Is this eczema or fungi?

[RobertCody]

Hi!

Everything begin in December, I didn’t wear gloves, my hands got really dry and cracked. After a few days I started using moisturizer, but my hands were still very dry.

I went to my dermatologist, she recommended a moisturiser. It helped a lot but later I noticed I have small, itch red bumps on my fingers.

I kept using the moisturiser but it slowly kept spreading. Sometimes they disappeared, and repaired again.

In February one day I woke up and one of my finger had yellowish crust on it. It was very painful. Because of the Covid-19, I could only go to my GP. He prescribed Elocom cream. (He didn’t say what is this condition)

I used elocom, it healed my finger and all the little red spots were gone. But after I stopped using it (Even though I gradually decreases it) it came back.

Thursday I finally could go to my dermatologist. She didn’t say what is this condition and on the paper it still says I have hand dryness. She prescribed Travocort (It has drugs to treat fungal infection and eczema too) I didn’t use it yet.

I attached a few pictures and my question would be, do I have eczema or fungus? Or something else?

After I wash my hand I apply moisturiser immediately. But It’s still itch and slowly spreading.

Last week I had really small red bumps , and now I have bigger ones with faded edge. Sometimes I feel burning sensation too.

I also eliminated every cloth, blankets that has polyester in it, and I’m using a moisturiser without fragrance.

Thank you so much for taking your time reading this. Also sorry for my English I’m still learning.

Pictures:

A week ago:

imgur.com/a/IzoDQ8C

Now:

imgur.com/a/wwhDXiB (I have petroleum jelly on my hand, that's way it's so shiny)

[lovesradio]

Oh Robert it looks sore. There is nothing worse than hand eczema itchiness. Eczema can become infected with bacterial, viral and fungal infections so a combination cream might do the job. A moisturiser that I like is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula unscented. It's not pricey and a little goes a long way. It's less greasy than petroleum jelly. Good luck and try a different dermatologist!

[RobertCody in reply to lovesradio]

I bought the hand cream and I really like it. So much better than petroleum jelly and it actually soaks in really fast.

Also I got a little sample of the new Atoderm Intensive Baume, I use it together with the hand cream. The itching is gone and the eczema stopped spreading too. My hand looks so much better.

Thank you so much for helping me!

[lovesradio in reply to RobertCody]

So glad it has helped and I like the sound of the Atoderme Intensive baume, where did you find that?

[RobertCody in reply to lovesradio]

I live in Hungary and I went to my local pharmacy they suggest to try it out. I think it is also available in the UK, at least I have seen it on amazon. Actually I'm not sure if it's the baume or the gel variant. Because they gave it in a little sample jar and it only has Atoderm Intensive (new) written on it. (I'm so sorry, I just realised I misspelled it in my previous comment.) It has a pretty similar consistency to the Neutrogena hand cream.

[lovesradio in reply to RobertCody]

Many thanks Robert, hope everything going OK in Hungary for you

[RobertCody in reply to lovesradio]

I hope all is well with you too, thank you for asking! I just finished high school, and in September I will be going to a university in a complete new town and I'm really excited.

[lovesradio in reply to RobertCody]

Oh very best wishes for your new adventure. That's very exciting!

I am in Scotland and we are still in more or less lockdown and I retired from teaching last year. It just shows you that skin problems are universal and can affect you at any point in life.

[RobertCody in reply to lovesradio]

Thank you so much!

I hope the pandemic will be over soon and everything gets back to normal. Here they eased up on the lockdown. I wish you all the best.

[Ray163 in reply to RobertCody]

Hello Robert please see my post to lovesradio about Atoderm Intensive Baume somewhere round here. I am 71, lovesradio sounds a similar age, and I am so sorry you are having these problems at what sounds to be a young age. I wish you well

[Ray163 in reply to lovesradio]

I swear by Atoderm Intensive Baume. It's a French company and I was recommended it by a French dermo. It is the best soothing and repairing cream ever in my opinion. I buy it when in France but also you can get it from Amazon when in UK for more or less same price. It's not cheap at £19 or so per large bottle) but it lasts a long time. Neutrogena is very good too but not quite as good. You must get the "intensive" one. But I have to use it in conjunction with a prescription medicine e.g. Elocon which works fine for me. Sadly the blasted eczema never goes away....it lurks beneath the surface. Good luck!

[lovesradio in reply to Ray163]

Thanks Ray, and you're right with your age guess, no telling but same generation!!!

[AndrewT]

Just a 'Thought' Robert but what 'Sort' of Gloves are you wearing? After all, if it is, the actual Gloves, you are Allergic to! Might be worth checking...

AndrewT