Hi! If it helps, I am a 23 year old mom of one. My husband has bad eczema, and has had it for years. I have recently over the past couple years been getting dry bubbles on my fingers. The who bubble is very small and not risen too much and turns all white. it doesn't hurt, and eventually when it gets too rough i peel it off and then its tender and gross looking. The looks of it and the symptoms are completely different then my husbands eczema. I don't have hard water faucets but i do wash ALOT of bottles haha. I just keep using hand lotion to soften it up a little bit and when it gets really bad, i put Vaseline on a band-aide and wrap it around my fingers over night.
I think there are many different causes and symptoms vary a bit.
1. Small blisters formed on side of fingers, itchy, blisters contain fluid. If popped, open wound can become painful, stinging sensation. After prolonged cycles, blisters still form, but not much fluid, yet, area becomes itchy, irritable, turns red when scratched, slightly itchy. After a day or two, red area tend to become like a rash, skin starts to peel off in this area after itchy feeling subsided. Skin that peels off is thin yet, it dries up. After another week, peeled skin exposed the under lying layer that does not have pigment, reddish color, like someone got a sun burn and the tan skin peeled with fresh baby red skin below. Over the course of healing and exposure to Sun, skin becomes normal but seems to have scars or marks, definitely cannot be a hand model for ads.
2. Another type is without blister, hands are usually sweaty and skin just peels off with soft fresh skin, then dries up. This keeps repeating and fingers gets very dry and starts to crack. Cracking causes open wound.
I have the 1st type and I've seen people with the 2nd type of peeling. I believe that my type has something to do with either allergic reaction or a wart virus infecting my hands. The reason why I said that was because I got these blisters when I was living in someone's home renting a room, one of the tenant probably has this warts/HPV and he touches the doors and I touched the wooden fence everyday to get in to the house, I think I got that from contacts. Since then I also surf and swim in some swimming pools, I walked bare footed on hot pavement and got blisters on my foot, and normal blisters from burn is fine, but this opens up wound for viruses to get in. Since I surf and swim, the blistered skin was soft and then I walked on wet swimming pool and changing rooms, I think that's when there's HPV/warts virus was in those wet floors and got into my blisters on my foot and I got the plantar warts, it's a minor case, but that's when I found out there's tiny little transparent blister-like skins on my foot. My foot is on the way of heeling and ridding those warts slowly with skin peeling off and I apply salcsalistic (wrong spelling) acid... so I also see those hard blister like dots on my palm, not many, just 3 or 4. And I suspect that might be related with the blisters+peeling+itchy condition.
However, I think that might be a different case from HPV. So I guess that's why Howey Mendel doesn't like hand shake, only a fist bump.
Also, since I was a sushi lover, I'm not sure if any of those parasites could cause something that seem to stay in your nervous system.
I've read many and they say usually this blister-peel cycle happens when someone is stressed out.
My fix about 10 years ago, was dip my hands in listerine. Since I thought it was fungal 10 years ago. And it seemed to work. Now I just put hand lotion on. Still problem is not solved as to the cause of it. Hope that described more in detail and hopefully it's not just me who has this condition, so easier to find common info, cure, fix, causes.
1. Small blisters formed on side of fingers, itchy, blisters contain fluid. If popped, open wound can become painful, stinging sensation. After prolonged cycles, blisters still form, but not much fluid, yet, area becomes itchy, irritable, turns red when scratched, slightly itchy. After a day or two, red area tend to become like a rash, skin starts to peel off in this area after itchy feeling subsided. Skin that peels off is thin yet, it dries up. After another week, peeled skin exposed the under lying layer that does not have pigment, reddish color, like someone got a sun burn and the tan skin peeled with fresh baby red skin below. Over the course of healing and exposure to Sun, skin becomes normal but seems to have scars or marks, definitely cannot be a hand model for ads.
2. Another type is without blister, hands are usually sweaty and skin just peels off with soft fresh skin, then dries up. This keeps repeating and fingers gets very dry and starts to crack. Cracking causes open wound.
