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small, subdermal 'blisters'
I am stationed in Iraq and have been here for 3.5 months so far. About 3 weeks after being here, I started getting small bumps on my fingers. These bumps appear to be tiny blisters under the skin. I have popped some of them, and a clear liquid comes out. They seem to spread quickly from finger to finger which makes me wonder if it is contagious. I now have these tiny bumps on my palms and my fingers. I have a lot of them and they really itch. The skin around them seems to get soft or changes texture when wet, which also makes it itchy. I was using hydrogen peroxide on a different wound and some got on one of the tiny blister areas - the area bubbled and caused irritation.
At first I thought it was contracted through the use of community weight lifting equiments, showers, faucets, etc. But nobody else had them. Then I thought it might be heat related since I am sweating most of the day. I still don't know. I asked the military medicine here and they were skeptical to answer any skin questions. They told me that they tought it was exsema. I have had exsema as a child, but haven't had an active period for years. Plus, my exsema looked nothing like these bumps. They gave me hydrocortisone 1% cream and that hasn't helped at all.
Two days ago the bumps seemed to have gone away, only to have them come back full force the next day, worse than ever. The skin around the area seems to have a different appearance/texture although only if one really looks closely. I wash my hands frequently and use anti-bacterial gel occasionally in hopes that this will help. It hasn't.
Like I said, I can pop these little blister-looking bumps if I squeeze them, and sometimes when I pop them they actually go away. I have dealt with these things for the past 3 months and I have another 3 to go before I can see a "real" doctor back in the states. Please PLEASE help me! I am afraid to shake peoples' hands in fear that they will get what I have or they will feel these little things. My wife is also deployed with me and I am afraid to touch her anywhere. Thank you -
A deployed soldier
At first I thought it was contracted through the use of community weight lifting equiments, showers, faucets, etc. But nobody else had them. Then I thought it might be heat related since I am sweating most of the day. I still don't know. I asked the military medicine here and they were skeptical to answer any skin questions. They told me that they tought it was exsema. I have had exsema as a child, but haven't had an active period for years. Plus, my exsema looked nothing like these bumps. They gave me hydrocortisone 1% cream and that hasn't helped at all.
Two days ago the bumps seemed to have gone away, only to have them come back full force the next day, worse than ever. The skin around the area seems to have a different appearance/texture although only if one really looks closely. I wash my hands frequently and use anti-bacterial gel occasionally in hopes that this will help. It hasn't.
Like I said, I can pop these little blister-looking bumps if I squeeze them, and sometimes when I pop them they actually go away. I have dealt with these things for the past 3 months and I have another 3 to go before I can see a "real" doctor back in the states. Please PLEASE help me! I am afraid to shake peoples' hands in fear that they will get what I have or they will feel these little things. My wife is also deployed with me and I am afraid to touch her anywhere. Thank you -
A deployed soldier
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