Eczema?

[Kristen33]

Hello. I am a 33 yr old female in case you were wondering. I have been having the following condition for a few months now. I have had it about 4-5 times. It occurs about once every other month or so (not that often). It ONLY occurs on the joints of my fingers- which I find very strange. Usually on my thumbs, index and ring fingers only.

It starts of as very itchy. Then, some of the surrounding skin flakes and peels away and then it cracks and bleeds a bit. The ending stage is red and swollen and slightly scabby and takes about a week to heal. It is not painful, just unsightly. Do you think this is a form of eczema?

Also- what are your thoughts on eyelash loss (in fairly large patches on the same eye) that fall out and then grow back again. This process has been going on now for approx 9 months now. I have already been to one dermatologist and an opthalmologist. They prescribed creams and ointments that never really worked. They said it was alopecia areata which can be caused by stress, diet etc. I have also been told that I carry the Strep-B bacteria by my GYN and was treated with antibiotics and then re-tested and it was still there. I have read that the Strep-B bacteria can cause certain types of "skin conditions"- but I'm not sure what types of skin conditions. Both of these conditons came on about the same time I found out I had the Srep-B bacteria by my GYN. Have your ever heard of a correlation b/w the 2? I'm convinced this strep-B thing is the culprit.

Thanks a bunch

[shaliedaM]

I am 21 Years old. I noticed one day there was a red bump that turned into a red welp. Then I noticed that it started to itch like crazy. Next thing I noticed was that it was spreading. It started on my arms then moved to my stomach and back. Now it's on my neck coming towards my face. I went to the emergency room and seen a doctor. The doctor said it was a form of dermititus. They gave me some medication. Some pills for the itching, and then a antibiotic to speed the process of it going away.For some reason it is still here and itchy as ever. I dont know what to do please someone give me advise!!!!!!!!

[shaliedaM]

I am 21 Years old. I noticed one day there was a red bump that turned into a red welp. Then I noticed that it started to itch like crazy. Next thing I noticed was that it was spreading. It started on my arms then moved to my stomach and back. Now it's on my neck coming towards my face. I went to the emergency room and seen a doctor. The doctor said it was a form of dermititus. They gave me some medication. Some pills for the itching, and then a antibiotic to speed the process of it going away.For some reason it is still here and itchy as ever. I dont know what to do please someone give me advise!!!!!!!!

[shaliedaM]

I am 21 Years old. I noticed one day there was a red bump that turned into a red welp. Then I noticed that it started to itch like crazy. Next thing I noticed was that it was spreading. It started on my arms then moved to my stomach and back. Now it's on my neck coming towards my face. I went to the emergency room and seen a doctor. The doctor said it was a form of dermititus. They gave me some medication. Some pills for the itching, and then a antibiotic to speed the process of it going away.For some reason it is still here and itchy as ever. I dont know what to do please someone give me advise!!!!!!!!

[jolincombo]

I am getting big itchy red bumps on my skin stomach,waistline, and legs-it feels as if something biting me then marks appear. Nobody else in family is getting them, and I share a bed with my husband he is fine so cant be a bug of some kind. when i feel the biting sensation i look and there is nothing there then in same exact spot 6 or 7 itchy bumps appear look like mosquito bites. always cluped together like. I have very sensitive skin always exema, dermititus seborhea, hives from different things but never anything like this! what the heck could it be? i thought of celiac disease but i dont fit into the ethnic grouping for that. thanks Jolin

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your finger condition does indeed sound like eczema, but are you sure that when the "skin flakes and peels away and then it cracks and bleeds a bit," it isn't because you're helping it (by picking and scratching)?  If you are, I advise you to stop, keep the skin moist (vaseline, etc.), and ask a skin doctor to diagnose you properly.

Eyelash loss can certainly be alopecial areata.  It can also be caused by the habit of plucking the lashes.  No one knows the cause of alopecia, but I can't think of any role for strep in either of your conditions.  Strep of the skin causes infected follicles or impetigo.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff