My fingertips have developed slits (l... - Scleroderma & Ray...

Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK (SRUK)

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My fingertips have developed slits (like paper cuts), very painful. Anyone else have this symptom?

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ABCPenguin
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If I get an ulcer, it may start from a small cut on the fingertip that gets infected. But I also get calcinosis where hard sharp lumps of calcium break through the skin of the fingertips.

Make sure you keep the area clean, warm and moisturised

fruitpastle profile image
fruitpastle

i get these all the time tiny little paper cuts on tips.i remember being in tescos and didn take my nifedipine tablet i lifted out milk from cold isle and my hands turned white shortly after when i got the blood back into my fingers i felt a sting on my little finger wher it had been white later on that day a little paper cut was there in same place i think its because the blood wasnt able to carry oxagin to my finger and this is what happens i get them all the time and they take forever to heal i try now never to let my hands become white i go nowhere without thermals gloves and all.

Melody2885 profile image
Melody2885 in reply tofruitpastle

I get this all the time too, and there so annoying, ha ha!! I laughed youve tried every hand cream to heal them me too.. all i want to know is WHY, am i getting these small cuts??they friggin hurt!

Vistor profile image
Vistor in reply toMelody2885

Dermatologist said it was eczema

Melody2885 profile image
Melody2885 in reply toMelody2885

I healed them, i am shocked it worked if you dont believe me try this buy some citranella oil from a health food store ( you need a carrier oil as byitself will cause a burn or irritation put on fingers a couple times a day for one or 2 or 3 times the cuts have been gone for weeks now!!!!

ErikaGfromMN profile image
ErikaGfromMN in reply toMelody2885

Interesting. May have to try this. Still gone?

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply toMelody2885

Please please go to the Dr. (Dermatologist) and get Augmented Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment 0.5% cream. I suffered 2 months with this disorder and even got that oil (citronella oil) which stinks and only helped for awhile. This cream helped immediately. Only want to help cause I suffered.

winifred profile image
winifred

I recommend covering your hand liberally with cream - aqueous cream is cheap and works well. If you buy yourself some special gloves to sleep in you can do this regularly before you go to bed and it should stop all the splits. You can also do the same with your feet. If you moisturise your hands and try to prevent them getting cold then the splits should stop. calcium deposits are another matter and I haven't found a solution for preventing the nasty sores from those when they reach the surface!

in reply towinifred

Thank you so much for your advice!! It did make good sense to me so I tried it. Much to my surprised it didn't take it away right away......but next day after first of wearing the gloves......and I used Vaseline to moisturizer me..... I noticed an extremely noticeable difference!!! They didn't even hurt as bad. I'm going to do this treatment every night and hope, hope, hope this does the trick!!! These little cuts are extremely painful!! I would really though....like to know WHY I'm getting these little cuts!! I work with paper A LOT!!! Daily at work....constantly working and handling paper and cardboard and wonder if this is causing my issue. The paper and cardboard sucking the moisture out of my skin on my hands! It is hard to wear gloves at work do to some of the other things I do I can't wear them. I will do the white cotton gloves and salve on my hands at night and hope this does it. Thank you for your advice!! 😀

Aliciagomez07 profile image
Aliciagomez07 in reply to

It's been three years and this is my first year with them. DID YOU EVER SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM IF SO HOW

Melody2885 profile image
Melody2885 in reply to

I know this was ages ago but I remember having this same problem and it was baffling and everyone always said do this do that and finally I couldn't stand it anymore ,I finally took some advice rub cortisone on my fingers and boom gone, never got them again. Oh actually I didn't finally figure out (for me) after about 3 years of chronic paper cuts (worse in winter) and I couldn't believe it. After my hands healed for quite some time, I was cleaning and I used some regular windex on some mirrors by that night I had a paper cut appear on one of my fingers .. I said no way.. after years of using windex , this is going to be what I've been suffering from?.? An allergy to an ingredient in Windex?? So I tested the theory.. sure enough I used the windex and voila more cuts. Stopped using windex now for years, I believe it's the ammonia in it ,even if it drips on side of bottle if my skin comes in contact with it , yep ill get those awful paper cuts . Regular cortisone at the store (not persecription) fixes it basically same day.to this day I always think back I had much wanted to know the why, more then I wanted them to go away cuz I thought it was the weirdest thing!!!

scotgirl profile image
scotgirl

Yes, my skin splits regularly on my hands, I notice it most when the temperature drops by a couple of degrees. I try to keep my hands moisturised as much as possible and hope they heal quickly. It is very annoying and can be really painful. My consultant has said it's normal for this to happen with raynauds. I think I'm pretty fortunate that I don't get ulcers on my hands as the cuts generally heal well although not always quickly. I'm possibly having iloprost treatment next month so I hope that helps with skin splitting....we'll see!

