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Itchy bumps on elbows psoriasis or eczema?

I have itchy bumps on both of my elbows (outer-side only).  They appeared on both left and right elbows at same time about a week ago.  The bumps look skin-colored, almost like blisters or mosquito bites, but can look pinkish-red after itching or after I apply lotion. I went to a doctor (not a dermatologist mind you) and she quickly said it could be psoriasis, and to just keep them moisturized.  But everything I read about psoriasis says red itchy rashes that turns scaly, and I've never see anything (information or pictures) that shows psoriasis to start out as blister/mosquito-like bumps.

I've also been getting smaller callus-like bumps/areas on the sides of my fingers, that don't itch. I moisturize them with aquaphor ointment and then they disappear.  Not sure if they're related to the elbow bumps, but they don't look or feel the same.

Do the bumps on my elbows sound like psoriasis?
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Avatar universal
I noticed that the tops of my hands and sides of my fingers become extremely itch during our vacation over the past 3 years.  I did a google search for itch hand in the spring of the year and found that it was PMLE. Polymorphic Light Eruption. Cortisone stops the itchiness and after 2 weeks it clears up.
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So thankful to have found this thread. I've been dealing the same annoying issue. These skin colored, sometimes pink and sometimes itchy bumps on my elbows. Most of the time they don't itch but when they do, I just apply some cortisone cream and it helps but doesnt get rid of the bumps. I've recently noticed this after moving to a much hotter city. Then I've thinking it may be a gluten thing?? My doctor just looked at it and say it's eczema but I don't believe so. The bumps only appear to be on my elbows only too so I feel strongly it may be gluten but my doc won't test me for it. Anyway, I guess I'll have to do the gluten test on my own but it's kinda hard when that sh!t is in everything. Oh and I'm pretty healthy (at least I think). I'm 30, female, and have never had eczema before but then again I hear adult onset eczema it common.

Good luck to everyone else!
Avatar universal
my son has this.  he seen his doctor and was diagnosed  polymyostitis and dermatomyositis about 4 years ago. mention this to your doctor and he can easily diagnose this with simply lab work(CK, and Aldolase levels) its and auto immune disease...which he has to be on medication for life and lab work done every 3 months.  the blister like on his fingers are called pappulars, and should be biopsied hope this helps
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Avatar universal
The condition I have occasionally is somewhat itchy callus-like bumps that form on my elbows.  Not sure what it is BUT I almost always get it when travelling by airplane---its possible that the condition is exacerbated by leaning on the armrests for extended periods but I don't get the condition when driving my car and leaning on the armrests, even for hours at a time.  Last week I traveled to the Caribbean and got it so the condition could be heat related, though I live in Texas and the intense heat/humidity doesn't seem to affect me there.  Good news is that it goes away pretty fast.  All other things aside I'm wondering why air travel is associated with this--plane cabins are generally dry and cool.  Is there a bacteria or irritant on armrests?  Is it an immune reaction to, gulp, other traveler's elbow bacteria or do the airlines disinfect armrests between flights?          
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Avatar universal
Yes, it is likely GLUTEN!  You can test for yourself. . eliminate it from your diet for a couple of months and see if the bumps clear up.  You will become a believer.  I struggled with this for MONTHS until I came across an article on celiacs and gluten free diets.  I was very familiar (so I thought) with celiac and gluten intolerance but I had never heard of dermatitis herpetiformis. The clue is "symmetrical" rash. Blisters on BOTH elbows, BOTH knees etc.??  It is quite possible that you are dealing with a gluten issue.  Be your own best advocate and check it out for yourself.  Stop eating gluten and observe if there are changes to your rash.  I thought eliminating gluten would be emotionally stressful but relief from the discomfort of itchy blisters makes you vigilant. I wish you the best.
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Avatar universal
Gluten is the cause! It's bleeping gluten!

I hate diets, I hate food restrictions, and I had being forced to take medicines, vaccines, and all that crap.

