Cracked fingers and feet

[1Abigail]

My 12 year old daughter has had this problem for over 2 years. She is an avid swimmer and in the water about 10 hours a week.  
About 2 to 2 1/2 years ago she began having issues with her feet.  It evolved fairly quickly, over several weeks to months. Her feet started becoming sore, then turned red, became shinny and then started cracking.  They would peel, crack and even bleed. Then it moved to her fingers. It is to the point now where she cannot bend her fingers unless she is in the water.
She has tried several prescription ointments and creams, many OTC skin remedies, and even tea tree oil.  We get excited when one works, but within two or so days, she is back to the peeling and bleeding.  She has to out bandaids on her finger tips at school to keep from bleeding on her papers!

A dermatologist advised her to quit swim.  She loves it.  We are at a loss.
It has been suggested she has an allergy to chlorine, but she had this in the salt pool.  A gluten allergy has also been suggested- and she has acid reflux and is on Prilosec- but those tests come back negative.

She puts on Nevia creams at least 4 times a day.  She puts on a cream at night then wears a pair of gloves to bed. She has used 'gloves in a bottle' and that appears to do some good.  We have recently determined that when she is using her hands for intense activity- gym or very active play - she gets worse.  

It is spreading on the hands, started at the finger tips, moved up the fingers, towards the palm, and now has moved to the back side surrounding the nail, and skipped over her palm and moved to the heel of the hand and lower inside wrist.

[1Abigail]

The rash never has bumps or pustules.
It started as as shinny, tight skin, gets flakey and peels.  She can't bend her fingers unless they are wet. It started at the tips, moved down the inside of the fingers, and skipped over the center of the palm. It's now on the heal of the hands.  It's moved to around the back around the nails of her hands.  

Her feet at their worst, the peeling and cracking covered the entire bottom, between the toes, and around to the top of the toes and very top of the foot.

The pics are from the web and are as close as I could find- I can't seem to post pics.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rash+on+hands+peeling&view=detail&id=8D9988363A1536F05104F325E6D2B53DD947347C&first=20

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rash+on+hands+peeling&view=detail&id=D3FF9A896C61FCA14BD50E98BF88949AF86D1E2A&first=154

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

It can be due to contact dermatitis or pompholyx. The exact cause is not known and excessive sweating can be one of the reasons. But some triggers like allergic reaction to soaps, detergents, foods, latex, nickel etc may trigger the symptoms. Apply some calamine lotion on the affected area and keep the area well moisturized. Use only thin applications of moisturizer ointments as excessive amounts of ointment may restrict breathing of the skin and aggravate the condition.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.