Unusual Skin Condition on Children's Fingers

Updated on November 15, 2008
L.G. asks from Santa Ana, CA
17 answers

Hi Moms,

I am wondering if this will sound familiar to anyone and what you may advise. My daughter (5 yrs) and my son (2 yrs) have developed something on their fingers I haven't seen before. The affected fingers are my daughters' two ring fingers and one of my son's thumbs. The skin at the edge of the nail bed (not at the finger tip, the other end) is red and inflamed and there is a part that looks like when a blister pops. There's little to no discomfort associated with it. I asked my daughter if it hurt when I touched it while I was rinsing it off earlier and she said yes, but that was the first time she's given such an indication. I have been soaking her fingers in as hot of water as she can stand and mild soap. Then I put Neosporin on and a bandage. My son won't soak his finger, he just wants to play with the water and make a mess. Of course, they both also get a soak when in the bath. It doesn't seem to be spreading to other fingers or other parts. I should mention that they both recently had rashes in the genital area and on their behinds. The doctor saw my son and thought it was 2 different things. So she prescribed an antibacterial cream as well as gynelotrimin for yeast. They have worked very well on both kids. The thing on the fingers looks very different and doesn't bother them the way the other conditions did. So I don't think they are related. But, could they be? Has anybody experienced something like this on their kids' fingers? What was it and what did you do?

Thank you very much,
L.

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So What Happened?

Well, first of all I want to thank everyone who sent a response. I started out replying to each one individually and soon realized there were just too many to get back to one by one! I am very appreciative of all the information, support, advice and offers.

So, what happened regarding my kids' fingers? Well, they have all but healed at this point without doing anything different. We continued to keep them clean and gradually the skin has returned to normal. My husband and I came down with strep throat and our daughter also began antibiotics 4 days after we did for strep. The doctor examined both of the children and said it could have been that strep got into the skin on their fingers, but she really wasn't sure what it was. Our son never came down with strep, and his finger has healed the same as hers, so I am doubtful that's what it was. If not that, perhaps some other bacteria that got under the skin? We just don't know what it was. It wasn't hand, foot, mouth. Our daughter had it a couple of years ago, so I recognize that and also the doctor didn't think that was it at all. It remains a mystery, but the good news is that it went away.

I thank everybody once again. I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving and I wish you and your families the best for the holidays!

Sincerely,
L.

Featured Answers

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S.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Two of my children had that on two fingers. It was red and there was pus. I cleaned it daily, and drained the pus. Their nail beds started to separate, and the nails had to grow back. That was the end of it; never used antibiotics.

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

have you considered warts....i know it doesnt sound to nice. I just remember my brother having warts as a young child. The doctor just said that he could have caught the virus from regular playing. he eventually outgrew getting them...but at a child he would get them only on his fingers. the were small white bumps..sort of looked like blisters but not squishy, sort of more solid.

good luck

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J.P.

answers from San Diego on

Sounds like what I have had on my fingers before and it was yeast. I would change their diet. Yeast can be a huge struggle. If that is what it is, it could mean that that have it in their digestive tracts as well. I had to completely give up sugar and it is in everything. God Bless!

____@____.com

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M.B.

answers from Las Vegas on

L.,

Have you ever heard of the Mangosteen Juice. It has helped thousands of people about skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, skin burns etc.

Please look at the following websites:
www.marlenebalingit.com
www.mangosteenmd.com

there are 2 products that might work
mangosteen juice
Serum of their Glimpse Skin Nutrition System

email me if you are interested in trying it.

M. B
____@____.com

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

It sounds like hand foot and mouth disease try looking that up on webmd.org There have been a couple kids in my son'd kindergarten class that had this recently. I think it might also be called 5th disease. If in doubt keep bugging the doctor or get a new one.

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V.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

My first thought is exzema. My husband breaks out really bad with something similar sounding. It is really tough to get rid of-glycerin lotion helps. When he was a kid, he used to break out from too much citrus fruits.

Just keep pursuing it with the doctor. You may need a steroid cream to get it under control.

