Why does my son get small water blisters on his fingers when he's stressed out?

Question

Small, white blisters that itch. He scratches...they pop, and then they scab up. Sometimes they're in clusters...sometimes alone anywhere on the fingers.
It most always happens when he's stressed.
Could it be connected to the cold-sores he gets...and occasionally he'll get shingles around his beltline?

PS...the doctor told him it was psoriasis (sp), but I found nothing online that match the symptoms.

PPS:
My son is 27. He stresses out over work most of the time. He absolutely did have shingles...per his doctor.
Stress Blisters...that really sounds like the perfect description.

PPSS:
I meant 'nerve blisters'.

Tuesday SS:
No biggie....thanks for your answer.

Answer 1

That's one way that eczema can look. If there is a family history of hay fever, asthma, or eczema, he's more likely to get it.

Talk to his pediatrician at his next well-child visit and perhaps he or she will prescribe a steroid cream. Over the counter steroid creams will help, but I don't know that their use is recommended in children.

If it is eczema, the best thing you can do is MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE. Use a non-scented good quality cream (not lotion) like Eucerine or Cetaphil, or their generic equivalents.

People with eczema are often quite sensitive to chemicals, so provide him with a gentle cleansing bar (Dove sensitive is a good one to try) for bathing and hand washing.

For severe itching (and eczema has been called the itch that rashes) a small dose of oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is very helpful, but ask his doc what dose. The topical application - a lotion kind of thing - doesn't help me at all.

By the way, he probably does NOT get "shingles." Shingles is a herpes virus infection of the nerves. That may be eczema, too, but ask his doc.

Good luck!

***** So Sorry! I would have bet a nickle that I'd read that he was 2! It would be highly unlikely for a two-year-old to have shingles. My bad.

Answer 2

Well, both cold sores and shingles are herpes viruses, and those are blisters that itch too, so he definitely could have it on his hands, and stress is one of the factors for herpes to become active. You should tell your doctor to be sure though, because there is an ezcema that appears on the hands as blisters too. Also, if this is herpes on his hands, he can transfer it to his genitals when he touches himself to go to the bathroom. you should check with a doctor immediately to be sure that's what it is, or he should wear gloves when using the restroom and use good hygeine.

Answer 3

I would like to know the answer to this, I get them on the backs of my hands as well..mostly on my fingers, it itches like crazy, especially when they pop..they are minuscule little bubbles, but boy do they itch. Just for the record, I don´t get cold sores any more, and I have never had shingles. .

Answer 4

i know this sounds crazy, but I think they are called nerve blisters, I have never seen them but my ex use to get them when he was a kid. they put him on medicine for his nerves and he grew out of doing that, he even had scars on his body from them.I thought my ex and his family were making them up until i read your article. good luck

Answer 5

your best bet would be to take him to a doctor and get a professionals oppinion