Small blisters on hands *update #24*

I have developed these teeny water blisters on my hands. I've one area for a couple of weeks now and over the course of this week I have three more spots on the other hand. They are sometimes itchy and hurt if I hit them on something. They are not red, in fact you can hardly see them at all.
Does anyone have a clue what these could be? I've looked it up online and have found several things it could be. I've soaked my hands in vinegar water and last night my nail lady (who is also an esthetician) gave me some cream to put on them. But one just popped out on the palm of my hand within the past hour. The others are on my fingers. Weirdness!!

I have no idea I hope they aren't bothering you.

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Originally Posted by caseysmom

I have no idea I hope they aren't bothering you.

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Actually they aren't bothering me at all. Other than occasionally itching, or if I bump one on something. But I just don't know what they are. It's just so strange. One of the things online mentioned stress. I've been stressed before and this didn't happen. But I'm noticing stress affects me differently almost every time. Another thing I've been trying to think of is if I've used a new soap or chemical type thing on my hands. I can't think of anything.

Since its on your hands I wonder if its something you handled? Maybe a plant or something?

I used to get them quite often - mostly on my thumb and index fingers - not on the top or underside - only on the sides. I have no idea what caused them, but they were never annoying enough to go to the doctor. I had them off and on for a period of years, and eventually they just never came back. They only itched occasionally too. Stress could be a factor I guess. :confused:

Look up dishydrotic eczema or "pompholyx". It's a form of eczema that causes tiny vesicles on the hands and feet. It can range from mildly itchy to intensely itchy.

No plant handling recently. I could never have plants in the house becuase Taz would eat them.

I'm wondering if it's just stress. But I will be looking up dishydrotic eczema tonight as well. I think I saw that when I was searching before. And this is something that can all of the sudden form? Why?!?! :confused:

I get something like you described. I went to the doctor a few years ago for it and they said it was a fungus from having my hands in water too often. It made sense since I was working with animals and washing my hands constantly. The doctor gave me a cream for it and it cleared right up. My hands still break out on occasion, but I still have the cream (it was a big tube) so I haven't had to go back to the doctors for more.

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Originally Posted by KBlaix

I get something like you described. I went to the doctor a few years ago for it and they said it was a fungus from having my hands in water too often. It made sense since I was working with animals and washing my hands constantly. The doctor gave me a cream for it and it cleared right up. My hands still break out on occasion, but I still have the cream (it was a big tube) so I haven't had to go back to the doctors for more.

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That's interesting. I do wash my hands a lot (because I go potty so much from drinking so much water). But I used to work with babies and was washing my hands much much more than I am now and the only problem I had then was the soap was horrible and drying out my hands. We do have crappy soap in our bathrooms at work, but it's the same soap for the past two years.

I guess if it doesn't go away by the time I get home from vacation (August 10th) I'll go to the doctor. They do not get any bigger as time goes on.

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions. :)

I used to get these a LOT.

Have you changed laundry detergent recently? Handsoap? Dishsoap?

My biggest problem was when I'd go potty in a public restroom and have to use their harsh soap. It always made my hands get those little water-blisters. And for years the only type of soap I could use in the bath was Jergens. (Luckily I can use others at the moment, but I keep Jergens bar soap in the house in case the allergies come back!)

The only type of laundry detergents I can use are either Tide or Purex Naturals. All the others make me break out in those little blisters all over my hands.

Annoying little things aren't they? You want to scratch them so bad, but then when they pop they hurt and itch just as bad!

I haven't had a "flare-up" in about 3 years... lol now that I mentioned it, I'll probably get a whole handful of them.

are the bumps in the webs of your fingers? mostly on the palm or mostly on the back(nail side) of your hands? are they the size of pinheads or ballpoint pen tips, very small or more then 1/4 inch? is the fluid that comes out clear/creamy/pus like/red? how much fluid comes out, minute or an 2/3 drops? are they crazy itchy when the pop or do you hardly feel it all when they pop?

Been there, done that. Went to the dermatologist and he said it was from stress (I worked for lawyers, of COURSE!!) and called in a prescription for a topical cream. It went away.

Scooter's Mom - We always use different brands of detergent. This time we are using the store brand, but I think the fragrance is different. I wonder if that would do it? But just on my hands? I don't even touch the detergent when doing the laundry ( I mean I don't get any on my hands).

joycenalex - One is along the outer edge of my thumb, not really on top or on bottom. Two are on the tops of my fingers (nail side) on the knuckles. One is in the web area between my thumb and index finger. And the most recent one is on the palm. So I've got them EVERY WHERE! They are clusters of teeny tiny blisters. The fluid is clear and not a lot. They don't itch too bad and when they do I try my hardest NOT to scratch them. The only one that's really popped was one on my knuckle because I scratched it too much when it first came out. And it didn't hurt, just itchy.

moosmom - It might be stress. Usually when I stress I get sores in my mouth, not my hands. This would be a new symptom of stress for me, but I wouldn't be surprised. But when I stop and think about it I'm not THAT stressed. I mean, I did lose my Tazmoe and almost Paizly, but that's all done now. Work is not too bad. I'm caught up on my desk. Maybe it's anticipation of our vacation coming up at the end of the month. We are taking a motorcycle trip for 11 days. Maybe I'm very nervous and anxious about that.:confused:

They seem to start to go away and then flare up again. And when I say flare up it's not like they get HUGE, they are still just teeny tiny. I wish I could take pictures of them, but you couldn't even see them in person much less in a picture. I have to hold my hand just right to see the bumps, or you can feel them.

