Rash on Palms/Peeling and Sore

[Leslie Osher]

Dear Doctor,

I have had a very bad rash near the bottom left and right of my right palm only! It started out to be just very itchy also waking me in the middle of the night, then small raised blisters appeared and the area became inflamed and wider in range. I have been to 3 doctors and we have ruled out any kind of contact dermatitis and I have been on a wide range of different creams and tapes.

My hand now is still itchy, it is peeling, the skin is thick and it is sore and feels like leather, it also now appear on my other hand and in between some fingers..

The next step would be to do patch testing, and they suggest that I go to NY, this is not something I really want to do.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have, at this point I have been give the strongest ointment there is and it is just making the affected areas more raw in nature.

Thank you for your time.   Leslie Osher

[Anna]

I have had the itching, cracking, flaking, peeling and bleeding thing on my hands and the soles of my feet now for about 3 years. Like the rest of you, I tried everything I could think of and also everything other people recommended. Finally, my Dermatologist gave me a prescription for a cream called Maxiflor and it helps with the itching only. She also gave me a roll of tape that is clear looking and has a strong steriod in it. You cut the tape to fit the areas that are affected and leave it on for 12 hours a day for two weeks at a time. It helps a lot, and it can cause the itch and breaking and bleeding to go away for 2 to 3 days at a time...but it always returns. Just having some relief, no matter how small, from this awful thing is great. The name of the tape is Flurandrenolide Tape. I try to use the tape at night only. I put the tape on my hands and then put on white cotton gloves with the fingers cut out of them. You can buy these cotton gloves at Wal-mart. I wear white thin socks on my feet. Also, keep some vaseline jelly in the fridge and put it on the affected areas several times a day. I even use it at night whenever I am not using the tape. It really does help. Hope this information helps you all, also. Good luck....'Anna'

[Howard Houston]

I just returned from a vacation in Florida and on my forearms have developed a red itchy rash. I had used a sunscreen. They appear to be like little blisters but no fluid comes out of them when I scratch them. Is this some form of sun poisoning?? Look forward to your response. Thanks Howard

[Leslie Osher]

TO JET:

Thank you for your suggestion, I am going to the doctor this afternoon and will ask him about this!  I will let you know...Leslie

[JET]

Dear Leslie,

I have had reocurring eczema for 52 yrs. When I was little they said I was allergic to citrus acid. But citrus does not become acidic until it is concentrated. Orange juice made from concentrate, tomato paste, etc. It comes from too much acid in the stomach. When I get upset my hands break out within a day or two. The only effective treatment I have ever found (and it works for everyone I tell) is a cream (not ointment) that used to be marketed under a brand name called Medrol. It is now only found in a generic and through a prescription. Ask your doctor about Medrol and he or the druggist will be able to give you the generic. Good luck!

[Leslie]

Thank you all for your suggestions, as a matter of fact I am going to try and see the doctor again today, over the weekend things have gottern worse to the point that my skin has split, is bleeding and the itch is unbearable, I have been on the steroidal ointments but perhaps I should ask about an injection.

I have had thr tapes as well, but the fall off right away, bad spot.

Someone has mention HERPANACINE, (don't know what it is or even if I am spelling it right.

Absorbine Junior, who knew?  Anyway it probablr is a form of eczema but neither doctor has suggested that, could this be viral?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Leslie:

As much as I can tell without seeing your rash, it sounds like what is called dyshidrotic eczema.  This is an itchy eruption of small blisters which affect the palms and sometimes the soles. Like most forms of eczema, its cause is unknown, but allergy is not usually present, and patch testing is therefore rarely helpful. I don't know what your doctor has recommended, but potent steroid ointments usually help a lot, especially if applied under plastic wrapping or even injected.  If your doctor hasn't tried this, they ought to consider doing so.

Good luck.

Dr. R