I'm going to cut my hand off!!!?

[123456thu]

My hand is itchy, burning, sore! And I'm about to cut it off! I've had it once before and was given steroid cream, didn't say what it actually was but it's back it's worse and I want to scream! Any ideas of what it is??

If it’s pompholyx - then you need a strong steroid cream like betnovate ointment (vaseline like base). It’s absolute agony. Whatever you do try not to itch it. I’d take painkillers also while it heals.

If it started at a country park I bet it’s an insect bite. If it goes into a bulls eye rash then gets antibiotics to ward off Lyme disease

@Hermyknee I'm pretty sure it started the day before (Saturday), but it's just got so much worse today.

It's definitely not little blisters it's like one big area all connected then smaller patches in other areas, if that makes sense. I'll send photos to the doctors tomorrow. See what they think.

Looks like Chilblains to me.

Swinging between temperatures can make it worse. So if you get cold hands and then go and put them on a radiator and then back outside it can make them worse.

I had them on my hips and outer thighs- a very specific horse riders location apparently. As we worked outside and got wet but then went in and then back out. Took about 5 doctors who all kept saying spider/ bug botes/ allergies etc. Old lady saw them and said immediately- got longer waterproof coat and they went away.

Awful awful burning itchy pain, I scratched mine into open sores. I'd rather give birth again than have Chilblains again.

Does it have little fluid filled blisters? Which once gone, scab over. Is it symmetrical across both hands?

If so could be Dyshidrotic Excema. I have it, and the cause of mine seems to be hormone fluctuations as I get it a week before my period every month, and it bizarrely vanished completely whilst I was pregnant.

I pulled a poisonous weed out in the backyard garden and a rash on my hands for over 2 years. Some one might now the name of the weed but your not supposed to pull them out without gloves. It’s was a big ugly weed too.

I wondered that. I had a friend who had that many years ago, in her case she wore several silver rings that caused it. It was awful but it did go away eventually.

So I went to the doctors and They are doing tests for rheumatoid arthritis and raynaud's disease.. it's some sort of autoimmunity thing. And Also chilblains. So just waiting to go for bloody tests.

Raynauds is linked with RA, and RA is an autoimmune condition - so is Lupus. But none of these things can be treated by a GP, they need referral to a rheumatologist. So, depending on what your blood tests show, insist on a referral and they’ll sort you out. I’m a bit concerned that your GP is testing for RA because usually testing comes after the referral. RA is difficult to diagnose via simple blood tests and needs eyes on from an expert, so make sure you insist.

@Lovelysausagedogscrumpy yeah he said he would put the referral thru once he's got the results, he spotted it straight away I didn't actually mention anything so I think I saw a good doctor for once, he didn't think it was just a skin condition though. He was testing for a range of things.. it all kind of went over my head if I'm honest. I have horrible aches in my shoulders/neck so I dunno if that's related but I feel dreadful today.

Also think about a whitlow - esp if you’ve had in before in the same place. Same as coldsore virus. Need viral swab and aciclovir if you think it could be in keeping

I've had strange allergic reactions for years on and off. Doctor didn't know why but he did give me a strong tablet each time which stopped the itching within hours (but also made me really sleepy). See your doctor would be my advice.

@Khayker thank you I went to the doctor today, it's some autoimmune thing they think (details above in an update) very odd. I thought it would be a weird skin condition but apparently not lol

Gel acrylic nail allergy ? I have it and it used to start on my knuckles middle of palms and eventually covered my cuticles and behind every nail. The itching was unbearable like couldn’t sleep . Only thing to stop it if it is that is remove . Terrible thing is on e you get a gel allergy it’s for life and I stupidly kept trying and each time it got worse 😢 used to get each on nevk and round eyes if I touched those areas it’s uncured product x

Hope they gave you something to stop the itching, ordinary antihistamines didn't do anything for me. My nan used to say it was spring coming as apparently years ago it was common for a lot of people to get a spring rash, whatever that was, but she was right on a lot of stuff she said so who knows.

@Debsnotts I posted an update, I went doctors today and they think it's some sort of autoimmunity thing, so getting blood tests to check. I thought it was just going to be an allergy or skin condition.

Cellulitis?

Don’t cut your hand off - phantom itch is a real thing and how much worse would it be to have the itch and no hope of relieving it?

Are they fake nails? Maybe you’ve developed allergy to them?

I get this, it's vile. It's called dyshidrotic eczema and yes, you want to cut your hand off, that is 100% the feeling. Steroid cream (stronger hydrocortisone than usual generally) and keep moisturising all.the.time.
I have had it misdiagnosed as herpetic whitlow (hand herpes) and took a lot of antivirals but they did nothing. The excema diagnosis made a lot more sense, but look through the decent websites (actual medical ones) and it will give you lots of help as to how to cope, the earlier you get onto it, the less spreading is what I have found and I've had it cover both hands before.
It's also caused by stress so just be aware when your'e run down.
Hope this helps hon.

That was my thought - and they certainly do itch!

Ouch! Hope you get some answers from the blood tests. There's plenty of support groups if it's RA or similar. I get psoriatic arthritis which means inflamed areas of the joints, tendons and tendon sheathes .... amongst other things... so feel
Your pain!
I also get cold urticaria which can be easily helped with oral antihistamines, also likely an autoimmune issue (once you have one you kind of collect them 🤪)

Did you clean with bleach

Let us know when you find out. It looks painful, I hope they gave you something to help make it feel better. Praying for you.

It's pompholyx, otherwise known as dyshidrotic eczema. It's incredibly itchy, poor you- I suffer with it as well 😢