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

Buy gloves from Just Gloves, they deliver really quickly, good prices and a wide range of sensitive, latex free, cotton, disposable.

I spoke to a doctors yesterday and sent photos, had a phone consultation and got new antibiotics which I started last night.

Read the thread if you're going to try and berate me!

Fromm seeing where your blisters are and hearing about what you did with the bleach - is it possible that a bit of neat bleach dribbled down the outside of the spray bottle/trigger when you were filling it up? And came into contact with your skin? The location of the first dots look like the part of your hand that could have been in contact with the bottle.

Admittedly I don't know anything about dermatitis but I would think someone needs to examine you urgently. If it is an autoimmune issue you will most probably need steroids too, but aiui that increases the risk of infection so whoever treats you ideally ought to be experienced in skin problems of all kinds to make sure they know exactly what they are looking at.

Antibiotics usually take a couple of days to kick in at least. But the itching suggests infection is not the only issue you are dealing with

I don’t mean to try and berate you. You are posting this morning saying that you can’t bear it-want to chop your hands off/want to cry and can’t get an appointment with the GP (despite them telling you to ring them) so I would be trying to see a pharmacist this morning.

They might suggest tips to cool your hands to relieve the itching. I would ask them for advice.

Oh you poor thing, I hope it starts to feel better soon!

I already saw a Dr yesterday and it's not hurting, I just meant I'm pissed off with it now because it's a pain in the arse and looks disgusting. I have to go out today and it looks like the plague.

I was going to see the GP to ask about the pompholyx spots still appearing. I can't get anymore cream/meds for the infection. That's hopefully taken care of but I've only taken 2 tablets so need time for it to work.

People (not you specifically) are acting like I'm refusing medical treatment.

In a week I've
:been to pharmacist and bought eumovate
:been to 2nd pharmacist who said go to GP
: Had GP appointment via the phone with photos and been prescribed antibiotics and cream
:called 111 and had 2nd appointment with on call Dr with photos and had 2nd prescription of Antibiotics

Yet because I won't go sit in A&E for 8 hours even though I feel absolutely fine I'm some sort of idiot.

If everyone went to A&E because the worst case scenario MIGHT happen even though there are no symptoms presenting or evidence of that scenario the whole system would collapse.

I've done what I should. GP and 111

And I even asked the Doctor about A&E yesterday and he said "absolutely no reason to do that right now unless you start to feel unwell. You'll just be sat there all night to get the same antibiotics I'm prescribing"

I would use the eumovate rather than the trimovate for now. I wouldn't add in topical antibiotics on top of oral ones without discussing with a doctor first.

The itching is awful. Not sure if it's been mentioned but you can get cotton gloves in boots/superdrug/some pharmacies. You can put it on after applying the steroid which will help it soak in and keep the area dry. If your hand gets itchy while in the glove you can apply very gentle pressure through the material, but don't rub or scratch.

If you do have Pomphylox, which it looks like, Eumovate will not do much. you need stronger steroid cream like Dermovate or Betnovate. I was diagnosed by Dermatology when my hands were worse than yours and they prescribed Dermovate. I also used emulsifier or Diprobase hourly.
I sympathise as it can be both painful and disabling.

I'd be wanting a culture taken of that. Figure out what the infection is, and make sure you're on the right antibiotics.

In the meantime I'd try and bathe your hand in chorhexidine soap, rinse and dry, and maybe apply some steroid cream.

Agreed. And also, anything that is even slightly red or blistered is 'infected' on Mumsnet, and not just a normal inflammation reaction.

I swear to god that if Mumsnet didn't exist, A&E waiting times would be halved. The number of times I've seen 'A&E. Now' as a response to things that absolutely do not need A&E is unreal.

You’re better than me, I’d be right in there trying to pop them. I get those little bumps a lot, and they itch they anything. I can see how easily they would have become infected.
fwiw I wouldn’t have gone to a and e either, unless I had a temp or felt unwell. No point in sitting in an and for the same antibiotics.

I find with the bumps keeping them moisturised as much as possible tents to help with he healing process.
Im sure mine are caused by stress, have you been stressed lately?

I would use trimovate tbh as it has an antifungal in too. Your eczema is worsening despite treatment so you need a doctor's appointment too and that needs to be swabbed (don't put medicated cream on just before your appointment as it will likely kill the surface bugs) If you get a temperature, feel unwell etc then get to a walk in (go out of area if necessary). In the meantime, use icepacks and get to a pharmacist for a higher strength antihistamine.

Not to mention the 'OP, look up [insert incredibly rare disease]' posts.

This is really bad advice.

Using oral and topical antibiotics together increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, in which case OP could develop a very nasty and difficult to treat infection. It's not something that should be done unless under the instruction of a doctor.

I really feel for you @PIPpityDoodah I get this on my feet and hands and the itch! So so bad. I've had it alongside athletes foot before and that was fun chasing it with anti fungal and steroid treatments to get it under control. The heat really affects mine as does cleaning with or without gloves - with, my hands get too hot, without then the chemicals affect it.
Keep it moistened using the creams you've been prescribed as if it dries out it cracks and you get more sores. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick any infection out. It will take time, and sadly as you've seen, it spreads.

This is what skin prone to eczema looks like when it gets severely infected, please stop scare-mongering when you have no idea!

DON'T try and burst those blisters OP! If you can bear it, slather your hands in something soothing and put on clean white cotton gloves. Or, just try and keep your hands in cool water. It will dry your skin but i find it soothes the itch for a little bit.

When it's healed a bit, I find MediHoney cream is really good for soothing the itchiness. It's not medicated you can get it over the counter but it might sting before the broken skin has healed.

Have you tried athletes foot spray? Only that if it's fungal then the anti biotics/ antiseptic stuff could actually make it worse. Pretty sure you can get athletes foot on hand as well

Been back to GP this morning and he's put me on a 3rd set of antibiotics and a strong steroid cream?

He also popped a blister and did a swab.

These are what he's given me.

Still feel fine just my hand is very sore and it's dried out alot on the top side but is still spreading an pussfilled on my palm

And I've just realised talking this photo that the little pompholyx spots are heading up my index finger 😭😭😭

I hope it doesn't spread up there too

Fingers crossed on this next lot of antibiotics and the results of the swab - if it's something antibiotic resistant then knowing what it is should mean they can track the right treatment down instead of just whacking it and hoping something works.

The swab might help to pinpoint what it is but is more likely to show what the pus infection is. I think only a dermatologist will be able to determine exactly what it and what caused it. GPs are good at throwing different antibiotics at it but you really want to know so you can prevent it happening again.

Hope this antibiotic gives you some relief from it.

No help at all OP, but it looks so sore. I hope the new medications help.

Stay as cool as you can- heat and stress exacerbates it.

Moisturise those fingers where you can. Helps stop it going there. I use eurax anti itch cream as well- but only on the very early bits where it’s spreading. To stop the itch getting started there.

DS found his stopped when he did all the usual things AND athletes foot treatment. We’d done the athletes foot stuff before with no success. But when he’s nearly broken the bad habits of pompholyx, the athletes foot finished the job. previously he’d get most of the way there then it would flare up again.