I hope your hands improve soon!

Yes I get the same thing. They are very painful little cuts on the tips of my fingers. Painful if you even touch it. I work with paper allot at work and always believed that was the csuse of them but now reading that you have the same problem I do not believe this anymore. Why do we get these cuts. I am very concerned now!!

Meimster1989 profile image
Meimster1989 in reply to

I too get these too often . Don't know what to do anymore the pain can get intense and last any where from three to seven days. I brush on crazy glue to help with pain til they heal a bit. Definitely works for me since my hands are in water a lot. Crazy glue stays in place I peel off in a few days. Bottom line ....it works for me. Dr. was ok with it. In Viet name war they used glue to hold things together on wounded til they can transfer to MASH unit. Look it up and good luck to you !

Chrissie27 profile image
Chrissie27 in reply toMeimster1989

Me too I use lotion my whole body however my hands are in water cleaning and such so when they arrive, usually from cleaning and possibly lack of sleep seems to be when it happens I tried lotion vitamins E, coconut oils and of course bacitracin first but crazy glue is the only thing that IMMEDIATELY removes the HELLA PAIN 🙃 is what I call it cause I've been thru chemo (23yrs ago) gotta shunt in my head ect but THIS hurts worse so yeah CRAZY GLUE it is 😊

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply toChrissie27

Please go to your Dermatolosist and get Augmented Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment 0.05% . It really works. I suffered 3 months with this until I saw a Dr.

Sjfox69 profile image
Sjfox69 in reply to

Did you ever get an answer?

And how do I ease the pain and cure this?

Thx

Chrissie27 profile image
Chrissie27 in reply toSjfox69

Crazy Glue works every time for me

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply toSjfox69

Someone had mentioned Citronella Oil so I bought some and it really does help me. It really smells bad but seems to help a lot. You can get it on line at Walmart for about $6.00

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply toSjfox69

Augmented Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment 0.05%. You will be relived immediately

Masla profile image
Masla in reply to

I just got my first Friday and then last night another one. . One and then have two...on sides of my finger end. Yeah hurt like mad....I was cleaning out my desk and paper work yesterday. The temperature has been cold ...like freezing at night suddenly this past week. We were in late Autumn with leaves turning all shades of beautiful colors... and wham...they are winter looking now. Anyway.... night before last I was cleaning with clorox clean up....without gloves after the paper cleaning and got my first sore on the side of my fingers... But then of course I put gloves on. I put lotion on a lot ...but don't use some of it now. Just a certain kind. That does not hurt. Oh and hand soap hurts like mad. I swear I will go to my Doctor is this does not get better. anyway can you help me....

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply toMasla

I use Citronella Oil. $6.00 on line at Walmart, smells terrible but really helps a lot.

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply toMasla

I finally went to a Dermatologist and got Augmented Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment 0.05% cream and it worked like a charm. One application and my cuts seemed to disappear

Masla profile image
Masla in reply tobeaner8788

Yes that is what I use too. Great stuff.

SiouxZen profile image
SiouxZen

You can add me to the list of people who get the paper-cut type slits on my fingertips and I don't know why. My personal opinion on why I get these cuts, is the lack of a vitamin. It gets worse in colder months, however I get them year round! They hurt so I wrap them in bandaids!. I use doctor recommended skin cream called "Gold Bond" Shea Butter, coconut butter and coconut oil, with vitamins A, C & E. That and bandages keep them from stinging too much!

deckbose profile image
deckbose in reply toSiouxZen

I get these cuts too, and you're right, it's much worse in the colder months -- I went for months in the spring and summer without a single finger cut -- but in the last couple weeks (now late November in NYC) I have developed painful little slits on six of my ten fingers (including thumbs, both of which have deep grooves cut into the left side of the nail. On the other fingers, it is predominantly right on top of the nail. Which segues nicely into my next point -- as with psoriasis, which I have also battled, the problem seems to emanate from inside my fingers, rather than a dry skin condition or exposure to some crusty chemical. I can tell when a cut is about to break through on any given finger from the sensitivity I recognize on the tips of various fingers. In other words, I can feel where the next cut is about to happen well before it actually does because, like psoriasis, I believe this condition originates inside the skin, with either too many cells or too few cells pushing to the epidermal level and cresting with a dry crack in the designated finger.

