Rash on Palms/Peeling and Sore

[Leslie Osher]

Dear Doctor,

I have had a very bad rash near the bottom left and right of my right palm only! It started out to be just very itchy also waking me in the middle of the night, then small raised blisters appeared and the area became inflamed and wider in range. I have been to 3 doctors and we have ruled out any kind of contact dermatitis and I have been on a wide range of different creams and tapes.

My hand now is still itchy, it is peeling, the skin is thick and it is sore and feels like leather, it also now appear on my other hand and in between some fingers..

The next step would be to do patch testing, and they suggest that I go to NY, this is not something I really want to do.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have, at this point I have been give the strongest ointment there is and it is just making the affected areas more raw in nature.

Thank you for your time.   Leslie Osher

[Howard Houston]

I just returned from a vacation in Florida and on my forearms have developed a red itchy rash. I had used a sunscreen. They appear to be like little blisters but no fluid comes out of them when I scratch them. Is this some form of sun poisoning?? Look forward to your response. Thanks Howard

[Anna]

I have had the itching, cracking, flaking, peeling and bleeding thing on my hands and the soles of my feet now for about 3 years. Like the rest of you, I tried everything I could think of and also everything other people recommended. Finally, my Dermatologist gave me a prescription for a cream called Maxiflor and it helps with the itching only. She also gave me a roll of tape that is clear looking and has a strong steriod in it. You cut the tape to fit the areas that are affected and leave it on for 12 hours a day for two weeks at a time. It helps a lot, and it can cause the itch and breaking and bleeding to go away for 2 to 3 days at a time...but it always returns. Just having some relief, no matter how small, from this awful thing is great. The name of the tape is Flurandrenolide Tape. I try to use the tape at night only. I put the tape on my hands and then put on white cotton gloves with the fingers cut out of them. You can buy these cotton gloves at Wal-mart. I wear white thin socks on my feet. Also, keep some vaseline jelly in the fridge and put it on the affected areas several times a day. I even use it at night whenever I am not using the tape. It really does help. Hope this information helps you all, also. Good luck....'Anna'

[Leslie Osher]

Thank you Anna,

Since my last corespondence I have been put on oral Prednisone therapy, each time the rash cleared up and then came back with a vengence, now it is on my other hand and on the sides of my fingers, and so itchy and even water hurts. I have been to 4 doctors and now I am going to see an allergist.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[Granny]

Leslie,

I wish you luck with the allergist. I know that I have something similar to what you have. Mine starts out as tiny 'water blisters' and goes into larger swellings and then are very sore untill finally a thick layer of skin 'peals off'. My Dr. told me 'it's an allergy find out what it is and never eat it again!"  Fat lot of good that did me!  But I have narrowed it down to SOMETHING IN Chili, Taco meat, BBQ sauce, and Spagetti! I can eat any of these things.....but NEVER any 2 in one week! This summer has been the best one I have had in ages! I still am stupid enough to do it once in awhile but now that I know what it is I am careful!  
This may sound funny....but I have stoped using antibactirial(sp)soap and gone back to 'regular' soap and when I have a break-out I wash some dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher..Sure it hurts at the time and, Don't ask me why but it really 'dries' them up and they seem to heal MUCH faster and are much less itchy!  
I really wish you luck!
Granny

[Deborah]

What a relief to know I'm not alone. My hands are driving me and my husband crazy.  Out of nowhere they started peeling, cracking, bleeding at the fingertips mostly.  Then they started getting calluses and cracking on the palms.  Now they are callused between the fingers.  I have been to 2 top dermatologists in New York (Manhattan) now seeing one on Long Island.  They ask what the other doctors prescribed and then prescibe something different.  What a merry-go-round and what an expense.  I wouldn't care if something would help.  Not only do they not commit to what it actually is - there are playing a guessing game on what to prescribe.  I thought it had something to do with hormones since I am in menopause.  Then I thought it might have something to do with stopping smoking after 35 years.  I mentioned these things to all the doctors and they just shake their heads.  How can it be that so many people have this problem and no one knows how to treat it.  I am very embarassed by it.  I know the people in my office sometimes feel funny taking things from my hands when they notice it.  Somebody out there must know what this is!  We can go to the moon - but we can't cure a rash on the hands.  Go figure!!!!

[Leslie Osher]

Deborah, et tal,

Thank you all for your replys! Well to update you, I have been to the allergist and a mild reaction came up to soap, shampoo's, laundry detergents, softeners, etc. I might as well stop living. I find this hard to believe because only my hands are affected.

I too am getting embarassed by they way my hands look. I am now with another Dermatologist who also just put me on another cream, I don't even know what this one is called. The itching at least has stopped but my hands are still very dry, scaley and at the moment I have a big bandage on my hand because the skin on my right palm has split open. Nice HUH?

I have never ever been allergic to anything before in my life, I will admitt that yes shampoo, soap and even water hurt my hands because they are so raw!

I would rather go to the moon!   Leslie