burning itch

[mimi122]

hello...please help me i have an incredibly itchy palm..its on fire at the moment as ive been scratching all night! i scrape it along any rough surface just to try and releive the awful awful itch...the itch lasts for hours...im surprised i have any skin left its absolutely unbearable! i also get it on random areas on my fingers....an uncontrolable itch where i end up tearing at my skin....sometimes my fingers swell so much i cant bend my fingers...agony!!! all my doctor told me was that i was probably allergic to something and sent me away with some cream....useless.....please please help me im in agony!!

[mimi122]

thankyou for your kind responses, the odd thing is ,however , i have no rash.....nothing.....like youve said, im going to have to go to a dermatologist.....this bout has lasted three weeks now!!!!!

[RJ233]

My daughter had eczema. She used the cream the dr gave her for it and put Neosporin over it. It cleared it right up. But she could not put her hands in detergents or touch cleaning products or soaps with perfumes and dyes in them. She wore white cotten gloves under rubber gloves to protect her hands from moisture. I have tried it and was amazed at how fast it cleared it up. She found it by chance because she uses Neosporin if she thinks there is a chance of any infection on anything. RJ

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

I feel that your symptoms are suggestive of contact dermatitis to some soap or detergent or other irritant which has acted as an allergen for your palms or eczema or xerotic dermatitis. Eczema is a form of chronic dermatitis (rash).Allergic reaction is one of the important causes of eczema. Allergic reaction can occur to strong soaps, Solvents, chemicals, certain foods, food additives, plants, metals, cosmetics, even urine and faeces of some animals (dust mites).Xerotic dermatitis is caused by dryness of skin.

Wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.

For mild-moderate itching a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide). Also use good quality moisturizers to prevent moisture loss from the skin.This should help.

If still the symptoms do not improve then pls get a clinical examination done by a dermatologist. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.