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Contact Dermatitis? Please help!

25 replies

Pickingmyselfup · 12/02/2025 18:35

Since September I've had this really itchy blistery rash on one hand. It started as this really tiny patch of itchy flaky skin and has spread into these red patches which sometimes have dry blisters.

I initially just went to the pharmacist who told me it was a fungal infection/infected eczema and everything in between, spent a fortune on different potions but nothing was helping.

Saw a doctor who claimed it was discoid/pomplyx eczema so I was prescribed steroid cream. Nothing touched it, went back, told to keep using the cream until it cleared up. By December it hasn't changed but it does go in cycles. Starts off as a light red itchy patch, gets darker as it dries out before it clears up and starts again somewhere new but only on this one hand/wrist. Nowhere else, not on my fingers, arm, elbow, just my palm and my wrist.

I went back again in December and got given a stronger steroid cream, told to use it once a day then as it cleared up use it every other day. Except it doesn't clear up, as soon as one spot clears up it comes back again despite the cream!

Went back again a couple of weeks ago to be told it's contact dermatitis and something I'm touching and got prescribed the original steroid cream which surprise surprise isn't working.

I'm thoroughly fed up now, my hand constantly itches, it wakes me up in the night and I'm scratching it which I know I shouldn't but it's driving me insane. I need a solution but I've no idea what it is!

Nothing has changed in my day to day life since before September. Same job, same washing powder, pets, kids, stress levels. I touch a billion things daily with both hands but it's only my less dominant hand affected!

I looked at buying a light which is meant to help but at £300 it's not something I can spend when there is no guarantee it will work. If it helped I would but it tomorrow.

I've asked for a referral to a dermatologist and got told no because it was pointless. What else can I do short of chopping my hand off?

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justasking111 · 12/02/2025 18:58

I'd fill the bathroom sink with water as hot as I could stand and plunge my hands in. That stopped the itching for a time. Bliss. Antihistamines helped too. I was allergic to silicone I eventually found.

ChappRo · 12/02/2025 19:01

I'm dealing with the same. It started in august. Very fed up.

Steroid creams clear it up. But it just comes back the next day.

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Pickingmyselfup · 12/02/2025 19:08

This is mine, currently driving me insane with the itching.

I'm going back to the doctor as soon as my 2 weeks is up for the steroid cream which is this weekend. Will try get in Monday.

I don't know how to find out what I'm allergic to, it could be anything but what confuses is why it's just one hand.

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
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OrsolaRosso · 12/02/2025 19:14

Sorry if you have already tried this, but have you tried not wearing your watch for a bit? It could be the material in the strap, or some soap or detergent reacting with it?

FortWalton · 12/02/2025 19:23

Mine is pomphylox apparently, but nothing from the GP worked. However, Dermol 500 works like a charm, and because it's an antimicrobial I can get it on prescription!

Mine flares up when my SD starts with her nonsense

Pickingmyselfup · 12/02/2025 19:25

FortWalton · 12/02/2025 19:23

Mine is pomphylox apparently, but nothing from the GP worked. However, Dermol 500 works like a charm, and because it's an antimicrobial I can get it on prescription!

Mine flares up when my SD starts with her nonsense

I have the 200 version which I use but that doesn't work either.

Also yes, I have tried taking the watch off/swapping hands but it makes no difference so I put it back on.

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YouOKHun · 12/02/2025 19:26

It looks exactly like what I had on my palms and wrist @Pickingmyselfup. I think mine started after I wore a pair of filthy old gardening gloves during a hot summer. I got prescribed Betnovate (steroid cream) which didn't work at first but my GP upped the strength of it and that did the trick.

ChappRo · 12/02/2025 19:29

Dermol500 did nothing for me.

I bought Aproderm colloidal oat cream from amazon as I felt paraffin might be making it worse and its great for keeping it moisturisered and calm but does nothing to 'cure' it

I'm also confused as to why it's only on one hand :(

But I've had the little pompholyx spots on my toes a few times now too.

Pickingmyselfup · 12/02/2025 19:35

One picture to show how it started and how it was at it's worst. That has all cleared up now but it's gone through several cycles since then.

I wonder if the strongest steroid cream might do the trick...