I have the 1st type and I've seen people with the 2nd type of peeling. I believe that my type has something to do with either allergic reaction or a wart virus infecting my hands. The reason why I said that was because I got these blisters when I was living in someone's home renting a room, one of the tenant probably has this warts/HPV and he touches the doors and I touched the wooden fence everyday to get in to the house, I think I got that from contacts. Since then I also surf and swim in some swimming pools, I walked bare footed on hot pavement and got blisters on my foot, and normal blisters from burn is fine, but this opens up wound for viruses to get in. Since I surf and swim, the blistered skin was soft and then I walked on wet swimming pool and changing rooms, I think that's when there's HPV/warts virus was in those wet floors and got into my blisters on my foot and I got the plantar warts, it's a minor case, but that's when I found out there's tiny little transparent blister-like skins on my foot. My foot is on the way of heeling and ridding those warts slowly with skin peeling off and I apply salcsalistic (wrong spelling) acid... so I also see those hard blister like dots on my palm, not many, just 3 or 4. And I suspect that might be related with the blisters+peeling+itchy condition.
However, I think that might be a different case from HPV. So I guess that's why Howey Mendel doesn't like hand shake, only a fist bump.
Also, since I was a sushi lover, I'm not sure if any of those parasites could cause something that seem to stay in your nervous system.
I've read many and they say usually this blister-peel cycle happens when someone is stressed out.
My fix about 10 years ago, was dip my hands in listerine. Since I thought it was fungal 10 years ago. And it seemed to work. Now I just put hand lotion on. Still problem is not solved as to the cause of it. Hope that described more in detail and hopefully it's not just me who has this condition, so easier to find common info, cure, fix, causes.
Please look up exposure to mercury. Too high levels of mercury can cause the symptoms many of you are complaining of, specifically, numbness in your fingertips and skin peeling off of your hands.
I have cystic fibrosis, i also have the same symptoms as most cases above, in the winter months my hands arent so bad yet when it comes to summer, i only have to dip my hands in water for a few seconds and the skin turns white and numb on my palms and on my fingertips, i used to previously scrape the skin off with a stanley blade, this didnt hurt but was an inconveniance, i have also asked a specialist at my clinic and they have said it is not cystic fibrosis related.
To the OP - I have the same issue. I know this post is very old, but I figure my response may help some out there doing a search like I did.
The difference between you and me though, is that I've had it long enough that I can tell when it's going to occur. I never knew what triggered the reaction. My fingers would get hot and swollen. Then they'd be in pain for two days. By the fourth day or so, they'd be numb - I'm assuming from the layer of skin that is dead on top. Fifth day I have a dry blister, and by the 6th day (today, actually, as I write this) the entire finger print has peeled off leaving tender red skin that's dry and somewhat pruny. Along with the skin on the sides of my fingers. It never affects my pinky fingers, only the first three. The middle one taking it the worst.
It's not a virus. It's not a disease, or a fungus, bacteria, or eczema. It's a reaction. I try to wear flocked kitchen gloves for anything involving chemicals or this happens to my hands. A certain bush outside my apartment would cause the reaction as well, but I wonder if it was pesticide being sprayed in the bush. Also, ceramic stove top cleaner. I exposed my fingers to the stuff and the reaction was instant. Swelling, heat, and pain. Now the skin is coming off. By next week my fingers should look like new again.
Since I know the stove top cleaner is a for sure thing, I think there's something in it that is probably common to other things we come in contact with which our skin reacts to.
The difference between you and me though, is that I've had it long enough that I can tell when it's going to occur. I never knew what triggered the reaction. My fingers would get hot and swollen. Then they'd be in pain for two days. By the fourth day or so, they'd be numb - I'm assuming from the layer of skin that is dead on top. Fifth day I have a dry blister, and by the 6th day (today, actually, as I write this) the entire finger print has peeled off leaving tender red skin that's dry and somewhat pruny. Along with the skin on the sides of my fingers. It never affects my pinky fingers, only the first three. The middle one taking it the worst.