But I finally realized after 2 years of going through his misery, and trial and error with restricting myself from certain foods... that the itchy rash and bumps on my elbows and thighs are both caused by GLUTEN.

The horrible thing is that gluten is in almost every dang food available.
They're even dumping this crap in your drinks now! And it's being added to meat products, you practically need to be a vegan to even live through this mess.

I've gotten by on just organic rice flour + homemade cranberry jam, when the times are tough. And when I actually do have money, I have gotten by as well on some other homemade organic foods I purchase at a local (and mind you, rural) food market that sells only homegrown and homemade stuff, where everything is from scratch or the wild.

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR BODY + LIFE, ask your doctor to test your for GLUTEN INTOLERANCE.

If they deny this request, then check yourself. Search online everything you eat, check for gluten in the products. It's more common in everything than you think. Hell, even sodas today are having it added, I mean WHAT THE HECK?

You're killing yourself everytime you eat these gluten filled foods!
The rashes and bumps are your body's way of saying this crap is killing you, and you need to stop or you'll freaking die!
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Avatar universal
i have similar issue, i went to welfare doctor, not much help, they just said sebbhoric dermatitis, which i dont think i ever had. i WANNA ask, is the rash or bumps, red and on the elbow its on the tricep area, not the forearm, where celiac rash is usually at.
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Avatar universal
I have been suffering with many of the symptoms described above. I went to my GP who gave me anti itch creams that did not work. I ask to see an allergist, a dermatologist, and a gastroenterologist (I had some rectal bleeding from the chronic irritation). My GP kicked back saying they don't recommend seeing so many specialists at once. I got loud. I would not accept no - I wanted to see all three and they were going to make that happen. She relented and I saw all three. (Just reiterating what was already said - you need to be your own advocate.) My dermatologist gave me some topical steroids and told me to keep moisturizing. Then it got much worse.  I went to the allergist and did scratch testing and gluten testing. We found a lot of allergens which I began to avoid, but it did not clear up my problem. My allergist said I have contact dermatitis, and that I need patch testing from the dermatologist. So I went back to the dematologist office, this time to a different doctor. They didn't want to do the patch test - saying insurance might not cover it and it could be thousands. I got loud again. I was pretty mad, so I think I insinuated that they were incompetent for having misdignosed me in the first place (I do not recommend this approach). I needed this test and they were going to do it. The patch test (which insurance did pay for thank you very much) came back with an allergy to Kathon CG, a chemical found in detergents, etc. My doctor gave me a list of "safe" products to use. I tried Vanicream lotion, which was on my safe list. My hands began to burn and I quickly washed it off. The short ingredients list helped me pinpoint the problem - propylene glycol.  They tested for this, and it was right next to Kathon CG on the patch strip.  I actually think they messed it up and won't admit it, but I'm going for a second opinion soon. In any case, I removed all my offending products and have to be vigilant about what I eat. This stuff is in EVERYTHING - from my hair gel to my ice cream. No wonder I was not getting better. It's been two weeks since I had any products on my skin that contain propylene glycol. My skin has cleared up, my hands and my elbows are no longer itchy and finally my stomach is settling down. Last week I accidentally ate some alfredo sauce that had propylene glycol and the next day all my GI symptoms returned - nausea, bloating, upper GI swelling. This is supposed to be a rare allergy, but my husband has been reacting to it in products as well (He used a mosquito repellent that had a high concentration and broke out, then used Caladryl to try to fix it and that made it worse). What are the chances? Given the amount we use/ingest I think that more people are developing allergies to this than they think. Looking back, I have had minor allergic reactions for at least 10 years. It was only when the situation got out of control that I couldn't take it anymore and investigated and found the offending agent. Many anti-itch creams contain propylene glycol. If your doctor gave you a steroid cream and it made it worse, keep asking. It took me 8 months of seeing specialists (including a hospital trip for a colonoscopy to rule out physical problems). It was a lot of trial and error.
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Avatar universal
Outside of my elbows, my right knew, area which experience any form of pressure contact such as waistband (I am not fat), my scalp, back of my neck

Most annoyingly, when my GP look they can't really see anything as it's all skin coloured.

