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reb bumps under ring finger

I have had this problem for 2 months now.  I am an RN who works in a hospital and washes my hands multiple times a day.  Around 2 months ago I started with a red itchy rash under my ring finger under where my wedding rings sit.  I took them off and the red rash went away after a week but a dry cracked skin was in its place.  I put my rings on for a few hours and them I found a red itchy rash with red bumps or blister like areas also.  I again took my rings off for a week or so and it seemed to heal after the same dry skin.  Again after a few hours of having my rings on this rash appears.   I tried Bacitracin, hydrocortisone cream, they seemed to just aggrevate the rash.  You can also see a definitive line on my finger where the 2 rings are.  I have worn these rings for 10 years and have not had a problem.  Thanks for your insight.  
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6445281 tn?1381351713
I have had the same rash under my ring off and on for several months. I know I am allergic to antibacterial soap, when i use it I get the itchy red bumps on my fingers. They only have antibacterial soap at work so I have brought my own bottle of Soft Soap to use. It got better for awhile- changed to dry redish skin that I treated with a strong moisturizing lotion. It really does help to put the lotion on and wear a band aid for the day. I moved my wedding ring to my other hand and have had no problems- so I know it isn't my ring. I used Purell one time over a week ago (so I could hold a new baby!) and ran to wash my hands with my soap right after. But it must have gotten under my ring and burned my skin again. I just wish I could get it to heal for good!!!
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Avatar universal
Your rings most likely have bacteria caused by a number of things but most likely if you shower or wash your hands with your ring on, like most of us do, there may be your problem because you ring is wet trapping moisture under your ring and alas bacteria has developed.

Great news though, bacteria, firstly can be detected by placing your ring in hydrogen peroxide. If little bubbles start forming on your ring that is a sign of a living or organic matter (bacteria).  Add vinegar to the peroxide, 1/4 cup peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar mix and put ring into solution for at least a half hour. After the soak, boil  the ring for at least ten minutes.

Let your ring dry completely before putting it back on!!!

Enjoy your ring again!  Hope this helps you being without a wedding ring is a terrible feeling an I was so upset when I developed a rash I thought I would never be able to wear it again.
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Avatar universal
I had/have same issue with rash under wedding rings.  Interestingly enough I have tried different types of gold and silver on this finger.  All break it out.  Did notice the only cream that took itch, redness, and blisters away was miconazole. Yep, that's right the yeast infection cream. Knew it had to be fungal, so called doc, asked about possible ring worm, I'm now on terbinifine(oral). Just remember ring worm is not parasitic, just fungal. The ring pattern is characteristic of this fungus.  It makes sense to me once I understood the science behind it. Hope it helps.
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I have noticed  that these bumps look very similar to the bumps I have been developing on my feet that itch really bad at first and then kind of hurt. I thought it was athletes foot, but it doesn't spread. I think it has something to do with heat and sweating. Recently I was wearing this rubber ring, like the livestrong and breast cancer bracelets that have become so popular and last night it was irritated and I took it off. This morning when I got to work I had put it back on and it itched like crazy!! When I took it off I saw the little flesh colored itchy bumps, like the ones on the inside of my feet, right near my heal. After an hour or so I could see a red band where the ring had been. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with moisture and heat but I still don't know what it is. If it was althetes foot wouldn't it spread all over my feet? It doesn't always itch, but comes and goes. What should I put on it?
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Avatar universal
I am having this same problem right now. My mom said she had this happen to her years ago and her Dr said her acid levels were high in her body and reacting to the metal.  Someone else told her to polish the inside of her rings with a thin layer of clear nail polish to keep the metal from touching her skin. I did this but am still waiting for my finger to heal for the third time before wearing the rings again.
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Avatar universal
I have a white gold set of rings that are rhodium plated.  I had the same problem, and was trying to find out what to do.  I would take them off, clean them good, put triple antibiotic on my finger until it seemed to heal, then put the rings back on and the same thing would happen (a reddish rash under where the rings touched my skin).  I have a ring on my right hand that this did not happen with, and I noticed that the rash was confined to the area where the diamonds were (so bacteria could have accumulated there due to moisture and caused a form of athletes foot).  To test this possibility, I took off my rings (cleaned them and put them on the dresser to dry all night), put Lotrimin (athletes foot medication) around my ring finger, and put a band aid on it overnight.  The next morning the rash was gone, I put my clean and dry rings, and haven't had a problem since.  I hope people read this and I hope it helps.

