peeling fingers

[barb02]

DO YOUR FINGERS PEEL??  IT'S NOT ECZEMA.
I have a possible answer to this very disturbing phenomenon.  First I will describe what i have:  patches of dense blister-like patches appear on my fingers.  These patches are not filled with fluid, they do not itch.  It is the layers of skin hardening.  A few days go by and a small pin ***** of an opening appears and the peeling occurs.  All the dense hard, dead skin peels away leaving raw, red new skin.  It hurts to touch anything but i know the process must take its course and eventually my hands will be back to normal until the next time.  This disorder runs in cycles.  I've had it for 4 years.  No dermatologist i have found (9 in all) know what it is.  It is not eczema.  It is not a fungus.  Could it be a virus?  Could it be an allergic reaction?

Observations:
slight inflammation.  
Histamine reaction:  fingers swell slightly and the pressure within the fingers make the hard blisters pop open and ready to peel.

Food Allergy test:
I had a food allergy test and found that i was allergic to ten foods.  main ones were gluten, dairy, yeast (brewers and bakers) among others.  THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INTESTINES AND THE SKIN.

I stopped eating all the foods I was allergic to--THE PEELING ENDED AND NEVER CAME BACK.  Was this the answer?  i tested it.  I went back to eating the foods--the peeling began.  When we are allergic to something a histamine reaction occurs and does some pretty weird things TO THE BODY--MAINLY THE SKIN.

if you suffer like I do(did)--go get a food and chemical allergy test and keep away from your allergens.
GOOD LUCK!

[coolfish]

Same problem. Touch bait fish(sardines) once or twice is all it takes. Next day a slight burning sensation with tingleing. Even more bizarre is a nerve sensitivity. Like someone telling a painful story that makes you cringe. In this case any nervous thought will causes pain in the hands. Finally 1.5-2wks later major peeling of fingers and palms. After that it's over.

[WallieFox]

Have you found out what it was that caused the reaction when touching fish?  I have the same problem and love to fish and would like to know if you have had any success with cures or diagnosis. This just started the last 5 years I grew up fishing and never had a problem.  Please let me know if you have found out anything.

[badhands]

The description of your hand condition is EXACTLY what happens to me when I go fishing and touch fresh water fish.  I just posted this note on another thread:

fish strictly fresh water in the midwest.  I have had this condition for years.  About a week after fishing my hands crack, peel, get raw and it is just plain painful.  I have been to many dermatologists over the course of the last 25 years or so and nobody can figure out how to stop it or at least ease the pain.  I guess the only cure would be abstinence, but being and avid fisherman and raising my two boys to love fishing, that is out of the question.  I live in the greater Chicago area and was invited by one of my dermatologist to visit Northwestern Univ. med school to discuss my condition.  After feeling like a freak in a circus side show and being asked the same questions over and over by a plethora of doctors and med. students and no resolution, I got up and left.  There doesn't seem to be any explanation or cure, but if anybody has any insight or ideas into this condition, please share them, it might benefit all of us who suffer from this condition.  I was just fishing 10 days ago and am in the height of peeling cracking and pain!!

Could there be a correlation between a food allergy which is intensified when coming in contact with fish??????