What is this rash on my hand?

Question

I originally thought it was dry skin, but it hasn't gotten better. It seems to fluctuate in conditions, between noticeable and unnoticeable. The most irritating symptom of it is that it burns if I put moisturizer on it. It's little red dots and splotches on the back of each of my hands. It's not really raised, the skin just feels really dry. It's not itchy, and I have no idea what it is. Anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

I have the same thing. It is called contact dermatitis. It is where you wash your hands, especially in the cold seasons, and then exposing your hands to the elements. DO NOT use any lotions with fragrances in them, because this will irritate the skin more & cause it to burn & itch. Use vaseline, coat your hands at night, & then put on glovesor socks & sleep like that. It may take a day or two, but it will help. You can always use Aquafor (sp?) & use Gold Bond Medicated Lotion Extra Strength. Make sure that you use lotion after EVER TIME your hands come into contact with water or cleaner.

Answer 2

I get the same thing, but not on the underside of my arms. My hands get really dry, especially between the fingers, and at the joints, usually the skin breaks. I have to wash the dishes with rubber gloves during the winter (that helps keep it from getting worse) but it's just chapping. My mother is a nurse and always had the same thing. Mine has gotten worse as I've gotten older. Mine is not itchy at all, just really dry and that makes it feel irritated, but it's not like poison ivy. I think it is just because I am fair skinned (I am not particularly sensitive to a lot of other things. I also get a patch of dry flaky scalp in the front of my hair, near the forehead hairline, every Winter--I use T-Gel shampoo on it a couple of times a week to keep it at bay, but it never goes away all the cold months of the year.) I really think it is the drier, Winter air that causes the problem. I recently discovered aveeno brand hand lotion, it does temporarily relieve the problem and make the skin more pliable and less vulnerable to breaking open. (Gold Bond hand cream and Sally Hansen hand cream also work well, but I like Aveeno the best. You can buy a generic version at the drugstore too and save a few bucks.) Also sometimes washing your hands with gentle soap before bedtime (like dove) then rinsing and covering the worst spots with neosporin or aquaphor (made by eucerin) can help. Nighttime is a good time to really moisturize your hands. You can even buy cotton gloves to wear at night, lotion up really well and slip them on. Doing this consistently will soften up your hands some. I don't think there is a cure all for it though. Always carry hand lotion with you. Good luck!

Answer 3

Hi Sarah

Here are some answers and remedies on the issue.

Cause
Although most rashes are not symptoms of a serious health problem, they can be signs of allergies, liver and gallbladder problems, lupus, bleeding disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases.

Rashes can also be due to the elimination of toxic wastes through the skin, or of an active immune reaction to an invading organism. Suppression of such a rash can lead to chronic disease states. Rather than try to suppress the rash, in such cases watchful waiting may be more advisable.


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Natural Cures

Diet: Screen for and eliminate any foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Eat an organic, whole foods diet, with plenty of green leafy vegetables and yellow vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. Also drink plenty of pure, filtered water, and avoid all processed foods and chemical food additives.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® applied topically to the affected areas.

Herbs: The following herbal remedies can speed healing: A tincture of equal parts burdock root and gentian root, the fresh juice of coriander, and/or aloe vera juice or gel.

Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic remedies include Belladonna, Sulfur, Graphites, and Calc carb.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.

Juice Therapy: Drink fresh squeezed vegetable juices on a daily basis, especially carrot, beet, radish, and garlic juice.

Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutrients can be helpful to speed healing: vitamin A and vitamin E (both orally and applied topically over the affected areas), vitamin C, essential fatty acids (EFAs), flaxseed oil, and amma linolenic acid (GLA). In addition, add half a teaspoon of baking soda to water and drink every fifteen minutes. Do this three times, and then every two to three hours for two to three days or until the reaction subsides.


Best of health to you

Answer 4

i had the same thing. same syptoms and everything. everyone told me it was an allergic reaction to something b/c i wash my hands alot at work. when i went to the dermolagist, he told me i had ecemza on my hands (in which i have had ecemza on other parts of me) go to the doctor, it'll take 20 mintues at the most and he should prescribe you a hand cream. mine went away after a fews DAYS of using it..

Answer 5

You might have skin allergy. Try to change your bathing soap.