Kristi
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Avatar universal
I've been a herpes sufferer for as long as I can remember (at least 40+ years) so when the horribly annoying and recurring red, swollen rash came up under my ring, I figured it was herpes that had somehow located to my ring finger.  I have had herpes in approximately 6-7 places on my body.  If this is herpes, well, I guess I understand.  If it is NOT herpes, I sure wish someone would give me a hint on how to treat and avoid.  Oh...it would take a blow torch to get this ring off my finger.  That adds significantly to the suffering.
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Avatar universal
I have had the same thing going on for a couple of months, too.  At first, I thought I had an allergic reaction to my hand lotion. Even though I noticed that definate red line where the rings were, I assumed the lotion had gotten caught underneath the rings.  However, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed it getting really bad while I was out in the heat all day and sweating a lot.  It hit me like a ton of bricks right then - it is a fungus - like athlete's foot.  Since then, I have been using antifungal cream.  
Hope this helps.  
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1 Comments
I notice from the original post that this started when sucray began washing her hands a lot.  Whenever I wear a THICK band on my fingers, after a few days I get an itchy rash under the ring.  It might be red or it might not but you can feel the bumps, sometimes just at the web part of the finger or all the way around.  I don't know if it IS ringworm (when this happened 20 years ago, I also had frequent breakouts of ringworm elsewhere on my skin) but it has always responded to Blue Star Ointment.  As far as prevention, when you wash your hands, make sure your finger and the inside of the ring get completely dry.  Take the rings off at night to let the skin breathe.  Hope that helps.
Avatar universal
I have a similar symptom on one of my fingers and elbows.  The red bumps goes away in a couple of weeks, but it comes back frequently.  I did some research and found this article http://www.medicinenet.com/rash/article.htm. I found the reason is I use soap to wash my arms and hands frequently.  I thought it help my "allergy" symptom if I keep my hands clean. I am sending you this, hope it will help.  I think if you find a doctor and get some medicine will help quickly.  Also, keep the red bumps area dry and change diet would help.  
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MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,

You have noted the rash to be recurrent and usually involves the area beneath the ring.

Differentials for lesions involving the fingers are dishydrosis, dishydrotic eczema,herpetic whitlow and fungal infections.A contact dermatitis may also be likely.

I suggest that you refrain from wearing the ring for a certain time. The rash seems to improve once the ring is removed. An eczema and contact dermatitis are usually recurrent and by what you have posted are usually relieved when the triggering factor has been eliminated.It is possible that you have developed a hypersensitivity reaction to the ring. Also continue keeping the area clean and dry.A light and bland cream may be used to moisturize the area to avoid irritation due to excessive dryness.

Have your primary physician see this so that an initial assessment be made.
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Avatar universal
I also have the same thing... Are your rings White gold and are they soldered together?  I thought I might be allergic to my rings or the solder....but i also noticed that I only seem to get the rash when I use the harsh soap in public restrooms and/or don't dry my hands completely.  I have found that removing my rings when I wash my hands  and making sure my hand and ring are dry has helped.  I also remove my rings at night to give my skin a chance to breath.  I have pretty sensitive fair skin which is often dry in the winter so that may be aggravating it.
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Avatar universal
I have the same problem on my ring finger.  Looking on the net the descriptions are vast.  My husband says I should try cleaning my rings really well and not wearing them for a while and see if it goes away.  I'm not sure this will work but I'm going to try it, I too have tried hydrocortisone creams etc.
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Avatar universal
I have the same thing happenening to my finger right now.. was there anything that helped you? Thank you, Nicole
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