I have a diagnosis of Allergic Rhitis which I've had for years so they are putting it down to an extension of that. But, nothing they give me for it resolves the issues. It's like I am being told to avoid just about all man made chemicals, which is impossible and, because it's not life threatening, just live with it but, my life is so unpleasant.

Can't even seem to persuade the GP to send me to a skin specialist, they are that convinced it's my rhinitis. I just keep wondering, what if this is something else?
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Avatar universal
i wonder if anyone can tell by this picture, it seems to be the same symptoms as on the post. its a picture of my elbow, its on both elbows.

http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/thor137/media/HNI_0098_zpsf17aac14.jpg.html
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Avatar universal
Wow!  Thank you!
I have had the same thing occur and went to dermatologist.  They gave me several creams that did not work.  I thought it may be from moving to Florida (humidity) from California.  I have never had allergies to Gluten, so this is quite a surprise.  Thanks so much for posting this!  :)
Barbiedolldeen
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Avatar universal
Curious....did you ever get a diagnosis? I have the SAME exact symptoms and can't figure it out for the life of me!
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Avatar universal
Do you eat oatmeal?
I noticed the bumps on fingers about a week ago, and a few days ago the bumps on elbows flared up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyshidrosis shows that oatmeal can be a cause for bumps on fingers - We started eating oatmeal everyday for breakfast about a month ago. Maybe its a coincidence but I am trying no oatmeal to see if it goes away or at least calms down...
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Avatar universal
Wow, i'm having a hard timing believing that your dermatologists are potentially misinforming you.  Some of your research is possibly way off the mark.  While there are some variances with some of your symptoms and conditions, most of you seem to have plaque psoriasis, also known as psoriasis vulgaris.  Try Taclonex Ointment or Clobetasol Propionate Foam.  Both prescription.  Look'em up.  They work.  Really.  And don't be so scared to see a Dermatologist.     Um, a GOOD dermatologist.  There are obviously plenty of quacks out there.
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Avatar universal
I have had the small blister like intensely itchy/painful/sometimes raw bumps on the side of one finger on and off for a few years. I can just about manage it now I've been given steroid cream and diprobase ointment to keep my hands moisturised (dirt cheap and no prescription needed) - I used to get to the point that I wanted to chop my fingers off with the itching!. It seemed to go away when I was backpacking for a couple of years and then came back when I returned to the UK.

In the last few months I now noticed blisters on the adjacent finger and in the last few weeks have developed the same red inflamed patches/bumps/dry/painful/itchy areas on the outside of my elbows - interesting to see that the two odd conditions seem to go hand in hand in others too (pardon the pun!)

The finger blisters are generally aggravated by soaps (I try and use aqueous cream but not possible in public toilets or at work) and I also think a main cause of this is stress and a run down immune system. When  I was travelling I wasn't under the same types of pressures as the daily working grind and was rarely ill with colds and such viruses (just a few nasty stomach bugs!).

In the last 9 months I gave up my hobby of fell running to focus on writing my PhD thesis as I wasn't making progress fast enough. Since then I have worked very late nights regularly on top of working during the day - the only weekend I've had off was at xmas. Over xmas I had a really bad chest infection and since then have been plagued by really bad colds etc every few weeks.

So, the fact that I am chronically tired and unable to exercise which would both boost my immune system, and feeling very pressured is possibly a big root cause of things.

This would also support those recommending changing the diet as that can affect immune function too (I have been too busy to eat as much fresh fruit and veg as I normally would so that could be contributing to the condition too).

I have a background in physiology so a depressed immune system would make sense to me and it's very interesting hearing other people talk about their experiences relating to this. I assume that it wouldn't cause the same effect in everyone with a low immune function so there is probably also some hereditary issue too (my dad also has dry itchy hands!).  

Very pleased to have found this thread :-)
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Avatar universal
SOLVED for me.

I've had the same exact issue intermittently for a couple years. Like everyone else experienced, all the doctors who looked at it made up a common diagnosis and sent me on my way.

