I too have had this problem off and on for years. Sometimes I can go for about 2 years not experiencing it, then out of the blue it will come back. It's not so an allergy thing as I think it's just weather and stress perhaps. It seems to happen right around the approach of winter and its definitely worse during winter. At times during summer it can flare up, but not as bad as in winter. My skin begins to get dry all over and I get these little hives on my body here and there. I will take benadryl to help with that, which btw does work but makes me so drowsy.
Now when I mention that stress seems to play a role, I'm not talking exactly about stress as in, "How am I going to pay these bills this month", but stress as in the activities I'm using my hands for. I do allot of work with my hands that put them through some strain & force at times. During these times thats when I notice they flare up n get swollen and itch. Another thing I noticed is when I'm on the computer and typing or browsing & talking with friends online, my fingers begin to flare up and get itchy. Also being on the cell phone and texting back n forth causes them to flare up.
My diet doesn't play much into my finger n hands problem, neither does any actual stress as stated before. So I've found I needed to use typing rest when on the computer that allows my hands to stay in a comfortable position when typing and browsing. Before I do any kind of work that involves my hands and stressing them, I need to take some benadryl before hand to counteract the swelling. So all in all it's not as bad now for me as I've found the main triggers for my swelling and itching. I only wish they made a non drowsy type of benadryl, but they active ingredient that helps with lessening of Histimes, which is what gives us that swelling, just makes us drowsy.
I've tried using other allergy type medicines before but none of them seemed to help at all unlike benadryl. Now another thing I will add is on days when I do need to be doing allot of work with my hands, I will also take some anit inflamitory medicine like ibuprofen or some tylenol. This helps extend the anit inflamation in my hands if the benadryl should wear off some. I hope this helps some of you maybe pin point other avenues of how this pesky problem could arise and linger. Everyone is different, so I've just found it seasonal for me and the use of my hands as the source of my swelling and itching.
Monitor whether you've just handled aluminum. I have developed an allergy to aluminum that causes my hands to itch, especially under my gold wedding band. I will develop tiny blisters under the band and have to remove it for a few days to let them heal. Kinda weird having a scab "wedding band" for those few days!
To me this sounds like Carpal Tunnel syndrome. You should get a second opinion from a different doctor. Here is a link so you can check it out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome
Make sure you heat yourself properly at winter. Lack of heater in the house can cause this. My niece called it the "sickness of the olden days". Solution: boil some hot water and apply gently with flannel to the itchy area. It really helps. Put on your heating system when u body needs it!!
Make sure you heat yourself properly at winter. Lack of heater in the house can cause this. My niece called it the "sickness of the olden days". Solution: boil some hot water and apply gently with flannel to the itchy area. It really helps. Put on your heating system when u body needs it!!
Bingo! Those are my exact symptoms, except it begins on the top side of mr right middle finger, then the ring finger, then the pinky. The symtoms return each year, around winter, lasting several weeks (only, i've just realized, this year it's lasted months!) The skin is swollen, red, itchy and when I accidentally brush my fingers, while working, the pain is annoying, if bearable. I've always thought it was related to seasonal allergies... Funny, the fingers on my other hand are not affected (and when comparing them in size with the three swollen fingers, they are slightly smaller)
My boyfriend has the same symptoms. Every time we go into Garden Ridge or Big Lots after a little while his hands itch , turn red and start to swell. I wish we knew what it was . He likes to go to these stores, so its not a dislike of the store. We are hoping to find out what it is. Let us know if anyone else figures it out. Thank you.
Hi There,
I'd had this condition for over 20 years and only today discovered what is might be! Years of different creams have not helps but the latex allery/nickel allergy might be triggers. I discovered that we might all be suffering from varying degrees of POMPHOLYX. The photos I have seen look very much like what I have. Hope this is useful to you. :-)
J
I get exceedingly itchy blisters on my fingers, followed by unbelievable swelling in that finger. The pain is intense and the itchiness – OMG! I had a bout of this for 4 months. I thought it was herpes. What cleared it up was when I was on a diet of only rice with fried vegetables – no flavorings or soy sauce added. The problem cleared up in about 5 days. Simultaneously, I had a brain fog clear up and anxiety that had been thwarting me for about 2 years. I then found out I am completely unable to eat Gluten. I guess the rash thing is a form of Dermatitis Herpetiformis (NOT HERPES!) which is a consequence of not being able to tolerate gluten. I am also unable to have most additives to food, and food that is GMO or treated with pesticides. For the last 2 months I have been eating only and home and it has stayed clear. I eat 100% organic, gluten free and no longer eat the copious amounts of packaged food that I used to love. It would seem a burden – but I am just so thankful to discover a cure. I hope that this helps you. Best in Health! Searching For Health
I have similar condition and notice that with less sun light in winter from spring where I live(Seattle), my index fingers and small finger got itchy and swollen. I think that it is a result of auto immune reaction to lack of sunlight. I never have had any problem with it until I moved to Seattle a few years ago. I usually just take it easy, manage my stress, take Vitamin D and the condition seems to be under control. It goes to show you how important sunlight and dryness of the air are to us. I suspect that molds in the cool and damp air in Seattle from fall to spring is also another factor.