Hello Justin,
Thank you for your question. I would begin with trying hydrocortisone cream applications. You can buy this over the counter at the drugstore and use per tube instructions. I would also begin taking Benadryl capsules. Take the Benadryl to help alleviate the itchiness however this makes some people feel sleepy/drowsy so it is important that you not drive or operate machinery while taking this medication. You should notice benefits in the itching being alleviated with the Benadryl. At bedtime, you might want to take 50 mg. instead of 25 mg. this will help prevent you from itching during the night and resolve your symptoms more quickly.
Your symptoms sound like you have some sort of dermatitis, perhaps even a contact dermatitis which can be attributable to a variety of causes. Might be a some type of cleaning agent, detergent, most anything which you have come in contact with,often an environmental causative agent which you may or may not even be aware you have come in contact with. I know when I worked in the ER, sometimes mechanics would appear and have symptoms similar to those you describe and in retrospect, they came to realize that some of the engine cleaning solvents, solutions used caused their symptoms. Just an example.
Regardless, I would begin taking Benadryl as instructed on the package directions and you can take this at bedtime as well and take 50 mg. to help you rest better and reduce itching during the night. Begin using hydrocortisone cream as directed on the package as well. Another idea for you that is a big help to patients where the fingers are dry and the tips are cracked is to use a product named "Aquaphor." This is available in several different sizes and you can get this at a drugstore. Often times, drugstores do not have this on display wehre the home care aids are on the shelves. I know the pharmacy here did not have this displayed and I was told they kept it behind the pharmacy counter because it often serves as a base to make compounded pharmaceutical ointments. Anyway, if you use Aquaphor (it is a petroleum based product) and keep your hand lubricated with this in between using the Cortisone cream, this woudl be ideal. If you possibly can, the key is to keep the finger tips from cracking so keep them moist and well lubricated. At bedtime, I suggest to patients that they slather on plenty of Aquaphor and sleep with a cotton glove(s) on the affected hand(s).
Use the cortisone in the daytime as directed and at night, use the cortisone and before bedtime, use the Aquaphor. You can always use the Aquaphor anytime.
Now, I am assuming here that the blisters you have are not poison oak/ivy/sumac--I do not know where you reside and we get questions from all over--but in event your blisters are filled with water and spreading, it might be possible that you have posion oak--in which case you would want to treat this with Caladryl lotion and take Benadryl to alleviate the itching. If encessary, cover the affected areas to prevent further spreading the posion oak. Also, for people with poison oak, unless there is some reason that you cannot (i.e. you react to bleaches of liquid form) one helful modality is to try taking bleach liquid and dilute the bleach by 3:1 (3 water to 1 part bleach) and soak the affected area for a few minutes to help "dry up" posion oak areas.
I think the differential likely diagnoses is either a form of dermatitis or if applicable to you and perhaps you have come in contact with poison oak, etc., then the latter so whichever option applies for you, follow the suggestions I have offered and this should help.
If there is anything else I can do to help or you have any further questions, let me know, will gladly help. If you have no further questions and the information I have provided has been useful, please CLICK the right GREEN "ACCEPT" button to close your question. Also, positive FEEDBACK is always greatly appreciated too. I hope your fingers get better soon. Just be sure to keep them lubricated because you do not want the dry areas to crack open and cause you pain! Best of luck =) Susan
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SUSIE S.
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