Herpetic Whitlow or Dyshidrotic eczema

[JJmom3]

Hello. I have small white areas deep in the pulp of my finger tips. Not very itchy nor any pain. Started out on just 2 fingers a week ago. I thought that it was herpes since I do get cold sores every 6-7 months. I thought maybe i spread it it my hands.
So now I'm freak'n out thinking that I will give it to my children if I touch then. I took some Valtrex thinking that it many help. Which I don't think it really did any good since I continue to get more. So this morning I woke up with the little dots under the skin on more fingers so I called a dermatologist. She said that she has seen many herpetic whitlows and feels that this is not that. She said that it looked like Dyshidrotic eczema.
I have been reading that its itchy but mine is not. BTW, I had some of these dot things back in December in different areas.
Does anyone have any ideas for me?
Are there different severitys and mine just happens to be mild?
Anything to ease my mind and keep my sanity.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it is less likely to be dyshidrotic eczema if the lumps are not itchy. Moroevre herpetic whitlow is characterized by painful bumps. It can be contact dermatitis. The only way of ruling it out is by getting yourself tested for herpes. Laboratory tests include: culture of the virus, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) studies to detect virus, skin biopsy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for presence of viral DNA. I sincerely advise you to consult a dermatologist and get it ruled out.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep us posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.

[Srobinson09]

I also experience the same thing, except mine are red and inflammed. Feels like little slivers of glass are stuck under my skin. Once they show up, they last about two weeks and don't itch. My dermatologist did a shave biopsy on it and said it came back as a skin irritation, but did no further testing. :(

Has gotten worse over time, especially after a stressful event. Seem to be having gastrointestinal issues (own observation), wonder if any of it is related? It's hard to deal with it and haven't felt I've gotten a for sure diagnosis on what it may be. Good luck and let me know what turns out. God bless.

[JJmom3]

I did got to the dermatologist who said that t looks like dyshidrotic eczema. She said that mild cases are not always itchy. She also mentioned that it wouldn't be on my toes feet or 5 fingers . They are not covered but have 1 or two spots on them.