dry and cracked thumb and pointer finger!

My right thumb and pointer finger have been extremely dry and cracked for over a month. I have tried every lotion including Vaseline to try to cure it. I recently showed my mom and sister, and they said that it looks like it might be a finger fungus since it is only covering 2 fingers. What would this be? It is sore, but only when it catches on fabric. What does it sound like it could be?
Thank you,
Nanette

[qlerkworks]

I have a similar dry, callus skin situation.

It started as a little patch on the knuckle of my index fingers. It looked like I had scraped them. Now it's on both thumbs, index and starting to appear on the middle and little fingers.

I've tried ever hand cream, Tinactin, Triamcinolone and am currently trying betamethasone DIp. None of it works.

What is it?

[Smokey_d]

I have kinda similar hard surface growth dry and cracked on my thumb next to my nail seems like some sort of fungus and help yet

[Jj1984]

Sounds like the psoriasis i have had since i was 7 or 8. I am 23 now and it just comes and goes with time as it pleases. NOTHING seems to help, except wearing rubber gloves at night to keep the skin moisturized. This helps keep it from cracking a little bit. I have tried all the different creams for it and none ever work long, if at all. Tazorac, Elocon, cortizones, etc...

[jan56]

Both of my thumb nails are almost gone the top of my nail is constantly cracking off until they bleed my doctor gave me lamisil I took it for 3 months it did not help. I wash my hands alot and use gloves what can I do I do not have health care insurance to go to a doctor right now 11/20/07

[geoffrey2]

please describe your condition  does it start every month with blisters ?  then peals , then drys up  then starts again?    i have solution after 15 years of suffering  

[jessemeister]

Hello geoffrey2, what solution do you have, because I have the same problem, I only have my two thumb and index fingers with this problem. My fingers crack and dead skin appears where you can just pill it off but it hurts. I put Hydrogen Peroxide and my hands turns white and inside the infected nails it shows a lot more white like foam and it hurts for a little bit and goes away. But then days or weeks later my thumb and index finger crack up and start to bleed and I can use those fingers at all because If I put pressure it hurts like crazy. I've been researching of what to use but this discussions help to know what does and doesn't help. If you have a cure please let me know.
Thank you

[Marybow]

My thumbs are a mess cracked bleeding and very tender if you have a cure please tell me.

[divalasvegas]

I developed same condition almost a year ago.  Dermatologist said it was contact dermatitis so I needed to find out what was causing it so I could avoid it.  As I'm right-handed, and it was just my right pointer finger and thumb, I assumed it might be a reaction to the pens I use at work...possibly the rubber grip.  I switched to an all metal pen.  No help.  A few days ago, I started slathering my finger and thumb with Bag Balm and sleeping with a glove on my hand.  Several of the cracks have healed and it is much less painful.  Today I decided to switch my coffee mug at work thinking there might be something in the glaze, however in the meantime as I search for the culprit, the Bag Balm really helps.

[frankdathinktank]

I have no idea what exactly what I have. I have thick black shiny skin on my knuckles and toes. When I get my hands wet the dead thick skin becomes soft and peals as I ex foliate with a rock. Once dry it peels off and bleeds. Does anyone know of any over the counter creams or pills that might help?

[alwaysfrndz]

i also  have similar prob.. the skin on my index finger and thumb seems to b peeling off..not bleeding or anything. Just the tips and cracks..i have been having this for more than a month.. do u have a solution for it?

[lillydawn06]

I have the same issue with my LEFT thumb and index finger...I'm RIGHT handed though so I don't understand what could be bugging my left fingers when I do everything w/ my right....I've tried lotions and everything but nothing is helping and it hurts to TYPE cause my thumb is so tender now..its been happening on and off for a few years now but this time almost 3 weeks (the longest) hasn't and wont go away. any answer to WHAT this is and how to make it stop plz send them my way

[bks1]

my is the same way,try cerve cream, get the one int he jar,its for eczema,psoriasis,its about 15 dollards at walgreens,this is the very good,i try ever things,this is the best thing.

