What is this on my fingers?!

[waitingforwinter]

Having a problem with the tips of 2 of my fingers. Have attached a picture. VERY dry and cracked. They feel almost raw and hurt when anything touches them. The skin is shiny - almost like a burn! And it feels tight.
Happened a few months ago - came on relatively suddenly - maybe over 2 days or so. Stayed for about a month then disappeared just as quickly. It’s appeared again over this weekend!! Haven’t touched anything new that I’m aware of 🤔 and it’s been the same 2 fingers each time.

Anyone got any idea? Went to the pharmacy and they said it’s just dry skin 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've had this before, and weirdly have just noticed it on one of my fingers tonight! It's not just dry skin- I cannot for the life of me remember what it is though. I'm sure I had to use either a steroid or anti fungal cream to get rid of it last time. I'll have a google and come back to you.

@opalescent That’s great, thanks! Yeah I tried to explain about it in the pharmacy but she looked at me as if I had 3 heads 🤣 definitely doesn’t feel just like dry skin.

Washing your hands more often with anti bac hand wash?

My mum had that for years. Originally told it was like athlete's foot, so she used cream for ages and it did no good. She went to the GP for something else entirely, the doctor saw it and gave her some anti-fungal tablets. Gone in a fortnight.

@TheBestForLast Definitely - but I would have thought that would have affected more than just 2 fingertips 🤔

@MustardRose Ohhh! Maybe I will need to get on the phone to my GP then! I hadn’t wanted to take up an appointment when the pharmacist was so adamant that it was just dry skin!

Looks like dyshisrotic eczema. I get it and it starts with incredibly itchy fluid filled tiny blisters. Once they are scratched the skin gets very painful and looks just like your photo. I get it from contact with raw fruit and vegetables so I wear vinyl gloves when cooking.

@DownSideUpped haven’t had any itching at all 🤔 and definitely no blisters. Seem to wake up with it a little dry and cracked and by the end of the day it’s horrific!

I agree it’s definitely not just dry skin.

I get something that looks very similar from time to time when I’m fighting off a bug or after I’ve eaten something I’m allergic to. Keeping hands clean and drying them properly after washing helps it to get better in my case.

Not saying it might not be fungal though so it could be worth just trying an anti fungal cream while you wait for a phone call with your gp.

Start using bars of soap instead of hand wash,that's what cured mine. I only had the side of my middle finger that was dry.

@MustardRose yes I'm sure I was the same