TY! Wish I had *any* magic potion that would rid me of this affliction permanently. I have the gloves, but they irritate and aggravate the rash. I just wrap the hands in gauze when I sleep or have to go out to do something.
I just can’t leave that infected finger wrapped for very long because it tends to “incubate” whatever germy type things are “in there.” But leaving it unwrapped makes it open to knocking about and cracking the blisters open. It’s a no-win situation.
I’m pretty sure now that they are itch mites, because the first long bout didn’t affect the webs between my fingers, but this time around, that’s where it started. But the bad places are on the underside (palm side) of my middle fingers - the very middle is completely infected except the fingertip.
Unfortunately, my last best hope was that Neosporin would heal it - it works on everything else. But alas, I’ve developed either an allergy to it or it’s just totally ineffective (and it’s a new tube). The blistery place just keeps growing.
I take a “super Benadryl” every day for my breathing problems from mold spore allergies, so I can’t use the spray on my hands - too much diphenhydramine or whatever. But I finally succumbed to the temptation to just take a little pink Benadryl tonight, thinking it might help, since it *is* indicated - thinking maybe my one-a-day isn’t enough, since it doesn’t prevent this.
Well, knocked me sideways and down - which means it’s not the answer. When it’s working on an allergy, I don’t get sleepy at all - but if I take it for something that turns out not to be an allergy, it puts me right to sleep. So much for that. I also take an Advil or nsaid for the inflammation, but it doesn’t do much except stop it from hurting so much.
The hydrocortisone cream stops the horrid itching, but I save that for the very last thing, so there’s still something that will work when nothing else does. Don’t like to put it on these open blisters, tho.
I soak them in Burow’s solution (Domeboro) 2-3 times per day, but just the infected blistery part - it dries out the rashy part too much, plus the rest of the skin on my hands - and I can’t use any kind of lubricant - even aloe vera spray does *nothing* for it.
And I keep spraying them with Bactine as often as possible - every time I touch something new or have to wash my hands again. Also, Lanacane. Even Listerine. Just so the bacteria aren’t on it.
Anyway, at this time, any kind of ointment or lotion or cream is not helpful, as it makes the germs and the rash grow, for some reason. Copious amounts of ice water poured over them from a jug I keep in the fridge just for this are my first line of defense and very effective. Before this outbreak, the last ice water treatment made it go away completely for 6 weeks - except for the damaged skin where it had gotten infected. But even that was better and not bothering me.
Nighttime is the worst for it - and of course, that’s my waking time. If I do sleep, it wakes me up. The itching is beyond belief.
Anyway, I do wish I could get a doctor to just give me an antibiotic for the infection. I can deal with the itching and rash, but not the infection. I can’t bend my middle finger at all because the skin is so swollen.
Sorry to go on and on - I haven’t anyone to tell it to except y’all - and usually, the good Lord helps me out when I get it off my chest! Thanks for letting me!
sorry your fingers are flaring up again RTE - have you tried plain ole tincture of iodine? I spoke with a doctor recently on the topic of wheeping wound care, and he said that neosporin, being a petroleum based product (vasaline base, basically) can tend to keep a wound ‘wet’ - and actually contribute to bacterial growth of a covered (gauzed/gloved) wound. There is also a very cheap OTC powder for soaking solution called DOMEBORO -aluminum acetate - (a Bayer product) excellent for drying open sores IMO
Gee, I wish I had a good ole magic potion for ya!
Have you tried coconut oil? Cold pressed oil. It’s fairly cheap (or I wouldn’t use it) Google it and see what it does There are a couple of sites talking about it. Helps kill germs and can be taken internally for lots of stuff (see links below). I use it on my rosacea but have to be spare with it since I have oily skin. I get mine from Walmart but if it was me, I’d add some garlic juice too. Garlic is very good antibacteria. and also honey. Honey on sores will heal up in no time with no infection. You may already have tried all of this but they are cheap and dont’ need a darn doc to prescribe them.
www.coconutoil.com
http://www.coconutdiet.com/viruses.htm
FRom that link:
“The antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties of the medium chain fatty acids/triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil have been known to researchers since the 1960s. Research has shown that microorganisms that are inactivated include bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. Much of this research is highlighted in the writings of Dr. Mary Enig Ph.D, and can be found at www.coconutoil.com “
http://www.coconutdiet.com/skin_health.htm
From that link:
“The doctor tested for different yeast, fungus, ringworm, bacteria, allergens, and Demodex and Scabies mites. I didn’t test positive for any of the allergens either time. When not using the coconut oil, my skin scrapings had increase numbers of Demodex in my sebaceous glands as well as in my hair follicles but there were no Scabies. There were minimal increases in bacteria and the yeast Candidia, but there was a marked increase in the fungus Malassezia Furfur, but not ringworm. This clearly explained why the antibiotics made things worse; I didn’t have acne. Any bacteria was secondary, the main culprit was the fungus Malassezia Furfur which caused a condition called Pityrosporum Folliculitis. Using antibiotic reduced the bad as well as the good bacteria allowing the fungus to grow unchallenged. Additionally, although the Demodex mite lives in everyone’s skin in small numbers, they multiply greatly in immune deficient host and they thrive on yeast in the body. “