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Suggest Treatment For Blisters On Fingertips
Question: Hi
for the last few months I have been having on and off minor discomfort on the finger pads of maily my left hand - the problem is worst on the fingertip of my left middle finger, sometimes I can feel a small blister underneath. I have seen my doctor for my annual check up around a month ago and he advised me to wash my hands with a perfume free soap, this has made no difference. On some days the problem is less severe, others it is quite annoying. The only medication I take is 1x Nexium every 3.5 days for GERD - I have given up smoking a year ago but do use an electronic vaper from time to time, at first I thought it may have been a nickel allergy to the heating element in this device, however after one week of no vaping the problem did not rectify. I am male 42 years old, I had chickenpox only last summer and have even considered this being shingles. one more thing which concerns me is our company moved into a new office last October, Air is very dry.I have been trying lots of things and cannot remember burning or pinching the finger. Your opinion in advance of me seeing a dermotoligist next week would be welcome.
for the last few months I have been having on and off minor discomfort on the finger pads of maily my left hand - the problem is worst on the fingertip of my left middle finger, sometimes I can feel a small blister underneath. I have seen my doctor for my annual check up around a month ago and he advised me to wash my hands with a perfume free soap, this has made no difference. On some days the problem is less severe, others it is quite annoying. The only medication I take is 1x Nexium every 3.5 days for GERD - I have given up smoking a year ago but do use an electronic vaper from time to time, at first I thought it may have been a nickel allergy to the heating element in this device, however after one week of no vaping the problem did not rectify. I am male 42 years old, I had chickenpox only last summer and have even considered this being shingles. one more thing which concerns me is our company moved into a new office last October, Air is very dry.I have been trying lots of things and cannot remember burning or pinching the finger. Your opinion in advance of me seeing a dermotoligist next week would be welcome.
Brief Answer:
Need a little more information/clarifications if you don't mind sir
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am a little skeptical about the help a dermatologist may provide, because the external presentation of your finger seems fine which does not raise any cause for concern to a dermatologist. I would however suggest a consultation with a neurologist.
But for now, I have a few symptoms and questions which may help me better understand your presentation sir. They are the following:
+Are your symptoms triggered in chilly temperatures?
+Symptoms experienced more often when emotionally stressed?
+Any day to day work with tools that emit vibrations?
+Do your fingers feel cold when you experience this discomfort?
+Any recent blood panels conducted?
+History of cardiac or circulatory conditions in family?
+When was the last time your cardiac profile was conducted, and do you have the results? If yes, please do share them with me sir.
+What do your fingers face or go through on a daily-basis? At work, home, etc.
+Please do list all the common chemical, accessories, items, etc; your fingers come in contact with on a daily basis
I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further sir. Please also feel free to write back to me with any additional information that can help sir.
Best wishes.
Need a little more information/clarifications if you don't mind sir
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am a little skeptical about the help a dermatologist may provide, because the external presentation of your finger seems fine which does not raise any cause for concern to a dermatologist. I would however suggest a consultation with a neurologist.
But for now, I have a few symptoms and questions which may help me better understand your presentation sir. They are the following:
+Are your symptoms triggered in chilly temperatures?
+Symptoms experienced more often when emotionally stressed?
+Any day to day work with tools that emit vibrations?
+Do your fingers feel cold when you experience this discomfort?
+Any recent blood panels conducted?
+History of cardiac or circulatory conditions in family?
+When was the last time your cardiac profile was conducted, and do you have the results? If yes, please do share them with me sir.
+What do your fingers face or go through on a daily-basis? At work, home, etc.
+Please do list all the common chemical, accessories, items, etc; your fingers come in contact with on a daily basis
I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further sir. Please also feel free to write back to me with any additional information that can help sir.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi
I don't have a cardiac report however although not visible in the picture there is a hard blister like object when my middle finger is pressed and it feels rough in this area to the touch. At work o use a keyboard and rarely use a ladder if helping a colleague. Could it be the keyboard. I suppose the sensation is mainly on the middle finger and perhaps a little bit on the thumb. I walk a brisk 3km per day even in the cold Frosty weather and don't suffer from any affects after these workouts. Thank you for your reply and I value your opinion
I don't have a cardiac report however although not visible in the picture there is a hard blister like object when my middle finger is pressed and it feels rough in this area to the touch. At work o use a keyboard and rarely use a ladder if helping a colleague. Could it be the keyboard. I suppose the sensation is mainly on the middle finger and perhaps a little bit on the thumb. I walk a brisk 3km per day even in the cold Frosty weather and don't suffer from any affects after these workouts. Thank you for your reply and I value your opinion
Brief Answer:
Have three possibilities based on the information at hand sir
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
Thank you so much for responding with the information, although it would have really helped if you would have responded to all my questions as I was hoping to reach a more accurate diagnosis with those individual questions.
