Hands sting/burn on the tops when water gets on

38 yo white female.I have been taking doxycycline for about 8 days (2x daily).  Anyway, I went to the beach yesterday and was in direct sunlight for 2+ hours with sunscreen on everywhere except maybe the tops of my hands.  When I got home and washed my hands they started stinging when the water touched them.  Could this be a sensitivity to sunlight caused by the medicine? Today they are still a little stingy when water touches. Is it a sign of MS?  (I ask this because I have had a foot that has started falling asleep a little more lately.  No other signs of MS that I know of.  Also I had anterior cervical fusion in April 2009.  Please Advise.

[J.M. Keyes, MD]

I think that your symptoms may very well be due to sun sensitivity secondary to the doxycycline.  MS can present in various ways, and early symptoms may include numbness, tingling, loss of balance, blurred vision, motor weakness... I really don't think this symptom you are having is a due to MS (the fact that it is brought on by water touching your skin makes me think it is much more likely be to sensitivity).  If it is not resolving over the next week or so, or if you are having other concerning symptoms, follow up with your MD.

Good luck,
JMK MD