You are your own best doctor. Like at least one other poster said, it turns out to be GLUTEN. I tested this by going on and off of a gluten-free diet over the course of about 6 months. Even though the diet helped, it was easy to go back because I love wheat. Each time, the constipation and itchy bumps came back. Gluten is also a common cause of constipation, which few doctors seem to realize.

If you experience these bumps, especially in combination with either constipation, loose stools, or other dietary discomfort, you should do like I did: test it out. Don't assume anything. Go on the gluten free diet for a month or two, go back off, and go back on. Rinse and repeat. It's not easy because wheat is in everything. Your results won't be clear unless you obsessively read the ingredients on EVERYTHING you eat.
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Avatar universal
CW3
Since my last posts, I've had improvement with my foot.  I've made several changes to my diet which have changed my overall feeling of well being as well.  There's still some other things with the lower GI, but we'll figure them out soon enough.  One step at a time, and a little trial and error.

Things I have done that have given me some health improvement.

I significantly cut back on junk food such as snack cakes, candy (especially chocolate it's a double whammy food allergy nut & made with dairy), chips.

I cut out as much food made with/from nuts as possible.  No more peanut butter, almond milk, walnut chips, etc.

I've known I was lactose intolerant for a long time, but pizza is pretty hard to resist, as is chocolate.

I reduced my caffeine intake by at least 50%, and increased my water intake.

I avoid foods that contain hydrogenated, and exotic oils such as palm kernel (again a kinda a nut), and seed oils such as cottonseed, sesame, and sunflower.

I also increased my fiber intake to help push out some of the rotting food that was stagnating in my body.

I've attempted to take a more positive outlook, and removed as many stressors from my life as possible.  I talk to people more, and I try to smile even when I don't feel like it.  Stress will exasperate any condition.

Visualization of my body's own healing powers helps me cope with the pain too.  When it gets tough, I picture my white blood cells riding around in police cars, or driving tanks, or other such silly 'non-sense' to arrest/ward off the bad cells.  I also visualize damaged parts being repaired, and my personal mantra of healing is the keep telling my body "poisons out".

Breathing exercise helps with stress, and releases my own body's chemicals that make me feel better.

I stopped working with/touching the compounds listed in the above posts, and my foot improved, but it wasn't going away.

With a lot of trial and error, label reading, and persistence I feel like a new person.

My psoriasis on my elbows has all but disappeared too.

Try it if you want, I still feel that the eczema is an allergic reaction.

Remember, natural food is medicine.  Processed food is often poison in disguise.  Conventional medicine is great for trauma, and stabilizing serious disease, but concentrated medicine can also kill you too.  Organic foods, and natural plants & minerals can contain some of the same compounds, in safer doses.

Do your homework on what you put in your body, you may be aghast at what you find out too.
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Avatar universal
I had the same problem couple of months ago. Try Chlorophyl pills or liquid it doesn't matter. It worked for me.
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Avatar universal
CW3
Oh, and Tea Tree Oil does wonders for loosening the scaled skin, and relieving some of the pain associated.  I treat mine when I get out of the shower, and every time I wash my feet (which is generally a couple times a day).

I get my oil from Sally Beauty usually, but you can get it anywhere.  Avoid creams, that have alcohol, and fragrances, these will cause extra pain.  

Just rub the oil on lightly with circular motions.  Don't press too hard, or peel any of the skin, and do not use a brush to remove the skin...  All of these things will make it more painful, and open you up to secondary infections.

As you work the oil in, the looser pieces of scaled skin will come off.  For good measure, I will remind you again not to peel it, or force sections that do not want to come off yet, this will only make it more painful.

If your scaling has sore cracking portions, you can cover the area with a cotton, or gauze to help keep it clean, and avoid further irritation.

For your feet there is no need to cut the sock obviously.  But for elbows, knees, arms, and hands you can cut the end of the sock, and slide it over. You can use cotton gloves on your hands.

