So, whats going on with my hands?

[Shven]

So, recently my fingers began to peel back from the tip. It started with my index and middle finger on my left hand. The top of my big toes calised, and they began to peel too.

Over time, all my fingers began to do the same thing. Now, all my fingers (and thumbs) are peeling, and the palm of my left hand is too. There is also pitting on both index fingernails and my left thumb nail. On top of that, I had a friend tell me my fingers look swollen. The 2 toes closest to my big toes are peeling as well, and my left elbow was very dry and looked like plaque.

The peeling on my hands started as what looked like little blisters.

And on my head between my eyebrow and hairline there is a small patch of red irritated skin.

My hands, feet, and elbow don't itch or burn at all. And the thing on my head only irritates me if I use cream on it or start sweating.

I guess the last thing to mention is that I work with money which dries out my hands, I support my body with my left arm when I watch TV in bed, and my work shoes are fairly tight.

I went to see a doctor and he told me I could have psoriasis (his FIRST diagnosis). I have a family history of eczema on my mothers side, however. And I do recall my fingers peeling when I was younger, but I don't remember if it was to this extent.

I am using Uremol cream, and Mometasone Furoate on my hands for 5 or so days and I haven't seen any improvement. In fact, my skin is still peeling.

I suppose what I'm asking is, is this psoriasis?
I have to wait another week to see my doctor, who will then decide if I need to go to a dermatologist. But I am losing my mind over this.

[Lynn524]

Wanted to share the info we got back from the Dermatologist today. My daughter had a case of hives a couple of weeks ago. They were itchy and she wound up on prednisone. The hives did affect her hands.

The hives were the cause of the peeling skin. The doctor said that the skin on palm of your hands is less elastic than the skin everywhere else on your body. Therefore, with inflammation the skin was overstretched,  and even the hives themselves killed the skin cells.

No big deal; it will all go away soon as the skin repairs itself. He did give us some cream to help "hurry" the situation. But as long as none of this is related to having a fever,, it will all go away eventually.. He mentioned something about Scarlet fever- and peeling skin- which is more serious but not pertaining to us.

[mimi0213]

what were the results of your tests of Aug. 2007 regarding peeling skin from fingers and toes?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From your symptoms the first possibility that came to my mind was of psoriasis. The second possibility is of pompholyx. Psoriasis is a long-term (chronic) skin problem that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin.

Pompholyx is also called dyshidrotic eczema and can be triggered by allergies. It is characterized by a sudden onset of many deep-seated pruritic, clear vesicles which itch and then peel off. As a result the skin may also fissure.
I suggest you to get an opinion from a dermatologist and get the diagnosis confirmed by biopsy skin. I hope it helps . Take care and regards.