Question:
I suspect that I should probably post this on a dermatologywebsite, but thought I
would give you guys a try first, as I have not been formally diagnosed. Let me start by saying that we own a boat, and spend a considerable amount of
weekend days in the sun, at area lakes. Everytime we return home from the
lake, my hands (mostly my right hand) start itching. It starts around the
webbing of my thumb, the sides of my fingers and near the nails. Ivyrest tends
to help and dry it up within a couple of days. Some of these trips, I have
never even left the boat and gotten in the water, but all of them contain some
sun time, and I always apply sunscreen to my daughters even when I don't wear
it myself (I am right-handed).
Last week we spent five days in Cancun, two of which were spent indoors, or in
the shade. The same thing started with my hands itching, but by the morning I
had fluid filled blisters on my right hand (one reaching the size of a grape on
the webbing of my thumb), and smaller fluid filled blisters on my left inner
forearm, chest and stomach. I had very few on my legs and none on my face.
It is important to mention that I only have these where the sun touched my
skin. They cut off where my bathing suit started. For some reason I have none
on my back or shoulders (Important to mention, as I never applied sunscreen on
my own back).
When we go to the lake and when we were in Cancun, there were only three common
factors. One, the sun. Two, sunscreen. Three, limes (I use these in my beer
or margaritas). The allergist did not seem to zero in on the limes at all (This
is the lesser allergy evil, IMO). He said that citrus allergies would not
react this way, unless I rubbed my body down with the limes.
Answer:
Ask your doctor, and your allergist, if you might have berloque (or
berlock), phytophotodermatitis due to lime oil. Did you try Benadryl ointment? It was like a magic wand with what
my son had (sounds similar). As I moved my hand filled with Benadryl
across his back, the blisters where already gone as my hand passed.
(I used the generic ointment that was much cheaper.)
Of course, that was after the fact. Don't know if it helps before
exposure.
Just for grins, is there something on the boat that you generally
touch only with your right hand, as if gripping it, perhaps? A
tiller? A painter? After tomorrow, I am off of the meds. On the 16th I go in for allergy testing,
for the possible sunscreen allergy. I already know that it has *something* to do with either sun or sunscreen, as
it doesn't happen during off-season months. I hope your testing for the sunscreen involves not simply a covered patch
test, but application of the sunsceen to the skin followed by either
natural or artificial sun exposure. I asked the same thing of my allergist, because whatever is the cause of my
illness (which finally gone), is obviously sun-related. I mean these blisters
*literally* end where my bathing suit starts. He said that if it is caused by the sunscreen, then it is just a case of
contact dermatitis, and the sun will not be a factor. So for that, he will be
doing just patch testing. I don't believe that he will be applying any sun
exposure to these areas.
I guess it makes sense to a degree, because I *did* have blisters where the sun
never was, like on the inside of my left arm and my palm (I know that the water
could have reflected some sun to these areas, but one of the worst regions of
my body was the inside of my left arm).
Now, if this test comes back negative, then I go in for testing for
photosensitivity. I am, of course, new to this. I know that I have to go back
twice after the patches are applied. Should I be requesting sun exposure? Probably.
My Mom has a similar reaction, her reaction only occurs w/the combination of
sunscreen and sun exposure. She figured that out on her own, though. She
forgot to put sunscreen on before a family outing and surprise, no hives
that time. Now she just uses clothing as sunblock.
thinning of the skin (i have thin skin,
anyway)... my allergy to one of the
preservatives... my tendency to get sores
resembling cystic acne after a few... i don't use
it for more than three days b/c of those same
sores. i also think it leaves my skin fairly
blotchy... this could be due to my worsening
preservative allergy... i got the sores before i
developed that particular allergy. The fluorinated topical steroids are very likely to cause skin thinning if
used on the face. Hydrocortisone was allowed over-the-counter sale because
it is said not to do this. If steroid creams are to be used widely on a
person's body a doctor will often suggest an HC preparation for the face
and a stronger preparation for other areas. I'm sure your observation of
cause and effect is absolutely sound, but wanted simply to comment on the
hydrocortisone effect.
