Hand Rash, Foot Rash, Eczema or something more serious?

[hollywood214]

Two months ago, a “rash”, or something I called a rash, started on my hands that appeared as small red spots that itched while some others did not.  They appeared on the back of my hand and on the palms as well.  Some of these spots on the back of my hand grew to bumps, and some larger, that were somewhat circular in nature with a red outside and center that was raised and slightly whitish, like an insect bite type bump, and they itched.  Size wise, they were about like a pencil eraser and some bigger.  These also appeared on my feet at times but not always at the same time as my hands.  They were at different spots on my hands and in differing quantities with some on the back, between knuckles, on the side of the hand and even on my fingers too.  Since I’ve been a kid(now 42), I’ve always seemed to have had itchy feet at different times of the year, and off and on for years from at least college, as I sweat a lot and was overweight for years too.  10 months ago, I started Weight Watchers and lost 70 pounds so I sweat less now than before.

The hand rash bothered me so I went to see my primary physician, and he diagnosed a type of excema and gave me a prescription for a cream.  The cream helped some but it would go away some days and re-appear others and in different spots.  Then I went to see a dermatologist after I found them not really improving, and after seeing them inflame after exercise, plus getting a case of heat rash type hives on my buttocks that itched and some non-itchy red spots on kneecaps and in the groin area, but those disappeared after cooling down from exercise.  He gave a cortisteroid shot, which helped clear it up for a few days, and prescribed Allegra 180.  I had already been taking Allegra D for my allergies, along with my prescriptions Nasonex, Albuterol and Advair as I also have exercise-induced asthma.  He also took blood for a blood test. After asking about more allergies, he suggested that I visit my allergy doctor if they came back, as I may be more allergic to something, to my meds, or something new.   The blood test came back normal with nothing out of normal ranges.  

After a week and half or so, I visited my allergy doctor to see about them and as I thought they were possibly caused by new allergies as they re-appeared a week or so later.  She did not have much to add as my allergies should not have caused it from what she knew of my history and regular visits to see her twice a year and such and she felt it may be fungal related.  After telling her I had a toe fungus for a few years that I never did anything about, she asked to see it said the rash might be fungal related.  She prescribed Lamisil, and thought maybe it might make the “rash” go away and she suggested going back to the Allegra D (twice a day)as I needed the D for my allergies and to come back in 8 weeks.  The Lamisil is helping the toe fungus, but I still have the red spots and “bumpy” ones, and they still itch.

I notice that during some stressful times and when I get hot from stress or getting worked up from work or exercise, that these flair up and during the day at work.  By morning many of them are gone or are greatly down, and some days they flair up again in different spots while other days they may not come back at all.

I’m perplexed and also a bit worried.  I worry about STD’s or AIDs causing it, as although I’m married, I’ve had extra-marrital sex and worry about that being the cause.  From what I read though, only having the rash on my hands and feet seem to not be a symptom of this, as I have not really had other symptoms of those types of issues.  The rash has never really spread, but it has been on my wrist area and nothing further.  Do I have to worry about some serious here?  I can’t think straight and worry often when these flair up and itch, and worry so much about the extra-marrital sex giving me something.  This has stopped that but I want this stuff to go away.  HELP and advice!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Hives can look like what you describe--they are red, itchy, and come and go for no reason.  Since so many doctors have looked and found no reason, that may well be it.

I advise you to call the allergist and ask whether this is what she thinks you have.  I would call the dermatologist to ask whether the foot rash is indeed fungus, because it doesn't sound like it.  I would also share your anxieties about STD's and AIDS--your symptoms don't even remind me of those, so perhaps the dermatologist can say the same thing, or else order tests if needed.

If they are hives, you need to be prepared for them to come and go, and to require symptomatic treatment from time to time.  This is frustrating and annoying, but not serious.  In time, if often subsides on its own, at least for long periods.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[hollywood214]

Thanks!  My main concern about the STD/AIDs thing with these hives is that these appeared for no reason I can tell this January, and in fairly quick fashion on my hands and feet and continue to come and go each day since then.  They can be fine for itching and completely go away around mid to late evening, go away for the night and re-appear in the mid morning to late afternoon and itch again, and also inflame after excercise.  I'm worried my rash/hives and their symptoms are a condition arising from a viral infection due to a potential STD/AIDS/HIV infection.  Since some of the red spots get that white/yellow center on my hands and get rather raisded & bumpy, larger-sized and itch, and that they subside but not go away for a while, I got worried more.  The feet spots mainly are red and itchy but also sometimes get that larger bumpy, white/yellow center that itches more.

The STD's/HIV/AIDS symptoms I read about did not come that close to mine since mine are localized on my hands and feet and other similar but yet different symptoms.  I've had other symptoms on my penis that get close to symptoms of STDS or I worried they did, that in conjunction with the hives, worried me sick but many of those were just skin conditions that others here had with advice on this site to have nothing to worry about.  Those are just other conditions and were never really threatning issues.  Those I can deal with.  How long do you think I'll have to deal with these hives like this and what can I do to get them to go away or subside more?

Does a regular CBC blood test done at a physical ever reveal anything amiss for viral infection due to STD/AIDS/HIV related stuff?  I've had three of those in the last year and all were good except one last year where liver enzymes were elevated, but those were tested again for Hepatitis and found negative, and came down quite a bit on the second test and done when I was almost 78 pounds heavier and quite overweight.  My last test a few weeks ago showed blood results all normal in all areas and after the 10-month, 78 pound weight-loss efforts.  I just do not want to have STD type issues.  Other less threatning items I can deal with and feel good about at home too with my wife.  

Should I go back to my allergist after the 8 weeks of Lamisil and consult her and then go back to the dermatologist if these persist?  I plan on my yearly physical in a few weeks to a month and do I ask him about this too?

Some final advice you can offer is very appreciated !

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, go back as you suggest.  Routine blood tests don't test for STD's.

Dr. Rockoff

[sunjay]

Hi,
I have this rash which started on my forearms and has spread to my feet it is scaly and blackish. On my wrist it's scaly red rash on top of my hand there is red tiny dots. I noticed white tiny dots on my lips. On my palms there is yellow filled type blisters. My foots toe has even been scalyand has a rash undeneath which is crack and yellow blisters on my soles and underneath my foot. Please if you could help me if theres any shot i could get. I also have had this for 7 weeks. thanks

[hotpink]

i have excma and i have had it all my life lately i can barely bend my knucles and the pain is getting really bad ..i have little pimple like things on my hands now and my skin is almost rejecting my finger nails because they keep reseating.. my hands have craks in the and are becoming raw ....what should i take and what should i do?
what can i do to pervent ?

please help

[mygymnast]

A related discussion, Centimeter or smaller red painful marks was started.

[silveryorker]

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[gemini1]

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