Cracking, peeling skin on palm & fingers, one hand

[richiebonds]

For eight or nine years I have had a progressing condition with the skin on the palm and fingers of my left hand only.  It started with a very small, dry, blister-like patch of dry, cracking, peeling skin in the center of the pad on the end of my index finger, and over time has slowly spread down that finger to my palm, thumb, middle finger and has begun to move up my ring finger.  There is a somewhat visible line between the affected area of my palm and the unaffected skin, which shows the condition has also progressed to the base of my pinkie finger, and covers roughly 2/3 of my palm.  The condition produces hard, dry, considerably less pliable skin that will crack (and bleed) with very little provocation, and which peels in small strips and sections.  Fingertips are especially susceptible to cracking and bleeding, and the skin there is quite hard and rough.  The skin does not seem to repair itself as does the skin on my right hand.  Hand lotions have no effect on the condition, and I have even tried applying Bag Balm (covered with a latex glove) on the entire hand over a course of several consecutive nights with no effect on any of the symptoms (other than a very temporary-- 30 mins-- softening of the skin).  When my hands are cold, the affected area is significantly more red than the unaffected area.  I am a left-handed baseball pitcher, and this condition affects my ability to throw effectively, due to crack-prone index and middle fingertips.  Might someone have some good insight into an effective treatment for this ongoing condition?  Thank you so much.

[Nursesdaughter]

I have had the same thing since I was little. I have anxiety disorder with panic attacks and at the time the Drs diagnosed me with tether. They said it would appear more under times of stress. Due to recent research I've found this condition exfoliative keratolysis. This sounds like what you are experiencing. It sounds like what I'm experiencing except over the past 15 years it has moved from the palms to the base of the fingers and from the tips to the base of the fingers. In other words I only experience it on the bottom section of my fingers. The doctors told me, and I've always used this...it's always works, use eucerin hand cream. Use it once to twice daily and within a week it usually disappears. Hope this helps! :)

[Buland]

Dear Doctor

I am 28 year old male. I also have the same problem on my index finger of right hand. I am a right handed person and working on laptop in office hours. It had happened in past and I get cured by applying moisturiser and steroid. It takes 3-4 months in the treatment and after treatment of every 1-2 months it relapses.

I have noticed a peculiar pattern how it initiates. I feel a part of finger is little painful (pain like needle at one spot and pain is relieved when I press the affected area). After few days there will be a slight growth of that affected area, it becomes dry and cracked.

I always like to apply moisturiser as it feels very dry on the affected area of the finger

Presently I am feeling the same pain on left sole. I am scared if I get the same dry and crack on the sole

I have consulted 4 dermatologist in Mumbai and all of them have prescribed some or other moisturiser or steroids. I also avoid cleaning the house or lifting any luggage as these activities aggravate the crack

Please let me know if it autoimmune or infection or only dryness or anything else?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For such cracking skin on hands, apply lots of moisturing lotion and vit E on the hands. Place protective covering or bandages over the finger to decrease friction on the skin until the sore heals. During the day, hydrate and protect hands with a protective and moisturizing cream. At night, repair them with creams. For a more intensive nighttime treatment, apply cream and then cover hands with gloves or socks. Your body heat helps the cream sink deeper into the skin. I would also suggest you to avoid washing hands with soap repeatedly and use gloves while doing any household work.

If the symptoms persist then get it evaluated from a dermatologist.
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.