Whatever you use, make sure it's breathable, and for feet, make sure to change your socks often, and rotate your shoes.  Excess moisture will lead to secondary infections, and creams/sprays like anti-fungals will cause undue pain to scaled feet.
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Avatar universal
CW3
Digging into a really old thread here, but it sounds like what I experience.

I've been getting dishydrotic eczema for years, stress can worsen it, but it seems to me that I get it from exposure to various liquid chemicals, such as pvc cleaner, and xylene; and dry metal salts in products such as concrete, and alum; and other drying agents like calcium chloride (CaCl2), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), calcium sulfate (CaSO4) and magnesium sulphate (MgSO4).

I could be totally off base with my hypothesis, but I've worked with a wide variety of materials, and chemicals.  I suspect the eczema is a reaction to some sort of toxic overload, or allergies from over-exposure (possibly a metal/salt allergy).

My trouble spots are on my left foot (rarely, but occasionally the right), both of my hands between the fingers, and my elbows, knees, and shoulders.

My left foot will blister either small pustules all over the sole of the foot; or it will blister and peel, then dry out and get scaly.  Happens every time I work with: grout, concrete, drywall and it's compound (thinset).

My hands frequently have small flesh colored bumps between my fingers (rarely if ever on the thumbs), twice in the last 5 or so years, I have had the blisters break, and scale over.  I had to coat my hands with lotion, and wear gloves because they were so painfully crusted.   Also occurs specifically with, but not limited to: grout, concrete, and thinset.

My knees, and elbows get small skin colored/red bumps only on the thickened exterior sides.  (no idea what triggers this).

I occasionally get small painful blisters on my stomach, and on the back, front, and top of my shoulders.

I am lactose & nut intolerant possibly more food allergies that I haven't narrowed down yet.  I have chronic nasal allergies, digestive, and bowel discomfort on top of the skin conditions.
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Avatar universal
I too am having similar symptoms to the majority of you.

In my case, I moved to the much warmer New York for the summer and immediately got bumps on the sides of my knuckles (the areas where the knuckles naturally touch each other).  I thought I contracted warts but now am not so sure.  It seems like they would come back every couple of months and were related to the an increase in the temperature.

More recently, I have been getting itchy bumps on the outside of my elbow.  I would liken the bumps to a mild poison oak/ivy rash in both feeling and look (perhaps an auto immune reaction?).  They do not look like some of the solutions that have been written here.  These started a year after the itchy knuckles would come and go and occurred immediately after a trip to Thailand.  They also come and go, but I have no idea what would cause the reaction (as opposed to the knuckles which do seem to spring up in warmer weather).  I wouldn't have guessed the knuckles and elbow rash were related, but now, who knows.

I am a 26 years old male, just giving my testimony.  Hopefully someone will give us more insight.



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3205239 tn?1345508124
Thanks so much for your research and response!  You have helped me a lot!
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Avatar universal
Does any of you have a history of tick bite or Lyme disease? My son started getting a similar rash on the external elbow joint, inside surface of knee joint, knuckles and side of fingers around the time he had a rash that looked like erythema migrans, a hallmark of early Lyme disease. He tested positive for Lyme. It seems like ticks can transmit more than just Lyme.
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Avatar universal
The info that ya provided helped me understand that I'm not alone and I agree the doctors just say the same thing..I appreciate that u took the time to post about gluten I would of never thought but now I know wat I have to say to get tested as well thank u!!
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Avatar universal
For the past year and 1/2 I have been getting red then ITCHY bumps, which then callous and peel, on the right side of my ring finger from the knuckle down toward the webbing (only on left hand).  I have also gotten the itchy bumps on my outer elbows about 4 times or so... but doesn't always happen when ring finger is acting up!  People laugh because this started happening right around my 7th anniversary of marriage...literally the "7 year itch".  Joking aside, it drives me nuts!  Dermatologist chalks it up to nickel allergy...but nickel in jewelry doesn't affect me on any other part of my body...or other fingers.  Steroid cream didn't work.  Can't wear my wedding ring most of the time...hate this and can't figure it out!
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