It's not a virus. It's not a disease, or a fungus, bacteria, or eczema. It's a reaction. I try to wear flocked kitchen gloves for anything involving chemicals or this happens to my hands. A certain bush outside my apartment would cause the reaction as well, but I wonder if it was pesticide being sprayed in the bush. Also, ceramic stove top cleaner. I exposed my fingers to the stuff and the reaction was instant. Swelling, heat, and pain. Now the skin is coming off. By next week my fingers should look like new again.
Since I know the stove top cleaner is a for sure thing, I think there's something in it that is probably common to other things we come in contact with which our skin reacts to.
I'm not experiencing any blisters or swellings or sores, but I am having the skin-peeling problem, and I think I know the exact cause: I did an odd job in construction for about a week, and after constantly sticking my hands in mortar, my fingers, as you can imagine, became encrusted with it. It took a good two weeks of washing my hands thereafter to get them clean again. It was after this, that I started to experience my skin peeling on my fingertips and at the base of my thumbs. I thought it would go away after a week or so, but it's been going on since. I'm not overly concerned about it--it's not causing me any pain or anything (except when I'm typing on my computer, but that could be something else)--but I am worried that it's been going on for so long.
I also have the 'peeling finger syndrome' as I call it! It has been a nightmare for probably at least 15 years. I am a 61 year old woman now and it probably started in my middle forties. It started first on right hand with just the thumb and the pointer finger.....it has gradually over the years progressed to all fingers on right hand and the first four fingers of left hand. It starts out with several fingertips becoming hard and a bit numb, that will last for several days and then the deep peeling begins, and I do mean deep. This isn't just a little flaky dry skin peeling, this is thick skin coming off ! Much thicker than what would come off if let's say you were peeling from a sunburn. I am amazed when I see the thickness of the skin that peels off. It's awful and really looks bad! I am embarrased for anyone to see my hands and hate to go out to eat for fear someone will see this awful peeling! Water makes the peeling worse, but who can completely keep their hands out of water!. I have gone for months and months with the process just repeating itself, then it will kind of clear up a bit(not completely) and then starts all over again. I went to a dermatologist when it first starting happening and he gave me several different creams that were terribly expensive and didn't work at all ....one was a cortisone cream and it didn't even help. he really couldn't diagnose it.....said it was probably an allergic reaction to something, but I really seriously doubt that! The ONLY thing that has ever cleared it up for any length of time, and if I am religious about taking it and don't forget, is FISH OIL! If I take it every day, then after about 4 weeks of taking it it will completely go away and as long as I take it on a daily basis and don't forget, it will stay in remission. Sometimes I just forget to take it for a couple of weeks and whamo! It's back again! Over my 15 years with this nightmare, Fish Oil is the only thing I can say helps! I came across the Fish Oil remedy only by accident as I began taking it for something else(cholesterol reasons), and low and behold if while on it my hands didn't clear up. It was like a miracle. And like I said if I stop taking the fish oil then the peeling comes back so I know that is what is clearing it up. If you try the fish oil give it a chance to kick in before you give up on it. It will be at least 4 to 6 weeks at least before you will notice results. I personally think it is some type of autoimmune disease, I do not believe it is an allergic reaction. If anyone has any suggestions or has a very similar story as mine, I would like to hear from you.
Martitess - I can see how you'd think it's a disease because you have it so often, but I have the exact same thing you do and it's only when I come in contact with something specific. Yes, it's very thick skin. I showed my husband my entire fingerprint, I could hold the skin in the palm of my hand and see my whole fingerprint laid out flat. It is very embarrassing and it looks horribly ugly, I know. Have you tried eliminating things you come in contact with daily one at a time? A lotion, a cleaner, a surface wax, a chemical at your place of work? I haven't even bothered with a dermatologist, they don't seem to be good for much other than removing moles and prescribing topical steroids. I think the fish oil must give you some kind of defense against what ever it is causing your reaction. It's good advice and I might have to test it. My solution is gloves for cleaning - not nearly as convenient.