Thanks for the responses! :D

The reason I asked about soaps/detergents is because it's a huge issue for me. My hands are extra sensitive to any changes.

Hope yours go away, and fast!

I had forgotten completely about these blisters until I saw your post.
I used to get them a lot - they didn't hurt - and they were tiny. I was careful not to scratch them.

Then they simply went away.

I attributed it to stress at the time.

Sometimes I get these tiny blisters on the side of my fingers in the summer when it's hot. I always thought it was a reaction to sweat. :rolleyes:

Kirsten

The first thing that came to mind was heat rash. I used to get it on my hands because my hands and feet are the only things that usually sweat. (kinda like a dog. LOL)

Ugh, two more spots broke out over the weekend. I'm putting the cream on I got from my nail lady (I didn't apply it over the weekend, shame on me). And if that doesn't work in a couple days I'm going to go buy Cortizone cream and if THAT doesn't work then I'm going to the doctor. I will definitely go to the doctor if this doesn't go away by the time I leave on vacation (the 30th). But I'm sure the doctor will just give me a perscription for cortizone cream, stronger than what I can get in the pharmacy.

Oh, and the original spot is bigger and uglier. :( I should have been doing something to them over the weekend, but I was having too much fun with my family. :p

I would say it was heat related, but I'm never really out in the heat. In fact, I am always wearing my jacket because it's freezing in the office.

I used to get them when I was younger. Much younger. They went away on their own, for the most part. I still get an occasional couple, especially on the bottom of my feet in the instep if someone tickles them. Try a little Cortisone 10 on them. It sounds like stress or a minor virus.

When I was a child, I used to get these on my hands and feet. I had a lot of problems with ear and tonsil infections and the Dr. was giving me penicillin as an antibiotic. Turns out that I was allergic to the antibiotic and that's how my body reacted. Mine were itchy and I got them mostly between fingers or toes. We knew it was an allergy but it took a while to find out what I was allergic to. Are you taking any kind of medication that might be causing this? My first thought was also a soap or fabric softener allergy as well.

Get better quick!!
Cathy

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Originally Posted by Catherinedana

When I was a child, I used to get these on my hands and feet. I had a lot of problems with ear and tonsil infections and the Dr. was giving me penicillin as an antibiotic. Turns out that I was allergic to the antibiotic and that's how my body reacted. Mine were itchy and I got them mostly between fingers or toes. We knew it was an allergy but it took a while to find out what I was allergic to. Are you taking any kind of medication that might be causing this? My first thought was also a soap or fabric softener allergy as well.

Get better quick!!
Cathy

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No, I haven't taken any medications. I thought of that too. These are not between my fingers, except one is between my index and thumb, and it's more toward my index finger.
I have been wracking my brain trying to think of anything I've used, touched or eaten differently. There very well could be something and I'm not realizing it. I just hope they go away like many of you said yours did. And preferably before I go on vacation. :)

I have gotten these before and actually am being bothered a little by them now. Right now with gardening and painting some garden things, I wash my hands a lot too. I had not related that to their appearance before.

I have no idea what they are but someone told me they might be related to the fungus that starts athletes foot. So I used the medicine for that and it stops the itching and seems to dry up the spots. I am at work and I know there are a couple of different ointments for athletes foot so I will check when I get home about what the ingredient is that works for me.

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Originally Posted by 4 Dog Mother

I have no idea what they are but someone told me they might be related to the fungus that starts athletes foot. So I used the medicine for that and it stops the itching and seems to dry up the spots. I am at work and I know there are a couple of different ointments for athletes foot so I will check when I get home about what the ingredient is that works for me.

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I have thought about this, but just didn't want to admit it. I actually have athletes foot in one spot on my foot (THANKS BRUCE!!) and it's been there for months now. I stopped on my way to work to get Cortizone and picked up a can of atheletes foot spray. But I think I'd rather have a cream to rub into my hands, not the powder spray I bought.
At this point I'll try anything!!! So that will be my next step. Thank you!! :)

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Originally Posted by MoonandBean

Look up dishydrotic eczema or "pompholyx". It's a form of eczema that causes tiny vesicles on the hands and feet. It can range from mildly itchy to intensely itchy.

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Ding Ding Ding!! We have a winner!!! I finally went to the dermatologist yesterday because these spots kept appearing. It is in fact eczema. She said on the hands and feet it appears differently than on other areas of the body. And she said it could have come on because I handle papers so much in my job. They could be there for months or years then they will probably go away for several years. And I might not ever see them again. They're very unpredictable (obviously, they took 36 years to appear). So I get a steriod cream to apply and I must use lotion (she recommended a couple for me) a lot. Which I hate having lotion on my hands, so this is going to be a challenge.

Glad you found your answer Cindy. I hate hand cream as well but I found one that I love. It's called Awakenings and it's 100% natural. It isn't greasy and you only use the tiniest bit. Everytime you wash your hands it reactivates it :) I sell it at Draeger's or you could get it online.

http://www.awakeningskincare.com/skincare/item/hands/

Claudia

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Originally Posted by kitten645

Glad you found your answer Cindy. I hate hand cream as well but I found one that I love. It's called Awakenings and it's 100% natural. It isn't greasy and you only use the tiniest bit. Everytime you wash your hands it reactivates it :) I sell it at Draeger's or you could get it online.

http://www.awakeningskincare.com/skincare/item/hands/

Claudia

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Darn, I just saw this and I already went and bought one of the lotions the doctor recommended. :( But if I happen to see this brand anywhere I'll pick it up. Unless this other stuff stops working then I'll have to take a trip to Draegers. :D Thanks Claudia! :)