Sudden bilateral finger peeling and darkening?

M

Manshi

New member
I'm searching for some recommendations to help my brother. He is in his 30's and uninsured. A few weeks ago, he started getting callousing and peeling on the fingers of both hands. This started in both hands at the same time and has progressed equally on both hands. His skin appears to be thickening and continues to peel off and is raw underneath. He has also had darkening of his fingers to a blue-black color. He has no idea what is causing this, but is seriously alarmed.

He did come up with enough money to pay to see a doctor at a clinic. Unfortunately, the doctor said they didn't know what it was, gave him a steroid cream prescription and basically said they didn't know what to do for him. Now, his fingers are peeling worse and getting darker and he is unsure what to do. He wants to see a Dermatologist, but it took him weeks to save for the initial doctor visit.

Could this be some sort of virus, serious eczema, environmental allergy?

He is an artist who has used latex pains for years but hasn't had much time to paint for a while. He is also a bartender and has to have his hands in water a lot. (Been using non-latex gloves at work since this started.)

Anyone out there experience anything like this before or have recommendations on things we could research to identify what is going on? Any help would be appreciated.
 
He really needs to see a dermatologist- I know money issues are terrible but since the steroid cream is doing nothing, (in fact you say things are getting worse), only a specialist can come up with the right diagnosis. Eczema usually itches first and the subsequent scratching can cause weeping and peeling. Maybe it IS a fungus or more likely an allergy of some kind.

In the meantime, if you really see it's much worse since on the cream, I personally would stop using it. Normally,you're not supposed to use topical steroids for more than 2 weeks at a time without a break because it tends to thin the skin after a while and make it even more fragile.

Regarding gloves at work when he has his hands in water- If not latex, what kind are they? Regular rubber gloves you get at the supermarket? If so, have him wear white cotton gloves under the rubber gloves as well- You can buy the cotton gloves at any good drug store.

Also tell him to stop using scented soap to wash his hands. He could have developed an allergy to fragrance. If you can find it BASIS bar soap (unscented, for sensitive skin) is a good one to try.

But bottom line, I hope you find a way for him to see a good dermatologist.


Good luck!

zuzu
 
just the mere fact that the fringers are actually "darkening" at all would up that need for finding out what the heck is casuing this. this would possibly indiate a lowering/slowing of actual blod flow to the fingers if this is darkish blue or even blackening in any way( with the skin peeling could possibly be an indication of real necrosis(death of tissue) going on too? getting just a simple ultrasound done on that whole arm to the hands would at least show flow velocity within that whole arm and look for things like plaque bulidup or clotting which would definitely change the flow velocity in the blood vessles that 'feed" the fingers. this whole situation sounds just really bizzare to say the least. an US by far would give the best possbile look at what NEEDS to be fully checked out and the cheapest possible way too. it really just does sound like his fingers are not getting enough oxygenated blood to really keep tissue health. but i would NOT wait on this any longer at this point. just about every doc and ER IS acutely aware of peoples financial situations and most are willing to actually work with patients in ways to pay for their care. he just really NEEDS that US asap. i hope this is easily corrected for him. please let us know how things are going for him MR, good luck to him, FB
 
An update:

My brother seems to have figured out that he has an allergy to mint that has been causing his finger blistering, peeling, callousing and darkening.

It is an allergy to salicytates in the mint that he has frequent contact with as a bartender.

There is a lot of info on WebMD on this type of allergy. In addition to the general skin reactions, the change in color on his fingers is a symptom of this type of allergy.

Now, to get him healed and figure out how to avoid the numerous things with salicytates.
 
wow, now that certainly IS a very intense/deep type of allergic reaction to say the least MR. i am glad that he at least knows the real reason for something this insane. just how did he determine that this was indeed the culprit? that whole reaction just seems pretty over the top for something he merely comes in contact with, ya know what i mean? is he certain that this IS it? he would just NEED to know for many reasons one way or the other kind of thing? i hope things get better for him soon, geez that had to be pretty painful to say the least. FB
 
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