Strange Scaling of skin and sticky clear substance

[jeff]

About one month ago a red rash first appeared on my foot above my toes. I had athletes foot and treated it with a over the counter medication. I work in a wet enviroment so I know my feet and hands are probably ripe for fungal infections. On my foot the skin gets really dry and hard. And the skin peels off in in hard chunks. Sometimes if it is not completely dry skin under the skin will be a clear sticky substance. I thought it was going away but 2 days ago it came back. I believe it has spread because I now have the same thing on my finger. Could it be a fungal infection? Or a reaction to chemicals I am using at work? How serious is it?

Thanks for your help.

-Jeff
-Florida

[J.R.]

Jeff - I symapthize with you.  I have the same thing on the palms and fingers of both of my hands, and it is now appearing on one of my feet.  The skin dries up, becomes hard and raw and looks like there are tiny little blister type holes under the skin and there is a clear slimy substance under the skin that you can see even before the skin is peeled off.  My skin is always peeling and scabby looking.  On my first trip to the Dr., they said it was a rash.  That was 2 years ago.  On my second trip to the Dr. I was prescribed Cortizone.  This did not work.  On my third trip to the Dr. - they again prescribed Cortizone.  On my fourth trip to the Dr., I was given anti-fungal pills.  These also did not help.  I finally went to a Dermatologist and was told that I had "Severe exfoliation" and that there was no cure for it.  I was given an ointment from the Dr., Temovate E which appeared to help, but didn't.  I also have Tacrolimus Cream, which I was told was experimental for this type of use.  It also appeared to have some results, but only for a couple of days and then my hands worsen again.  My hands are always hurting because of the dried cracks and sensitive skin.  Let me know if you find anything out.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

From your description, Jeff, this doesn't sound very serious.  A fungus is possible, but a form of eczema is more likely.  The fluid coming out of the blisters is probably the tissue fluid found in blisters.

I advise you to show your problem to a dermatologist for evaluation, so tests can be done if needed, and proper treatment instituted.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff