itchy toe blisters

[gr99]

I have blisters on several of my toes (on both feet) and it's not from athlete's foot or poor shoes. The blisters are extremely itchy/sore and are the size of a pea. I have one on each of the first 3 toes starting with my big toe. They are mostly on top of my toe between the last knuckle and my toenail, but one is on the side/tip of one toe. They are not true blisters in that there is no fluid sack. It is simply a very swollen and red hive. It seems like really firm and inflamed tissue. There's no scaling or flaking skin, in fact, it's shiny and taught from the inflammation. The itching and soreness is so bad that it has woken me up in the middle of the night. The itching is mostly at night, but I can still feel them during the day. I put OTC hydrocortisone and/or benadryl cream on them at night but it helps little.

The same blisters last about 2 weeks and then the healing process begins and they slowly disappear. I had at least 3 separate bouts of these blisters last winter that ended in March. I did not get a single blister after that until they returned last week (Dec. 6) which is around the same time it started last year. It is independent of the shoes I wear. For example, the blisters appeared last week and I've been wearing those sneakers for over a year. I ski often in winter, but I haven't put my boots on yet this year. My diet hasn't changed. My address and work haven't changed. The only pattern I can see (if there is one) is that it happens in winter months.

I have no other symptoms or allergies. I eat healthy, stay active and just got a clean bill of health from my physician after an annual physical. I am straight and not currently sexually active. I don't have diabetes and have never been diagnosed with any other disease.

I have not seen a doctor yet for this one, but I will call tomorrow. I found an old post on this website that also sounds like my condition.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Dermatology/messages/31698.html

Any advice?

White Male 33yrs old. 5'5" 135lbs.

[jacmac41]

i have had the same problem staretd last year and lasted for five months doctor diagnosed chilblains ..returned this year but more severe than last i suffer from reynauds also but usually only in my hands seen doctor this time he thinks i possibly have p.v.d and are currently waiting for the results back

[randyfuj]

I've researched a bunch of other sites on chilblains and saw a couple that said to use aloe vera. So, for the past couple of weeks, I've been using it and it's cleared up a lot of the redness and itching, so I'm hopeful.

You might want to give some aloe vera a try, fellow red-toed ones. I also bought some good WrightSocks that seem to help cool my feet and not let them get too hot in shoes. The search for a remedy goes on...

[gr99]

I created this post a few years ago. I wish I could edit my original post to say: itchy toe hives and NOT blisters. I've never had a blister. They were swollen pink/red lumps anywhere in size from 2-10 mm in diameter and raised about 1-2 mm. They were NOT filled with liquid like a traditional blister. The skin tissue was simply swollen (and relatively hard) and the skin taught and sometimes shiny. A hive or lump is the best description and I'm still convinced they are Chilblains.

Please read ALL the posts for perspective as many have had exactly the same symptoms/experience as me while others seem to have unrelated medical issues. Collectively, you can gain valuable insight from all of them.

gr99

[asd]

I also got the same itchy toes and it comes back every winter. I don't think I have Chillblains... It's either that or it isn't that serious. I haven't experienced any blisters, but it is always itchy no matter what. Particularly after I come back from outside and take off my shoes. I try to go barefoot with flip-flops at home most of the time and that sometimes helps... I think I'll try to wear socks to see how it goes.

[stella1111]

hi everyone,

I know that this is a pretty old thread however this link may help...

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Pompholyx.htm

[randyfuj]

OK, now that it is starting to get colder, who here on this thread is starting to worry about the itchy red feet? I know I am!