Painful, sometimes itchy, bumps on fingers

[Cricketchirp]

For a while now, I've been getting these skin bumps on my fingers. They used to be smaller, and go away after a while, but lately, they are larger and even more annoying. On the palm side of my middle finger, sometimes the skin gets really dry and cracks or peels because of the bumps.

They're sometimes itchy, but mostly painful -- especially when I'm holding something that requires me to bend my fingers (like a pencil).

I live in Florida, so humid climate.
I'm 16 years old and not "intimate" with anyone, so it's not anything I could have acquired through that kind of contact. My mom says she used to get the same little bumps on her fingers when she was my age, but never found out what they were (so maybe it's hereditary?).

They aren't red (unless I scratch at them), so they're a little difficult to see in pictures.
The dermatologist thought it was scabies, but took a skin scraping and said it was possibly a form of eczema. She gave me some "clobetasol propionate cream USP, 0.05%" which hasn't done a thing to help. I don't really want to go back to her and get another skin scraping, since the first time she did it, I nearly passed out and now I have an ugly scar on my ring finger...

Here are some pictures, in which I drew some red lines to show where the bumps are.
-dry, peeling skin on right middle finger
-palm view of left hand
-side view of left index finger
-left index finger
-side view left middle finger
- agitated bump on right index finger

[banjoplayer]

For a while now, I've been getting these skin bumps on my fingers. They used to be smaller, and go away after a while, but lately, they are larger and even more annoying. On the palm side of my middle finger, sometimes the skin gets really dry and cracks or peels because of the bumps.

They're sometimes itchy, but mostly painful -- especially when I'm holding something that requires me to bend my fingers (like a pencil).

I live in Florida, so humid climate.
I'm 16 years old and not "intimate" with anyone, so it's not anything I could have acquired through that kind of contact. My mom says she used to get the same little bumps on her fingers when she was my age, but never found out what they were (so maybe it's hereditary?).

They aren't red (unless I scratch at them), so they're a little difficult to see in pictures.
The dermatologist thought it was scabies, but took a skin scraping and said it was possibly a form of eczema. She gave me some "clobetasol propionate cream USP, 0.05%" which hasn't done a thing to help. I don't really want to go back to her and get another skin scraping, since the first time she did it, I nearly passed out and now I have an ugly scar on my ring finger...

Here are some pictures, in which I drew some red lines to show where the bumps are.
-dry, peeling skin on right middle finger
-palm view of left hand
-side view of left index finger
-left index finger
-side view left middle finger
- agitated bump on right index finger

I have the same lumps in my fingers. Your photos are very good. I haven't found anyone who knows what to do about it, it's like they're beneath the skin, so nothing topical will work.
I drank some juice once called 'Mangosteen' juice. It's some kind of vitamin drink and after a few days it killed those bumps. they all dried up and pealed off.
sad to say a few months after not drinking the juice and they came back.

[Starlalmd]

I have the same lumps in my fingers. Your photos are very good. I haven't found anyone who knows what to do about it, it's like they're beneath the skin, so nothing topical will work.
I drank some juice once called 'Mangosteen' juice. It's some kind of vitamin drink and after a few days it killed those bumps. they all dried up and pealed off.
sad to say a few months after not drinking the juice and they came back.

I have those **** bumps. The are so painful, I can barely open a bottle of milk. I have read lots and lots of threads...I think we are allergic to something, maybe the same thing, maybe something different, but have the same reaction. I did read that someone said it is balsam. I just bought some "balsam" soap and had a HUGE breakout, so maybe that's it. I also just put up a christmas tree that no doubt has balsam, and my hands are barely able to type here. I don't know how to treat them, other than to leave them alone, never touch any soaps, detergents or water, even, and just keep them lotioned with eucerin or something. I have them on my toes too- but only during the winter when I wear closed shoes. They aren't bumps either, on my toes they are just red sores but feel the same and make walking and wearing shoes painful. SHEESH. But I guess it's better than cancer or something...