Take care.
Take care.
I have the same thing going on with my palms, scalp and the soles of my feet. I've been to the dermatologist and they told me that it's a type of eczema. You should schedule an appointment to get the right medication to treat the skin. I have not been to pick up my prescriptions for my palms and feet, but hopefully when I get them, this skin peeling will go away. It's nasty and I wish it never happened in the first place. It seems to me that a lot of you probably have eczema as well since a lot of you have said that when you scratch the skin off, it doesn't hurt but it does feel tender and than comes right back a couple days later. After getting out of the shower, and not scratching the skin off, does anyone else feel that the skin feels like nails on a scratch board when they pick up their towel?
I have recently returned from a holiday in northern Western Australia as I live in the south west of Western Australia. After being up in the northern area which is much warmer although it is our winter after about 3 weeks I noticed that my fingertips were peeling, no swelling, just numbness and then the peeling, tender skin and then the hardening of the new fresh skin and the process repeating... I was unsure if it related to dehydration...hence my search on the web. while in the north I did start to use a new hand wash. Although I ate plenty of fresh fish as this is what was readily on hand - which was my diet change..which should have been better than taking fish oil.
I found a solution.
I had the same severe problem with thick, drying, peeling skin on my fingers. Topical creams never healed it. I hate to say it but I discovered that when I added quality beef to my diet I saw almost same day improvement. After maintaining that diet change for a period of time the problem COMPLETELY healed. I've been able to return to my regular diet since then.
By the way, I read in another post that someone was able to heal the symptoms by adding "dried figs" to his diet.
I had the same severe problem with thick, drying, peeling skin on my fingers. Topical creams never healed it. I hate to say it but I discovered that when I added quality beef to my diet I saw almost same day improvement. After maintaining that diet change for a period of time the problem COMPLETELY healed. I've been able to return to my regular diet since then.
By the way, I read in another post that someone was able to heal the symptoms by adding "dried figs" to his diet.
I thought I was the only one that had this problem. After years of Doctor visits where the only thing the doctor would do is take a piece and put it in the dark and see if it was a fungus, after telling the doctors I know it is not a fungus they did the test anyway and charged lots for it.
I finally found a Doctor in Green Bay Wis that seemed to be an angel. He has long left the clinic I went to.
My fingers would peel with think skin removal it was really bad I had to wear white gloves becasuse of the loss of skin, people would make fun of me call me dum names, what was I doing to do. Well! this doctor gave me a pack of pills to take starting with 10 the first then 9 and so on...... Don't remember the name of the pills however I have to think it was a Steroid. Kept the skin on for years now I have gotten sick with a bad cold, Well!! guess what the skin monster is back again.
Hello all. I am a 24 year old female and this has been happening to me for about a week. Just my fingertips...mainly thumbs, index, and middles. Rings and pinkies are only effected a little.
The skin is flaking and peeling, and underneath is a darker, sensitive, softer skin that hurts when certain things touch it. Like, for example, grease from chicken fingers I ate at dinner.
They also feel very warm to the touch and are wrinkled like they've been soaking in water.
I thought this was from using some superglue last weekend but it is still happening. Lotions don't really do much of anything. Does anyone have any new advice?
READ THIS, I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THE CONDITION IS AND HOW IT IS TREATABLE.
Having visited both a dermatologist and an allergy doctor i learned alot about my condition.
What the condition is and it's causes:
1. it is known as Keratolysis exfoliativa or Lamellar dyshidrosis(the wikipedia definition does not fully explain the condition). There was some other name including dyshidrosis that my doctor told me. It might have been lamellar dyshidrosis, but i'm not so sure.
2. The condition is linked to eczema.
3. the symptoms of the condition have a relation to stress, as does eczema, so stress is a key factor in the intensity of the symptoms.