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
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MsPug · 12/02/2025 19:38

Mine is bizarrely caused by washing powder! I really need to get a scoop with a handle 😂

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
bettybyebye · 12/02/2025 19:46

I would recommend Salcura Bioskin moisturiser. My DS has eczema/contact dermatitis on his hands and this has been one of the only things that worked. It’s all natural too - the pics show the difference after a couple of weeks use, but we saw a huge improvement after just one use

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Lalalindada · 12/02/2025 19:51

I had this and it was my watch. It only stopped after I had kept my watch on the other hand for about a fortnight (I think I'd rubbed away the rip coat of plastic and revealed something underneath I was allergic to). Got a new strap and it's all fine again x

justasking111 · 12/02/2025 20:07

House plants another issue apparently.

I know within half a minute if I've come into contact with something. Rush to a sink and run very hot water over my hands.

Someone said using a hairdryer over the area on hot can pause the itching.

My hands peel in layers it's absolutely gross when bits fall off.

ChappRo · 12/02/2025 20:20

That looks so sore

This was my initial breakout.

I'm utterly sick of it. I can't do anything without gloves :(

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Pickingmyselfup · 31/03/2025 21:49

Just to update...

My hand is a million times better, less itchy, less red, less horrible looking.

I stopped using the cream a few weeks ago and initially it got a lot worse without the steroids but recently it seems to have calmed down. I've not changed anything so I'm putting it down to the weather. It's the only thing I can think of that has actually changed.

Then dermatitis in itself started to become more rash like, no blisters and very dry. I was given a different moisturiser which I think has helped because it's more like vaseline, very thick and very greasy.

I'm hoping it goes away completely in the summer and doesn't come back 🤞🤞

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Shenanigan80 · 12/07/2025 08:35

I have been dealing with the same thing for almost a month. It's getting better now, but but it started off as a couple itchy bumps but went through a few different phases with
itching and fluid filled blisters and crusting then scabby peeling. My dermatologist said it looked like shingle so that's what she tested me for but it came out negative. So then she tested me for the cold sore virus and that was negative. Now she is just thinking it is just some contact allergic reaction to something or possibly a bug bite. Big mystery and a bit frustrating not knowing what to avoid if that's the case cause this shit sucks lol

Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
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Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
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Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
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Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
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Contact Dermatitis? Please help!
Pickingmyselfup · 12/07/2025 10:32

Mine has totally vanished! The only thing I did was use the final steroid cream the doctor prescribed me along with the emollient stuff but I haven't used it in months now.

Nothing else has changed to my knowledge so it's either something at work that I'm no longer exposed to which seems unlikely or it's weather related.

I was so sure it was the rats and was on the verge of rehoming, good job I retested handling them before I did anything hasty.

Hope yours clears up soon @Shenanigan80 it's so horrible to live with.

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Shenanigan80 · 16/07/2025 18:40

Mine is just about gone, thank you 😊. Lol I thought it could have been my rats also but I have had rats for years and have never had anything like this happen before. Yes thank goodness you rechecked 😅

Pickingmyselfup · 16/07/2025 20:43

Shenanigan80 · 16/07/2025 18:40

Mine is just about gone, thank you 😊. Lol I thought it could have been my rats also but I have had rats for years and have never had anything like this happen before. Yes thank goodness you rechecked 😅

Interesting that you also have rats though...

I don't have much longer left to go with rat keeping now and then I'm not getting anymore. I'm down to 6 from 9 and fully expect to lose another 2 soon. The next 4 are only a year but when I'm down to 2 or 3 I'll be looking for a new mischief for them.

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ChappRo · 16/07/2025 21:48

I had rats too 🤨

AnotherEmily · 16/07/2025 22:03

Glad it’s gone OP. My Dad had awful eczema on his hands. La Roche Posay ciclast baume helped him. It was a form of psoriasis in his case linked with another inflammatory condition.

pinotgrigiomum · 16/07/2025 22:24

I have this along with it on my body and nothing off the doctor works I’m at my wits end tbh

ChappRo · 16/07/2025 22:32

I was diagnosed with palmoplantar pustular psoriasis.

Pickingmyselfup · 17/07/2025 12:58

ChappRo · 16/07/2025 21:48

I had rats too 🤨

It does seem to be very common amongst rat owners but if mine was caused by them it doesn't explain why it appeared after a year of having them and why it's suddenly gone away!!

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ChappRo · 17/07/2025 13:00

Pickingmyselfup · 17/07/2025 12:58

It does seem to be very common amongst rat owners but if mine was caused by them it doesn't explain why it appeared after a year of having them and why it's suddenly gone away!!

I haven't had rats in about 4 months and its still reoccurring.

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