Anyone has any good home remedies, let me know. Starlalmd@hotmail.com

~L

[Holland]

For a while now, I've been getting these skin bumps on my fingers. They used to be smaller, and go away after a while, but lately, they are larger and even more annoying. On the palm side of my middle finger, sometimes the skin gets really dry and cracks or peels because of the bumps.

They're sometimes itchy, but mostly painful -- especially when I'm holding something that requires me to bend my fingers (like a pencil).

I live in Florida, so humid climate.
I'm 16 years old and not "intimate" with anyone, so it's not anything I could have acquired through that kind of contact. My mom says she used to get the same little bumps on her fingers when she was my age, but never found out what they were (so maybe it's hereditary?).

They aren't red (unless I scratch at them), so they're a little difficult to see in pictures.
The dermatologist thought it was scabies, but took a skin scraping and said it was possibly a form of eczema. She gave me some "clobetasol propionate cream USP, 0.05%" which hasn't done a thing to help. I don't really want to go back to her and get another skin scraping, since the first time she did it, I nearly passed out and now I have an ugly scar on my ring finger...

Here are some pictures, in which I drew some red lines to show where the bumps are.
-dry, peeling skin on right middle finger
-palm view of left hand
-side view of left index finger
-left index finger
-side view left middle finger
- agitated bump on right index finger

It is a form of Eczema. Lots of itching. Small clusters of tiny "tapioca" type bumps appear under the surface of the skin...they itch like crazy, then peel. Each part of the process seems like it all happens just under the top layer of the skin. the entire cycle of getting the bumps, and having them itch, dry up, then peel and finally go away can take up to 3 weeks to complete. You have to be patient. (If bumps or clusters are on top of the skin, see your doctor for herpes or shingles testing. Shingles or Herpes)
This form of Eczema will appear over and over again but is not contagious. Sometimes it can be aggrivated from dish soaps and other irritants that you use on your hands, or maybe didn't wash off your hands completely.
Annoying, but all in all harmless.

[Unregistered]

thank you for posting this - it's the first explanation that i've been able to "relate to" even though my allergist told me it was some kind of ezcema. Now i just need to know what causes it. it started with a christmas tree, i'm nearly sure of it. i'm going through my bio friendly products now - NONE of which, conveniently, have ingredient lists beyond "good for the environment". I'll update if I find any solutions.

[jessbestrong]

For a while now, I've been getting these skin bumps on my fingers. They used to be smaller, and go away after a while, but lately, they are larger and even more annoying. On the palm side of my middle finger, sometimes the skin gets really dry and cracks or peels because of the bumps.

They're sometimes itchy, but mostly painful -- especially when I'm holding something that requires me to bend my fingers (like a pencil).

I live in Florida, so humid climate.
I'm 16 years old and not "intimate" with anyone, so it's not anything I could have acquired through that kind of contact. My mom says she used to get the same little bumps on her fingers when she was my age, but never found out what they were (so maybe it's hereditary?).

They aren't red (unless I scratch at them), so they're a little difficult to see in pictures.
The dermatologist thought it was scabies, but took a skin scraping and said it was possibly a form of eczema. She gave me some "clobetasol propionate cream USP, 0.05%" which hasn't done a thing to help. I don't really want to go back to her and get another skin scraping, since the first time she did it, I nearly passed out and now I have an ugly scar on my ring finger...

Here are some pictures, in which I drew some red lines to show where the bumps are.
-dry, peeling skin on right middle finger
-palm view of left hand
-side view of left index finger
-left index finger
-side view left middle finger
- agitated bump on right index finger

I have the same thing. I was told by my dermatologist that it is a form of eczema. I make sure I moisturize my hands very well, and it seems to help a lot. The bumps get worse when my hands are dry. Good luck!

