Small bumps on hands

[KLT83]

I have had these small bumps on the back sides of my hands for about 5 years now. They itch, not constantly, mostly when it is hot. they are not red they are the same color as my skin and some kinda white looking. my skin is pinkish around the area, but not bad, I believe it is from the itching. There are about 100 of these small irritating bumps. when I first noticed it about 5 years ago, I thought something had jus bit me a bunch of times, but I had it the whole summer. when it started to cool down it went away, it was like that for the first two years, went away when it was cold, came back when it was hot. Now it never goes away, it itches more in the heat, and seems to be irritated be heat. whatever this is, it is not contagious, My husband and children have not gotten it. does anyone have any ideas on what this can be?

[joy_ahn26]

I had the exact same problems but I went to the doctors and they gave me some cream called advantan cream and after I applied it, it helped stop the irritation but the bumps still remain.

[Kman884]

I have the same exact problem on the dorsom of both my hands for over a year now. Exactly the same symptoms that get worse in heat and better in cold. My Dermatologist first said it was Ringworm and prescribed Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Diproprionate cream, which really did not help. Now, I have a background in medicine, but I'm not a doctor yet and I definately did not do a resideny in dermatology, but I doubted that it was Tinea Corporis. However, I took his word for it. After a few months, the symptoms persisted. I went back and he said it's Hydroxy dermatitis and gave me Locoid Lipocream (a 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate cream). This did not really help either. The only thing that I found to help the itching was Neutrogena T-gel shampoo whenever I do use it, but the bumps remain. The itching is very annoying and distractive when taking exams. Nothing seems to help. Do you have any other idea on what it can be? Thank you.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be due to dyshidrotic eczema. Eczema is a form of chronic dermatitis (rash). Wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.

For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Eczema can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Use good quality moisturizers to prevent moisture loss from the skin.

If still the symptoms do not improve then pls get a clinical examination done by a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.