[Mariachi007]

I have the same Exact problem as all of you people on here and I figured out what it is.... Its Atletes finger, Have you ever rubbed your toes with those fingers when they really really itch??? I have and its fungus alright... We have to treat it like atletes foot.

[Mariachi007]

The cure for it is Alkanine water which is acidic water... To make at home just add half a cup of water and the other half vinegar.. The fungus will start to die.. It cures just about everything

[SeanAero]

I found a product that is excellent in fixing cracked fingers, skin, etc....  It is called LipoHydroDerm, I found it in my local pharmacy; they have a website as well that I have ordered it from.  It has been the only thing that works for me long term.

[ml195]

I have struggled with the thickening of skin on my fingers and it has progressed over time. It began on my left thumb, then right pinky. Then right middle finger, right index finger, left middle finger, left index finger, and finally left pinky. The only 2 fingers unaffected are my ring fingers. I have seen a multitude of dermatologists and have tried steroid creams. Nothing seems to help. I have not met anyone else that has this condition and many doctors look at my fingers like they have never seen anything like it before. I am open to any suggestions or anyone who has found a physician to treat this condition effectively. The cracking, peeling, and bleeding is painful and I am desperate for any answers.

[kristi_d]

I have the same problems.. Its been almost 5 months now. At first it was just my thumb and middle finger, and now has spread to all my fingers and it then started changing the color of my fingernails..they are now an orange/pinkish color and I can hardly see the white moons of the nail.
My symptoms are..Tingling/numbness as it starts building up the skin layers, then it starts cracking and bleeding, next day starts peeling..and then just starts all over again..So I peel every 2 or 3 days. I also get little tiny clear liquid filled blisters, they itch like crazy. I only have this on my palms, and all around my fingertips.
I have been to a Dermotologist he said it was dishydrotic eczema.. but I didn't think he was right, He didn't do any tests either. He gave me a prescription for Elidel and it never helped at all.
I went to family dr. a couple weeks ago.. and was told she thought it was a fungus or bacteria and she precribed me Fluconazole.. She said I needed to take this for the next 4 months...The only thing different i see so far (and granted its only been 2 weeks) is that the skin isnt getting as thick as it was before peeling..

[kristi_d]

Another update..OK so the flucanazole didnt quite do the trick..so went to yet another Dr He prescribed me a zema pack (steroid dexamethasone) and Fluocinonide and within 3 days..its gone.. Dr said he does believe it was dishydrotic eczema. My fingernails still look discolored,,but my skin is perfect again !!!
This was a horrible few months and I'm hoping it doesnt come back !!!

[mk111]

my problem is same i am 32 years old, it started  5 years ago, never stopped... It started as a little patch on the point and thumb fingers.  Now it's on both hands thumbs, middle fingers, small fingers, even on right palm i have one.. it starts like hard skin for about 10 days, then starts to peel and cracks, its like dead skin, new skin that comes is never again recovered healthy skin, its at the start red and harden, and new skin starts again to dry and peel over and over again.. so whole proces is about 2-3 month.. some of it recover but after 2-3 month starts all over again... i have no itching problem.. it is allways on same spots, some are gone, but new have arrived... been to 3 derm doctors, tryed tones of creams, none helped...

[Chamorean]

I seem to have the same problem with the dry skin on my pointer finger which ends up looking calloused and starts itching and then cracking then will start to split at parts. It started as a little patch on the side of my pointer  facing the thumb in the middle between BOTH bends on the finger and has now spread to the bottom of my finger and going towards the tip crossing the bend in the tip of it. I have tried athlete's foot cream thinking it was a fungus so Mariachi007 I will say mine isn't Athlete's Finger. I saw the solution for vinegar and water and will try that one. It's irritating and it looks like I have some sort of disease so it's embarrassing. If anyone knows of this problem for sure and has a for sure solution, please help.

[kelly1766]

I too have had this for the past 3-5 years.  My dermatologist first gave me a steroid shot and all my fingers healed within days.  This only lasted a couple of weeks.  My wife did some Internet searching and found some possible causes related to stomach issues and digestion.  I began taking 5 Jarro-Dophilus EPS tablets a day and within a few weeks my hands cleared up and stayed healthy.  I tried to stop taking it after about 8 months and it came back, so I went back to taking 5 a day.  After a year or so I tried stopping again and it didn't return.  Well fast forward another year or two and it's back, tried the Jarro again for about a month and it won't go away now.

