Itchy/painful bumps on elbow, finger and toe joints

[ncouto]

I have itchy, red, raised blister looking bumps on my left elbow, right index finger joint and both of my large toe joints near the hair follicles there as well. These show as a red area with several raised bumps which are itchy but when scratched are painful. This has happened in the past and has come and gone. This is the worst it has been. Is this a sign of other things? What is this and what will make this heal faster?

[Littylove]

I'm celiac and I usually get these immediately after I've ingested gluten.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The symptoms can be due to pompholyx. Pompholyx primarily involves the hands and fingers and then may involve the feet. The first stage is acute and presents as itchy blisters on the hands, fingers and toes. Then the chronic stage shows more peeling, cracking, or crusting. Then the skin heals up, or the blistering may start again. The exact cause is not known and excessive sweating can be one of the reasons.

For mild-moderate symptoms a weak steroid may be used whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid. But they are available under prescription and should be taken only after consulting a dermatologist. Symptoms  can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Use good quality moisturizers to prevent moisture loss from the skin.
If they prove unsucvessful, then Light treatment: UVA-1, PUVA, Grenz rays, Low Level Light Therapy using a Red + NIR (LED) combination can be used. For recalcitrant cases, corticosteroids combined with immunosuppressants may be used. In addition, you can apply aloe vera to the hands. It will help.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[FifthVoice]

Hmmm...
It could be because your joint are more vulnerable because of the weather or even something like lots of hand washing at work or a sensitivity to latex/leather/polyester gloves. My knuckles always crack first when my hands get dry.
An infection can start and spread so much faster when your skin isn't fully resistant.
I guess for now keep your skin moisturized - but be careful of the products you choose because you don't want to cause furthur irritation. Avoid perfumed products and go with the ones that have more natural ingredients. Aveeno makes a really decent "skin relief moisturizing cream" that has lots of natural oils in it to help rehydrate skin. And it's got the oatmeal and some menthol so it's really soothing. Stick with creams rather than lotions, because lotions are just too thin.
And drop into a health food store or market. See if you can find a healing salve/balm like the marigold i mentioned. Go with oil based for this - it penetrates deeper. And ask the people working there! They may have seen something like it before!
And if nothing seems to be working, try a three day juice fast (I have directions if you're interested in this). They might flame up for a day or two, but once you body starts to flush itself out, many skin conditions clear right up!
Of course, I still think you should see a Doctor or Dermatologist, especially since you mentioned that this is a repeating problem.
And again, best of luck!

[ncouto]

These bumps initiated at the acutal joint on the fingers between my knuckle and the first joint, on my toes they initiated on the joint itself... I've tried to do research all over the place but nothing I have read or seen has matched what I have. Above is the best description I can give but it initiated at the joints in every case, not attached to the bone or deep, on my right toe it has moved to raised bumps on the hair follicle..... I'm still at a loss....

[FifthVoice]

Hi,
I've gotten those but usually on the sides of my fingers, toes, heels, etc. For me, it's allergy related.
However, since yours are near hair follicles, it could be Folliculitis - an infection/imflammation of the hair follicles. I hate to direct you this way but Wikipedia covers the various causes and treatments: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folliculitis

If you are prone to athlete's foot it's possible that it could have been spread. Also, make sure you keep things like counter tops and tables properly cleaned, especially during a breakout. Also, make sure your bathtub is clean - both the tub and the walls. If you successfully treat it you want to cut down the possibility of re-infection :)

If you have access to Marigold (Calendula) cream or salve, this has antibiotic and healing properties. This will be soothing even if it ends up being something completely different. Careful to use only clean fingers or q-tips. Make sure you go to the Doctor when it's really flared up however, as that usually makes a proper diagnosis more straightforward. Good luck!