4. excessive hand washing increases the severity of symptoms.
5. The condition is caused by weather, moisture, and friction(as mentioned in the wikipedia article)
6. It can ALSO be caused by clogged sweat glands. Sweat glands are clogged, so instead of exiting straight through a sweat duct, sweat leaks through the side. This causes layers of skin to be pushed up by the sweat. This is why there are thick layers of dead skin.
Treatments:
1. use cerave or any moisturizer containing ceramides(it's a type of oil) whenever your hands are dry. You can buy it over the counter, it doesn't contain any dangerous chemicals(it's just a normal moisturizer), and it isn't very expensive(16oz. a few months worth for about $20). This reduces the intensity of the symptoms and in some cases can cure it completely. In my case, peeling is much more rare, and my skin is almost normal. There is still layers of dead skin and redness, but neither of which are a huge problem.
2. Using a urea solution such as salvax duo plus. This is just a general treatment for any type of hyperkeratotic conditions. My doctor said that it works for many patients. Unfortunately it didn't work for me because there are many different causes of this condition.
3. Using corticosteriods such as betamethasone dipropionate. These prescription drugs are used to treat eczema which can be an underlying cause of symptoms.
4. take showers that are no longer than 5 minutes. If you want, you can take 3, 5 minute showers a day, but no long showers. This is reduce the occurrence of eczema and consequently, the condition.
5. relieve your stress, it can make a huge difference in the intensity of your symptoms.
The whole reason i had a huge outbreak of eczema and keratolysis is because of stress. My allergy doctor said that when he was a surgeon, he had to wash his hands very frequently and he had to deal with alot of stress. That was how he experienced the same condition that we are dealing with. When he left his job, the symptoms slowly faded away.
That's about as much as i took away from what the doctors said. But remember, the best way to resolve your problem is to go to a DOCTOR.
Thank you Eduard,
Like so many others, I have tried many 'remedies' already but to no avail. Yes, the cortisone ointments help for a short while but it all returns quite soon with armadillo skin all over my hands.
I have also tried the urea route but that also has minimal effect in my case. The ceremide option I haven't tried yet, and I'm not sure if it is available in our country.
Yes, the doctors option! I wonder how many people with this condition won't echo my experience. The two specialists I visited, pulled up their shoulders and told me it was eczema and straight away moved to cut off some of the benign skin tags in my neck. Of course, I did not need a specialist to do that for me as I do it myself (or my wife who finds the task rather gruesome) - at least he has to do something for his humongous fee.
The medical doctor, bless her, at least concentrates on my blood pressure when I broach my hands with her.
The older I get, the less useful doctors seem for these everyday, common ailments. Besides my cheque book they seem to care less and less as well.
Someone else suggest taking curcumin (or perhaps turmeric from which it is derived and concentrated) That is supposed to alleviate the redness and itchiness. I have just started about a week ago, and will report back after the first month or so.
Like so many others, I have tried many 'remedies' already but to no avail. Yes, the cortisone ointments help for a short while but it all returns quite soon with armadillo skin all over my hands.
I have also tried the urea route but that also has minimal effect in my case. The ceremide option I haven't tried yet, and I'm not sure if it is available in our country.
Yes, the doctors option! I wonder how many people with this condition won't echo my experience. The two specialists I visited, pulled up their shoulders and told me it was eczema and straight away moved to cut off some of the benign skin tags in my neck. Of course, I did not need a specialist to do that for me as I do it myself (or my wife who finds the task rather gruesome) - at least he has to do something for his humongous fee.
The medical doctor, bless her, at least concentrates on my blood pressure when I broach my hands with her.
The older I get, the less useful doctors seem for these everyday, common ailments. Besides my cheque book they seem to care less and less as well.
Someone else suggest taking curcumin (or perhaps turmeric from which it is derived and concentrated) That is supposed to alleviate the redness and itchiness. I have just started about a week ago, and will report back after the first month or so.