dermatitis???

[quinster]

Over the last few months, under where I wear my rings, my fingers are incredibly itchy and red. I'm also getting these tiny little bumps too, i often scratch it so bad when I'm asleep that i woke up with cuts on my fingers. It often gets a lot worse after I wash my hands, and the rash stings. I've been told by a friend it may be dermatitis?

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
Your friend is right in mentioning that you might have dermatitis. This form of dermatitis is called as contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a localized rash or irritation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance. Substances that cause contact dermatitis in many people include "poisonous" plants such as poison ivy, certain foods, some metals, cleaning solutions, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, industrial chemicals, and latex rubber. A red rash is the usual reaction. It appears immediately in irritant contact dermatitis, but sometimes in allergic contact dermatitis the rash does not appear for 1-2 days after the exposure. Your skin may blister, or you may get a raised red rash, called hives, sometimes in a pattern those points to the offending agent.
Your skin will itch and perhaps burn. Irritant contact dermatitis tends to be more painful than itchy.
Irritant contact dermatitis often affects the hands, which have been exposed by resting in or dipping into a container (sink, pail, tub) containing the irritant. Once a reaction starts, it may take as long as 4 weeks to resolve completely.
Most of the times it will subside on its own without requiring any further treatment. General self help home care could be provided like Avoid touching the trigger, Washing with soap and cool water can remove or inactivate most of the offending substance, if it is done immediately after exposure, If blistering develops, cold moist compresses applied for 30 minutes 3 times a day are helpful, Calamine lotion and cool oatmeal baths may relieve itching, Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Ben-Allergin) can also relieve itching, Do not apply antihistamine lotions to the skin, because you may have an allergic contact dermatitis from the lotion itself, For mild cases that cover a relatively small area, hydrocortisone cream in nonprescription strength may be sufficient.
Hope this helps.
Bye.