pinpoint itchy blisters on hands - what are they? - Skin Problems Message Board

mgraylorn · 01-14-2005, 12:52 PM

I have always had dry skin, and have been able to deal with it with various lotions and creams.

The last several years, I have had outbreaks of small patches on my hands that become very itchy. If I scratch at them, very tiny pinpoint size blisters appear, which are also very itchy and if I keep scratching at them they break, leaking a clear fluid. After a while they crust over and the skin there becomes thick and hard, and will often develop painful cracks. This goes away, but continues to reappear.

These never appear on my palms, just around my knuckles, on the back of the finger joint between the joints, on the tip of my fingers, around the nail bed or the web area between fingers. Just in spots, not the entire hand.

Stress makes it flare up. Liquid cortizone applied topically makes it go away, but it comes back, often to the same spots. It used to just come in winter, but now I get it some in summer, just not as bad.

Any idea what that is?

trfan · 01-15-2005, 09:51 AM

I don't know WHAT it is, but I have the exact same thing. My doctor years ago told me it was viral and that stress and cold makes it flare up. But I don't know what it is exactly. Makes me think it could be some sort of herpes virus infection. Or something similar. It is painful sometimes and I often irritate my knuckles when reaching in my pockets while wearing jeans.

Let me know if you find anything and post an answer.

goldenwings · 01-15-2005, 11:20 AM

Hello mg and tr,

I am not medically trained but hope I can help in some way I have just noticed your posts and thought I'd make a suggestion. My friend had the same problem as you both have and I researched into it for her. The name I came up with was Dyshidrotic Eczema. I know eczema does not seem to be like this but if you look into it you will find the symptoms you describe are so much like this. It actually can be stress related or indeed caused by sweating.

Hope it's of interest. Please let me know how you go on.

goldenwings

Iadinae · 01-15-2005, 02:09 PM

I have that problem. It flares up a few times a year, stays for a long time then goes away for awhile. I finally got in to see a dermatologist just before Christmas. Previous dr's had been giving me fungal meds that either made it worse or did nothing. The derm told me it was eczema, gave me a cream for it, and it was gone in a matter of about a week. He also told me that if it was indeed a fungus, this medicine he gave me would make it worse. Anyway... I go back to see him in Feb., but so far I am totally clear of it and I had it on my hands, feet, elbows, knees. Goodluck.

trfan · 01-17-2005, 07:33 AM

Yeah, mine is DEFINITELY stress-related. It first started when I was about to graduate undergrad degree. Then it flared up again when I moved overseas, and it continues to crop up during the cold. I wear latex gloves alot which make me sweat and that, for sure, makes it worse. I'm doomed.