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A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sounds like Hand foot mouth disease to me. If your children had a fever for a day about 3-5 days before the rash, then that would be it. Highly contagious but can't do anything for the hand sores. They go away by themselves. http://www.medicinenet.com/hand-foot-and-mouth_syndrome/a...

My kids both got this a couple months ago.
Good luck

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Y.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

My children got Hand Foot Mouth from Daycare and the blisters on my son's hands sound just like what you are describing...If so I was told there is no cure just treatment for symptoms...Y.

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A.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,

It is most likely a type of Eczema. I have the same condition. DO NOT pop the blisters. It makes it spread. Let them dry up on their own. Take her to the doc and she will get a prescription for a steroid cream. Alternate use of the steroid cream and a super moisturizer like Vaseline or Aquaphor. This will help a lot. The bumps are or will become a little itchy. Usually putting moisturizer on helps a lot. The good news is that it is not contagious. The bad news is that it is chronic, meaning it will come and go.

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L.T.

answers from San Diego on

I would take them back to the doc for a re-check. But it sounds like Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease which is a virus that causes blisters on all the above mentioned areas. When they are in the mouth and throat they will typically hurt and cause swallowing pain, the hand and foot blisters (on his palms and soles) were painless in my sons case. If it is this, it is quite contagious but overall not very serious and will get better within a week or so. However, I would still take them in because it could be something entirely different from this that needs to be diagnosed in person and treated properly.

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D.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi L.,

I just want to let you know that I work with a dermatologist in Burbank and we have many children that come into our office who have been referred by their pediatrician for rashes and various other skin problems.
Our office info is:
Lisa Benest MD
1624 W. Olive Suite B
Burbank, Ca 91506
###-###-####
www.lisabenestmd.com
Call the office and tell them you want to see one of our doctors. See if they can get you an appt quickly.

Best, D.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

that sounds like hand foot mouth disease. my daughter had it at like 15 months old (we have noooo idea how she got it shes not in daycare). it can show up as blisters on the hands soles of the feet in and around the mouth and in young kids like your youngest it can be in the diaper area. i would take them back to the dr. this is highly contagious and they need to be separated from any other kids till they have no blisters left. also you should wash and sanatize all toys. i hope this helps good luck!

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J.W.

answers from San Diego on

It may be a sensitivity to white flour, sugar and other foods that are baked.

I react badly to baked goods because of the carbohydrates, reduce intake of all goods with yeast and try to get them some greek style yogurt. Plain, no flavoring added. Them offer bananas, granola cinnamon or what ever your kids like to combine with it.

I take a powdered probiotic to keep lots of good bacteria in my gut. I get symptoms like yeast infections that are not yeast infections. It drove me crazy until a Dr. asked about the bread I ate.

There is a bread called Ezekial bread that is made with ground sprouts and not flour. This may not be the kind of bread your kids are used to but it is great for carb sensitivity.

Good luck, I will look forward to how this comes out.

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J.D.

answers from Reno on

I'd call the doctor.

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L.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son had that on one finger. I thought it was an infected hang nail or something. It was red and kind of pussy. I cleaned it daily and waited a while. His nail bed started to separate (like he was losing the fingernail). I took him to my pediatrician who told me it was infected and put him on antibiotics. That cleared it up. Hope this helps!

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S.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

it sounds like what my son had a few months ago - with one exception: pain. In my son's case he developed an infection in the nail bed due to nail biting. it was at the base of the nail bed, red, puffy and throbbing due to the pain. it started off painless for about a week or so then it became painful and the doctor had to lance the area so it could drain. good luck!i hope you are able to get the two babies clear of whatever it is.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you.

BUT, I'm puzzled... WHY HASN'T YOUR PEDIATRICIAN DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, besides just saying she thinks it's 2 different problems and giving them ointments if she does not know what it is????

If the thing on their hands are not diagnosed... then um, you can't "cure" it. Your Doctor should be doing something about it, or trying to give you an answer or a referral to a specialist or Dermatologist, or something.

If I were you, I'd expect that... you should talk to your Doctor again, take your kids back in for an exam... and get this solved.

Take care, and all the best,
Susan

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