Hand infected (Warning, gross photos)

[PIPpityDoodah]

I do have another thread on this but I've been on antibiotics since Thursday and it's just getting worse.

It's still hot and new puss filled blisters are appearing.

Shouldn't the antibiotics have kicked in by now?

It's so sore and embarrassing

Thanks. I'm going to buy some lamisil and try it.
I've started getting the spots on my toes too

@PIPpityDoodah - make sure you get the Lamisil Once and not the ordinary Lamisil. I think the former may be stronger?

I did. It's arriving tomorrow.

Should I just put it all over my hand? Is it. Liquid?

It's a small tube and at first you'll think there's nowhere near enough to cover your hand, but there is! It's more like a gel than a liquid and spreads really easily. Make sure you cover every part of your hand, between the fingers and around nail beds etc. it dries really quickly and isn't sticky. The only thing then is that you have to avoid getting the area wet for a day or two, so don't do anything grubby or lick your fingers! 😁

i noticed on a couple of your photos that youve got painted nails sometimes - it it gel polish? The only reason I ask is that it can be an allergen - I have developed an allergy to it and my nails ended up detaching themselves from the nail bed and the nail beds became very very sore. It could be absolutely nothing to do with your problem, but might be worth not using it until you get it sorted?

No it's acrylic and I started getting them in October I think? Think my first set was for Halloween.

This started a few months earlier in July.

But I've removed them a few weeks ago and won't be getting any more. Too much upkeep!

This looks so sore OP. You have my sympathies as my daughter used to get this in the same place when she was little and it was agony. Finally she got a bad flare up when we were on holiday in America and had to have a doctor call out. I wish I could remember what the doctor prescribed as it never came back after that (probably something illegal in the UK!).
She had generak eczema as well and uses epaderm as well as steroids daily

On another note, I had severe depression in my 20s and got horrible pustules appearing all over my legs , they just kept appearing and didn't go away until my mental health was better. They have never reappeared and even the bad scarring is now gone.
I hope things improve for you soon

Sorry meant to add, might be worth getting the separate red sore bit on back of your hand biopsied if you can convince anyone, I have seen tuberculosis (dormant) show up like this before but would be rare

Thanks

They did take a swab from it and nothing showed up, I'm not sure if that's the same?

What are you painting your nails with? Are they acrylic? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon?

I just noticed that your nails change in all your pics and they look like acrylics or gel nails.

Something to consider anyway as they can cause allergies

Ah sorry - just seen someone has beaten me to it on the nails question!

I think it needs to be a biopsy. Just specifically of that patch as it looks a little different to the rest. Very unlikely but just thought I would float the idea in case you wqnted to mention it at next appointment. Especially if you have been to any countries with a high prevalence of tb - doesn't need to be recently, could be years ago.

So this is how my hand looks tonight. Which is frustrating as I said about four days ago , it was almost completely healed. I have no idea what set it off again.

I have just put the recommended lamisil on my hand and part of my foot and i'm waiting for it to dry.

It really stung for about five seconds but now it feels ok.

I'm really hoping that it cures me. Because this has been going on for so long now and the frustration is crazy.

Fingers crossed! I'

I'll keep everything crossed for you! One tip though, I think you need to cover your whole foot/hand, not just the affected area. I presume it must be to target any possible fungal infection that is not yet active, as it could later cause a new spread. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable might be able to confirm or debunk that.

I also get pompholyx now and again but it's always localised and nowhere near as bad as yours. Try not to scratch it as it can get infected.
I find Lyonsleaf zinc and calendula cream quite effective as it reduces inflammation. Give it a try it might help you.
If you use topical steroids for prolonged periods you might get a withdrawal reaction - steroid dermatitis.

Also I find certain soaps, usually antibacterial, make my skin dry and that can trigger pompholyx.

Lamisil doesn't seem to have done anything :(

I'm so sorry, I was really hoping it would have the same result for you as it had for me 😥

I agree with some of the previous posters about them maybe doing a biopsy for you. I have a skin condition that they couldn’t figure out what it was and I’d had various diagnoses over the years from eczema to dermatitis to erythema multiforme.

They finally did a biopsy four years ago and I finally had a definitive diagnosis, without that biopsy they still wouldn’t have known what it is. I still have problems and it’s flared up badly at the moment, but at least they have treatment options for me.

I have issues with infection in my skin too, my GP spoke to a microbiologist at the hospital about it and I take long term daily antibiotics now which also seem to help a bit.

Though to be honest even now I know what it is they are yet to find a treatment that works long term.

Didn't dissappear completely within 48 hours of putting it on?

I will ask about a biopsy at my next dermatology appointment

Today's situation:

Oooh that's looking really, really uncomfortable! Your whole thumb looks like it's about to split open 😥

No, in fairness it did take a week or so, so maybe thing will improve for you in a few days.

@PIPpityDoodah have PMd you :)

This is my life now bathing with a rubber glove taped on my hand.

I stopped applying the steroid cream. Because my hand was getting really dry and sore and for about a week it seemed to improve a lot with just moisturiser. But then it had a little breakout. And I use the steroid cream for 1 night and it cleared up mostly.

I have decided to just not put anything on it for a few days. Because I feel like the moisturisers aren't helping.

Hands broken out again :(

Just these cycles of helaing and outbreak with no idea why.

Am very fed up. I feel like I can't do anything. Can't wet my hand, can't wash my hair, can't wipe the kitchen sides, can't bath my dogs.

I'm going to ring dermatology on Monday and ask if this appointment is going to be soon.

I feel your pain, my hand is doing exactly the same even with the steroid cream. My doctor told me it was contact dermatitis but I've no idea what it is that is setting it off.

What did your doctor tell you?