A family friend and naturopathic doctor believes it's related to a wheat or gluten allergy.  She claims that stomach issues and allergies like these manifest themselves at the bodies extremities like hands and feet.  I am going to go through a series of allergy tests with her soon to see if I can narrow down what's causing it.

In the mean time my solutions for dealing with it are:

- file down the callused skin on my fingertips (sometimes really painful when there are fissures) with a fine grade emery board
- apply antibiotic ointment and cover with rubber gloves (easiest), finger cots (rubber covers, kind of like condoms) or band aids
- moisturize with Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Enriched Lotion (has no odor and works better than others I've tried) when not wearing gloves

Thanks for all your posts.  I'll be watching this page and will post again if and when I find anything new to share.

[Celia1865]

I've had chapped fingers and thumbs for a couple years.  Now I have a place on my right palm with the thick, red skin and a cut fisure running across it.  I've been using Lamaze Rejuvenation Cream.  It's the stuff for getting rid of stretch marks.  It works pretty good and isn't quite so expensive.  I'm going to try the glutin free food.  Might take a while to get good at that.  Good luck, it's nice to know that it isn't just me!

[Sue789]

Hi Kelly that is very helpful, thanks. I think mine is also related to digestive issues somehow. Will look into allergy testing.
Sue

[tammy2012]

my right thumb tip is red, swollen, cracked and so sore at the tip that i cannot take it anymore. The thumbnail is also discolored with ridges.This has been going on for along time and is getting worse. Any suggestions?

[mk1948]

I have the same condition. I'm a 64 year old male, and this condition has been popping up every year.

I've gone to a hand doctor and a dermatologist, who prescribed a special ointment for it, but it didn't cure it.

After trying lotions, antibiotic ointment and bandaids, I think I may have hit on a cure: hydrogen peroxide solution.

It has taken away the pain and the bleeding, and the skin has healed.

If I see it crop up again, I'll just drip some hydrogen peroxide on the "wound" watch it bubble up, which tells me it's working, and let it air dry.

This seems to get deep into the lesion and kill whatever bad things are living in there and which prevent it from closing up and healing.

I hope I'm correct and the $1.69 bottle of hydrogen peroxide is a long-term "solution"

mk
bakersfield, california

[fluff45]

my hands are in a dreadful state and  have see doctors who have pescribed steroid cream oral  steroid elocon  gels everything all they seem to do is make it worse , then i saw what you wrote ,
before this happend i went on a diet and cut out bread and went on protein shakes  and then came off as i couldnt stick the shakes  and then i eat noramly bread ect , anf then my hand blistered and just got worse , so tomorrow im going back on to the shakes and cutting out bread , to see it it cutting gluten out helps ,  will let you all know as this is getting me down big time i find even the simplest task hard and the only relief i get is to wear plastic gloves , so here is hoping ,

[Coco3000]

Anyone have this on feet too?   This really is distressing.   Think about it all the time 'cause fingers and foot sting all day.   Hands...everyone sees so you look like you're sick.   I cover with bandaids all the time.   Really depressed as it seems like nothing helps!   Going to try some of the recommendations even though.

[fluff45]

well i tried the gluten diet and it has been 4 days and my hands have healed and no new cuts or blisters also my skin is less dry and my heels and no longer itchy and dry , and another good side effect my son , he's on the diet as well due to not making 2 lots of food he is calmer and 'nicer'  so we are both staying on the gluten free diet as it seems to agree with me , now awaiting a docs  appt to confirm as a lot of gluten product are available on nhs

[neptunelady]

When I started working as a housekeeper and my hands were exposed to the chemicals we use in our job, then my thumb began to crack near the nail and it is very painful.  Also, I am not the only person who has experienced, with my co worker, she notices that if she has three days off, the condition will heal, but we don't get three days off anymore, nowadays we are lucky to get one day off.
This has happened before but usually there is an erratant involved such as wearing rubber gloves or exposure to unnatural elements.  Any ideas would really help.