to as Dupuytren's disease, explains WebMD.

This condition commonly affects the ring and pinkie fingers on both hands, with symptoms getting worse over time. However, mild cases do not affect fingers at all. People who have relatives with this disease, who are of Northern European descent, and who are male and older than 50 have a higher risk for Viking's disease. Those who smoke, have diabetes or suffer from alcoholism are also at greater risk, according to WebMD.