small, subdermal 'blisters'

[USsolider]

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

[Dave45]

I've been searching all over the net tryin' to figure out what this is, Thanks everyone, this is VERY helpful..

--Dave (from Minnesota)

[ivegotblistersonmyfingers]

I have noticed that I develop small blisters on my fingers during times of stress.  I used to suffer from anxiety attacks and had them at that time.  It has been under control for 2 years, however, yesterday I received news that my mother had been diagnosed with cancer.  Within 1 hour I had a blister on the outside of my pinkie.  My son has atopic dermititis, so image I might too, but have far fewer symptoms unless under stress.

[sq]

My name is Susan, and I also suffer from dyshidrotic exzema. About 3 years ago I change jobs and started working in a carpet store.Within 5 months I was at the derm with the same blisters and insane itching that all of you have been suffering from. I finally went to an immunoligist after no help from the derms. And to my surprise I was informed that I had developed a sensatization to the latex carpet backing in the store. Well there is no cure for this condition, but I have found thru research on my own that there are many foods I can not eat. They react to the chemicals the same as latex and I will have a severe breakout if I don't watch out. Also As far as the derms are concerned they really have no aswers for this and I find that most of them are lacking in the knowledge department in this area. Derms or not they have no idea about this because they themselves had done little research. My suggestion to all of you is to contact an allergist/immunologist for some answers to help all of you feel alittle better. I have this on both my hands and feet. And continually find walking and everday living a chore. I wish all of you the best of luck, and hope that you can find an answer to this problem. I wish you the best.   Susan

[kpb1nv]

I have the same thing, on my fingers, mostly index fingers.  They come and go.  When here they itch, then pop and burn.  When they are drying up the skin gets tough and peels off.  I have been told the same, eczema, or dermatitis.  I got it when we moved up here to Alaska, am told it is brought on by climate change sometimes.  I use just a lotion that was prescribed by doc, but it doesnt seem to work.  Resort back to OTC anti itch, and before bed take atarax so it does not itch all night.

Good luck, mine comes and goes, have been trying to track what 'triggers' it but have yet to figure it out.  Any advice?