red bumps on fingers

[rnhd123]

For the last 20 years I have gotten small red bumps on the sides of my fingers.  They don't blister.  They start out as one or two and then I might get a few more and they seem to cluster up on only the sides of my fingers.  They are not itchy but they are sore to the touch when you run your finger over them.  It feels like you have a splinter.  They are slightly raised and red in color.  They will stay for varying lengths of time and then dry up and go away.  Usually not for more than a couple of weeks.  I may go for months and months and not get them and then all of a sudden they show up.  I have been to various dermatologists over the years and they seem puzzled and never seem to know what they are.

[LisaDE]

I'm breaking out today as I type this. Red, small and painful bumps. Definitely is not a rash. Leaves scars after it has run its course. I get them more so on my right hand and right elbow. Althougth, today I have one popping up on my left thumb pad. I noticed they come on with stress. Had a very stressful Tuesday, nice calm Wednesday, Thursday is starting out stressful and bingo bango red bumps are popping up. I hate to spend the $$$ on a dermatologist. Is there a name for this?

[elizabeth88672]

I am a female in my thirties and have been suffering from the same bumps most people describe. Painful but not itchy. They come and go.

I was wondering, are most of the people posting here women? Could it be a side effect of endometriosis?

I know it's a stretch, but happened to be researching endometriosis (think I may have it) and then I saw here that some women also seem to have the bumps during their periods...so I wonder if there's a connection.

[zdc28]

Hi, I get the same red bumps.
I recently started getting them and first they were itchy but now they feel like splinters when I touch them. I only have them on one knuckle and then on the inside part of my middle finger then one on the tip/side of my pointer finger.
I have no idea what brought them on but its driving me crazy not knowing. I haven't gone to a doctor yet only because people online have already gone and they keep telling them that its something its not. I'm a teenager, and yeah i'm stressed but i'm always stressed and these have never shown up before. Its definitely not allergies because i took allergy medication and it did absolutely nothing for me.
Please help! its making me go insane.

[burreli]

I'm 17 and I get small, red bumps on my hands. They started out on my right pointer finger, moved to the same thumb, then to the opposite hand. I noticed one day that I had a few on the tops of my feet. Right now, they are literally all over the top of my hands. Triple Antibiotic ointments (Hydro-cortisone) get rid of the itch. All in all, they don't hurt, just itch like mad. When I scratch them, they seem to get larger and disappear within a few days.

My mother is a doctor, but she won't really take a gander at them.
I think mine are a type of nerve problem and are connected with stress.
I need help.

[lindspt]

I have these same "bumps" on my fingers and toes as well. They started about 10 or 15 years ago, I can't quite remember. I get them around my PIP and DIP joints mostly, but I also get them pretty much anywhere distal to my MCP in my hands. They appear distally on my toes. I also have Raynaud's Syndrome and have been to both a dermatologist and rheumatologist for both conditions. I had a labs drawn and came back with a positive ANA and slight anemia. My doctor originally came up with the diagnosis of Discoid Lupus. I was given Prednisone, which definitely helped with the symptoms, and a steroids cream that did not. I recently went back to a different doctor (all within the VA system) and was told I might actually have Systemic lupus, SLE. I'm back on another course of Prednisone since my hands became so painful that I couldn't type, grip anything, or carry on with hobbies I enjoy, like rock climbing. The Prednisone really works well as it seems pretty clear this is an autoimmune issue. It seems my Raynaud's and possible Lupus are connected, but I don't seem to be able to get a definitive answer from anyone. Its really frustrating not being able to manage my symptoms, and I don't want to to have to take Prednisone every time it gets bad. I was in the military and I'm a graduate student now, so I'm probably a little on the stressed side without even realizing it, but I've had them appear randomly throughout my life without any apparent connection to temperature, stress, or contact with any particular lotion or anything. I had chicken pox as a kid, don't have herpes or lesions anywhere else besides my fingers and toes (the places where Raynauds affects me), and had a biopsy of one of the bumps that came back inconclusive.
I hope this is somewhat helpful to anyone out there who might want to know where to turn to for help or answers. This has stumped me and my doctors for years and it's really frustrating to just have to deal with it or take pretty serious drugs to manage symptoms without addressing the underlying problem.

[JulesC1990]

everything you wrote above is exactly what has been going on with me. I have Crohn's so they figured it was autoimmune but it stumps my rheumatologist and dermatologist. I have been given the diagnosis of Lupus, Dermomyositis and Arthritis. Above someone stated that the bumps they had were from their arteries being too narrow and causing bumps with a showing of Raynaud's symptoms.... I'm wondering if this is all related. I have been told I have Raynaud's also. My hands and feet turn really white and purple at times.

[cmmom32]

no one asked u to be rude! to someone who has no clue what it is they might think its cancerous..and not knowing is scary! dont chastise a person for seeking answers your have no right you'd think having beatin any form of cancer twice you would b more understanding what if a dr. told you to get over it when you asked them what was wrong with u? its nice that you said it was common and not to worry but jeeze don't dumb someone down for asking a question isn't that exactly what this sight is for? i searched it for the same reason and its good to have closure on the topic and to know its not just me..you can't blame someone for asking! no one asked you to answer the question u seemed so annoyed with!