But with the information at hand, I do have a few doubts in mind and shall go ahead and list them for you sir. They are:
+Micro trauma (regularly): Possibly from the keyboard (or chemicals used to clean the keyboard), from the ladder, from some detergents, soaps, chemicals used to clean objects you come in contact with on a daily basis, etc. I cannot be sure about what it could be exactly sir, but I strongly suspect some chemical which is the most common cause for such a presentation
+Dryness: A dry environment can trigger son dryness, irritation, even blisters. So using a good moisturiser and maintaining good hydration while at work can help. Avoid using the air conditioning as much as possible
+Medication conditions: Conditions such as Raynaud's phenomenon cause a reduced blood supply to the fingers and could also present with discomfort in the fingers. Although from the attached image, your fingers do appear pink which means the circulation while taking the picture was good, but then again Raynaud does not result in poor circulation 24/7. This will of course require an elaborate evaluation by your doctor to confirm/rule out
I would advise carefully ruling out all the above mentioned causes sir. As you pointed out, there does appear to be a dermatological aspect to it (the hard blister like object not visible in the picture), then may be the dermatology appointment might prove to be fruitful. I just hope we are able to find the exact cause and treat it accordingly.
I hope you find my response helpful and informative sir. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help you sir.
Best wishes.
Have three possibilities based on the information at hand sir
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
Thank you so much for responding with the information, although it would have really helped if you would have responded to all my questions as I was hoping to reach a more accurate diagnosis with those individual questions.
But with the information at hand, I do have a few doubts in mind and shall go ahead and list them for you sir. They are:
+Micro trauma (regularly): Possibly from the keyboard (or chemicals used to clean the keyboard), from the ladder, from some detergents, soaps, chemicals used to clean objects you come in contact with on a daily basis, etc. I cannot be sure about what it could be exactly sir, but I strongly suspect some chemical which is the most common cause for such a presentation
+Dryness: A dry environment can trigger son dryness, irritation, even blisters. So using a good moisturiser and maintaining good hydration while at work can help. Avoid using the air conditioning as much as possible
+Medication conditions: Conditions such as Raynaud's phenomenon cause a reduced blood supply to the fingers and could also present with discomfort in the fingers. Although from the attached image, your fingers do appear pink which means the circulation while taking the picture was good, but then again Raynaud does not result in poor circulation 24/7. This will of course require an elaborate evaluation by your doctor to confirm/rule out
I would advise carefully ruling out all the above mentioned causes sir. As you pointed out, there does appear to be a dermatological aspect to it (the hard blister like object not visible in the picture), then may be the dermatology appointment might prove to be fruitful. I just hope we are able to find the exact cause and treat it accordingly.
I hope you find my response helpful and informative sir. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help you sir.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for all your answers and help, excuse my short replies as I am using a XXXXXXX phone to answer you via the app.
I cannot determine if cold is a trigger as some days i feel it on the warm office
Some days are fine others it flares up.
My full blood tests came back ok in early January with only slightly high cholesterol at 5.7. Everything else was fine with my blood. The press on fingernail circulation test is good even when pain is present.
I do be under some stress at work as I maintain the network for a large Internet company in XXXXXXX plus myself and my wife have just completed an ivf cycle in December which did not work, this started around that time indeed and I cannot rule it out.
My father lived to 78 and my mother lived to 82. My father did have a heart bypass at 75 but in their time they did not have a healthy diet eating pan fried sausages and bacon every morning!
Congratulations on your prompt reply, really appreciated
I cannot determine if cold is a trigger as some days i feel it on the warm office
Some days are fine others it flares up.
My full blood tests came back ok in early January with only slightly high cholesterol at 5.7. Everything else was fine with my blood. The press on fingernail circulation test is good even when pain is present.
I do be under some stress at work as I maintain the network for a large Internet company in XXXXXXX plus myself and my wife have just completed an ivf cycle in December which did not work, this started around that time indeed and I cannot rule it out.
My father lived to 78 and my mother lived to 82. My father did have a heart bypass at 75 but in their time they did not have a healthy diet eating pan fried sausages and bacon every morning!
Congratulations on your prompt reply, really appreciated
Brief Answer:
The pleasure was all mine sir, best wishes :)
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
I really adore your attitude sir, some patients are so difficult to deal with. Some are rude, and do not even wait to listen to what we have to say. They approach us wanting to hear what the opinion they have themselves formed in their head, after researching the internet for a while which in my opinion can be very misleading.
I completely understand, but just stress may not be a strong enough factor to base a diagnosis sir. I do however still stick with the list of possible conditions, and would urge you to visit your doctor and consider ruling out these conditions first, before moving on to any other possibilities.
I wish you truck loads of luck for your health, and also to have a beautiful family with your wife in the near future. IVF can be frustrating for some, especially with the cost factor coming into play. But please be patient, God has a plan for you and I am sure everything happens for the best.
Please do write to me any time in the future for any health-related queries, although I wish you never experience any such issues.
Best of luck and God bless sir.
The pleasure was all mine sir, best wishes :)
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
I really adore your attitude sir, some patients are so difficult to deal with. Some are rude, and do not even wait to listen to what we have to say. They approach us wanting to hear what the opinion they have themselves formed in their head, after researching the internet for a while which in my opinion can be very misleading.
I completely understand, but just stress may not be a strong enough factor to base a diagnosis sir. I do however still stick with the list of possible conditions, and would urge you to visit your doctor and consider ruling out these conditions first, before moving on to any other possibilities.
I wish you truck loads of luck for your health, and also to have a beautiful family with your wife in the near future. IVF can be frustrating for some, especially with the cost factor coming into play. But please be patient, God has a plan for you and I am sure everything happens for the best.
Please do write to me any time in the future for any health-related queries, although I wish you never experience any such issues.
Best of luck and God bless sir.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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