Rash and now Infection on fingers and face

[Mrs_Emily_Rose_Lovett]

For several years now I have been getting random red rashes that appear in different spots on my arms.  I think I was 17 when started.  At somtimes the rash would cover my hands and not respond to lotion or any OTC ointments.  Ive always managed as it didnt last more than a month or two.  This year..the rash...which starts as just very very tiny red bumps..very tiny... started as just a spot on one of my fingers.  it kept growing and made it look almost like a burn or like acid was poured on my finger as it seemed to eat away the first layer of skin.  Then i noticed it spreading to the fingers next to it which in time proceeded to spread up my fingers in the same way before passing onto the next...  it is now on 5 of the 10..  middle, ring, and pinky on the right and ring and pinky on left.  my cuticles seemed to have been 'eaten' away as well by it and now leak thick dark yellow puss and my fingertips..(im a nailbiter) have swelled up with huge blisters and are leaking puss.  i can see very small water blisters just under the big blister..especially when it break...around the infected cuticles is swollen and very painful as well.  i have seen the doctor about this in the past and have tried all the OTC products (which is all the doc suggests..grrr) and nothing seems to really help it.  I have had this since about January this year...in the past its gone away in a month or two but this just seems to be getting worse.  Any possible ideas what it could be.  I can never seem to find ANYTHING that matches it exactly and it keeps me in tears..its extrememely itchy and painful.  i also have a small patch on my face of the itchy red bumps..but no blisters..  i havent been using anything different that i can think of..i live in GA..i recently went to ohio and noticed that it inflamed the first few days and then went away and i forgot about it..after being back in GA for about 2 days it is worse than ever before which makes me wonder if its an allergy to something in the air here?  please help im desperate..im sorry this is so long

[Mrs_Emily_Rose_Lovett]

thank you so much.  you dont know how much i truly appreciate that!  i will definatly go and suggest that to my doctor.  

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

This sounds like an eczematous skin condition with an overlying fungal or bacterial infection. Eczema may affect the hands and other parts of the body. The extremities however, are very much predisposed as they are areas readily exposed to irritants. I suggest that you have a culture of the discharge done. Skin scrapings from the affected areas may also be evaluated microscopically. This will help determine if underlying fungal infections is also present. This may be a case of paronychia or soft tissue infections of the areas surrounding the nails. Oral antibiotics are necessary.