small, subdermal 'blisters'

[USsolider]

I am stationed in Iraq and have been here for 3.5 months so far.  About 3 weeks after being here, I started getting small bumps on my fingers.  These bumps appear to be tiny blisters under the skin.  I have popped some of them, and a clear liquid comes out. They seem to spread quickly from finger to finger which makes me wonder if it is contagious.  I now have these tiny bumps on my palms and my fingers.  I have a lot of them and they really itch.  The skin around them seems to get soft or changes texture when wet, which also makes it itchy.  I was using hydrogen peroxide on a different wound and some got on one of the tiny blister areas - the area bubbled and caused irritation.

At first I thought it was contracted through the use of community weight lifting equiments, showers, faucets, etc.  But nobody else had them.  Then I thought it might be heat related since I am sweating most of the day.  I still don't know.  I asked the military medicine here and they were skeptical to answer any skin questions.  They told me that they tought it was exsema.  I have had exsema as a child, but haven't had an active period for years.  Plus, my exsema looked nothing like these bumps.  They gave me hydrocortisone 1% cream and that hasn't helped at all.

Two days ago the bumps seemed to have gone away, only to have them come back full force the next day, worse than ever.  The skin around the area seems to have a different appearance/texture although only if one really looks closely.  I wash my hands frequently and use anti-bacterial gel occasionally in hopes that this will help.  It hasn't.

Like I said, I can pop these little blister-looking bumps if I squeeze them, and sometimes when I pop them they actually go away.  I have dealt with these things for the past 3 months and I have another 3 to go before I can see a "real" doctor back in the states.  Please PLEASE help me!  I am afraid to shake peoples' hands in fear that they will get what I have or they will feel these little things.  My wife is also deployed with me and I am afraid to touch her anywhere.  Thank you -

A deployed soldier

[MrbadSkin]

A related discussion, Cracked fingers SOS was started.

[hntr_down]

A related discussion, Foot and Fingers Blisters, Cracking, Peeling, Bleeding, Itchy and Painful was started.

[sameboat813]

I have the same issue all of you are describing: small itchy blisters on the hands and soles of the feet. I have never had any kind of eczema before so I was quite concerned. After seeing the dermatologist I learned that it is a type of eczema called dyshydrosis and usually presents when you are in your twenties. I was prescribed a topical steroid called Clobetasol Propionate (0.05%) and it has done wonders after only a week of use. The itching has stopped and the skin is beginning to heal. This is a very strong topical steroid so the treatment is only for two weeks as it can thin the skin. The doctor also said to keep it handy to treat flare-ups. I hope this helps.

[NLamendola78]

I first developed this issue about 6 years ago when I was doing a lot of metal work and work with hydraulics. I always blamed it on the allergic reaction to certain metals as I was exposed to tiny metal shavings from grinding and cutting metal, as well as mettalic particles present in hydraulic oil. In early 2008 I got a sales job that had nothing to do with this type of work or materials and had not seen them for years. In December of 2010 I went to work for a hydraulic company and am often in contact with the hydraulic oil that we use for testing these parts which is loaded with metal particles and of course the ridiculously itchy micro blisters have returned.  I have to believe that it is an allergic reaction and discovered that Lamisil AT seems to clear it up for me, has to be Lamisil or the generic with the active ingredient Terbinafine Hydrochloride. Hope this helps.

[Matthew225]

At first I was just itching for a couple months, the past 3 days these blusters started to appear. They grow in size each day unless I pop them! I had I freind living with me who had been deployed to Iraq, I didn't have this until he moved in. Now my brother an another roomate has this! I am the only one who has the blisters so far! It drives me crazy! The itching is worse with hot baths or before bed! Any help please email me @ ***@****
it has to be contagious somehow! I'm leaning towards scabies! I am a carpet cleaner but never had this problem in the 4 years I've been at work!

[bhunter_sdm]

Wow...  I check online a few years ago when I had a bad outbreak of this and found no info whatsoever.  Now, there are lots of people ranking about it.  I am glad to know it is not just me.  

I have been dealing with this exactly for the last 11 years.  Hot sweaty feet seem to cause it for me.  Stedoid creams do work for a while, nut after repeated uses over the years, I now have to use the strong expensive ($90+ per small tube) stuff (betamethozone diproponate) to affect it at all -- and that only works if they are small and not clustered or open.  If they are, nothing topical seems to help.  Drying them out also seems to get me the best results.  It took me many years to be confident of this, but I am certain it is not contagious.  IMO, they seem to spread when they pop because it causes the areas surrounding the open sores to remain moist.  Add a little heat and suddenly it becomes a new patch of blisters.  Very frustrating.  I find myself needing to take my shoes off under my desk at work frequently to ventilated them and prevent them from coming in the first place.  But, inevitability, there comes a day or three where I am stuck in hot shoes for too long...

A friend of mine just yesterday told me he had the same issue 10 years ago or so and found that Nike Air shoes helped him keep his feet cooler and he has only had an outbreak on e since.  I am definitely going g to have to try that, since they now cost less than the steroid cream I have to use.  :)  Here it for hoping...

Thanks to all for all your posts!