[Unregistered]

thank you for posting this - it's the first explanation that i've been able to "relate to" even though my allergist told me it was some kind of ezcema. Now i just need to know what causes it. it started with a christmas tree, i'm nearly sure of it. i'm going through my bio friendly products now - NONE of which, conveniently, have ingredient lists beyond "good for the environment". I'll update if I find any solutions.

I'm new at this posting thing.....I totally argee with the christmas tree thing. I first noticed mine one year after shopping for a live christmas tree. But then sometimes I would get the bumps in the spring/summer, when I would be doing yard work. It has some connection to evergreen trees/bushes. Right now I have one on my right hand, middle finger knuckle.....but what is different this time, I haven't been around any evergreens. However I do have 3 small dogs, who like to play around in the evergreen bushes......so it may not have to be direct contact. I don't know, I'm just guessing.....it's just as good as any doctor I've been to.

[all71s]

I first got them 11 years ago while in basic training at Ft. Benning Georgia. It was hot and humid and I was in the grass quite a bit, I thought they were ant bites as I had put my hands in more than one ant pile! The first time they were all over all of my fingers. Over the years it has subsided to only my left hand ring finger, and a few random bumps on some other fingers. They come back every year in the spring when the weather gets warm and stay till the temprature evens out. This time they showed up even though the weather hasn't been warm or hot lately. I haven't figured out what triggers them yet, other than the weather changing. I have used Gold Bond anti-itch cream in the past and it has helped but not to the extent that they have gone away, only to make them itch less. I haven't been able to get them diagnosed, but I haven't been trying very hard either. It sounds like it's eczema from the previous posts in this thread.

[crisbaby0929]

I have had it on my ring finger for a while now, they go away then come back and the skin bumps up ans then the itching then the flaking of the skin, as I read your comments I see that a lot of people get it around their ring or middle fingers, I wonder if it's a condition that is getting around that the doctors have no clue what it is and call it eczema just because it looks like it, if any of you fing a way to heal it that works, post something here cause I feel really stumped with this one. thanks.

[Unregistered]

Hey guys. I have had the same problems with these itchy bumps since I was a little kid. I am now 25 years old and have had to deal with them every summer since then. Sometimes they would be so unbearable, I would have to wear gloves in the middle of July to stop me from scratching them! I'm going to share with you what helped me out...

As I mentioned, I've had these bumps since I was a little girl. They would always flare up in the beginning of summer and by fall they would go away again. As a teen, I kind of just put up with it because my parent's couldn't really afford to take me to the doctor for itchy bumps.

Now when I turned 17, I moved to Philadelphia for college. That summer I got ready to deal with the itchy hands, but they never came! For 4 years I thought whatever my condition was vanished. That is until I graduated from college and moved back home to Jersey. The flare ups started again!

That fall I attended a wedding for my cousin. By then, the bumps were gone because the summer had ended. However, when I walked into the wedding my hands flared up in minutes and itched like never before. I was shocked because I never had flare ups in October. It was then I realized what it was that gave me this reaction.

My cousin had his wedding decorated with hundreds of impatiens. I recognized them right away because it was what my dad always decorated our front yard with. When I was living in Philadelphia, there were no impatiens or much plant life around because it's a big city. That's why I never had a flare up there. It's kind of hard to get away from them in the suburbs. A lot of people have these kinds of flowers! Now you may not be allergic to impatiens as I am, but maybe for you it's another type of plant???

Now there's nothing I can really do to stop this condition (unless of course I move back to the city!) But the very best way I have found to deal with this is to use Benadryl Gel. WOW I cannot get through the summer without it. As soon as I see even one bump forming on my finger I use this gel. It has helped get rid of the itching and prevents more bumps from forming. Believe me I have used so many other lotions and creams, but this one is by far the best. I put it on a few times during the day, and really glob it on at night before bed.

I really hope I helped you out. I know how annoying these bumps can be and it's even worse when you don't know how to deal with them. Believe me, I've went through years of wondering what to do. You can get Benadryl gel at a Walgreen's, CVS or Rite Aid. It is easy to find. Please let me know if it works for you! I hope it does!

-E