Whatever is causing it, I am so sick and tired of feeling that sting every time I use my fingers for the most innocuous tasks, like picking up a fork, or reaching inside the fridge for the milk, or just typing a damn comment online. Every little finger usage stings like a bitch.

beaner8788 profile image
beaner8788 in reply todeckbose

Use Citronella oil online at Walmart for$6.00. Smells terrible but relieves immediatly.

saabu profile image
saabu

I do have these cuts often, really painful. First thing I have confirmed it not from handling paper or chemicals like soap or hand wash. After thorough follow up I got the hint of food allergy. Usually it can happen from high protein foods like fish or meats and some time wheat also. You may feel itching some where in the body along with these cuts. I have consulted few doctors but no much result. Hope this helps.

ErikaGfromMN profile image
ErikaGfromMN in reply tosaabu

Same boat. Started with a couple slits and intense scalp itching and now it's way worse!! Docs are no help either. Just dealing with it :( comes in waves of every 2-3 weeks. Slits are consistent though

Vistor profile image
Vistor

My dermatologist said it was eczema...

gindy profile image
gindy

Yes I get these often, in fact there's a thread on here from last winter as I'd developed them and was having a really tough time. If you search paper cuts on here you'll find a few threads.

Be sure to use an antiseptic cream as that'll help avoid them turning into ulcers/abscesses.

Madden12 profile image
Madden12

I get these all the time too. I have very dry skin and my knuckles bleed because of it. The cuts that I get are just places where the skin split open but they hurt kinda like bruises. I just put a bandaid on with some stuff called surfer sav at night and it gets better

Yes I’ve been getting these for the past few years now and they hurt so bad I want to know why I’m getting these cuts on my fingers now?

MERIWHEELZ profile image
MERIWHEELZ

In the 90's I worked with mail and box packaging and my hands would react to whatever chemical that the paper and cardboard was processed with and I would get slits or cuts in finger tips that cracked and bled. I had to file my finger skin with an emery board so that I don't destroy my clothes altogether)

....however since I don't handle a mail or boxes anymore it went away...until I moved into a new home. I remember using the bannister a lot (moving took a lot of my energy) and it was after putting my hands on the painted bannister that this started and has not gone away for over a year now. I keep it moisturized with different organic oils and aloe vera, and I've tried neosporen, Burt's Bees, Weleda "skin food" and even Vick's...I also use the cotton gloves at night and rubber gloves during the day to wash dishes. My concern is that the people that lived here before me worked for or had some kind of business that included "Haz Mat" products. I don't believe this is an autoimmune condition because this came on literally within a day of using the bannister in the home. I will try the Citronella oil, thank you for the idea. I should mention that the affected skin has also taken in an orangish color...I hope you all have found something to help or the condition goes away.

Jasmine84 profile image
Jasmine84

I do not believe it is eczema!!!! I was 100% healthy and fine until a miscarriage that lead to a procedure called a "DNC" where I was put under. I swore when I woke up, I felt different, strange and just wrong. I knew something was off immediately like they had left something in me after surgery. Symptoms progressively got worse.

1. Slow progressive hairloss that was in a Male pattern baldness pattern (not female). NOTE: I AM FEMALE.

2. It started off as a strange rash or hive looking patch on my eyelid that became irritated and worse if given lotion. Then it would go away, and come back randomly. About a year later, it started to spread to my face, neck, under my boobs, my chest. It was dry like chapped skin, it itched and burned.

(Note: I seen several doctors as well as dermatologists who did not know what this was. They gave me anti fungal pills and cream to no avail. The only helpful thing I had tried was hydrocortisone cream.) The rash went away everywhere except a returning rash on my face that now looks like dry skin and sometimes red tiny bumps that get worse with scratching. NOTE: I CHANGED ALL MY FOOD AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO NO AVAIL.

2.sometimes discolored sometimes not dicolored spots on side of finger appear. They're near the knuckle height but in the side on each finger, that turn into split and dry, peeling patches. Sometimes they itch before they appear.

3. Extreme itchy ear canals with watery wax.

4. Fatigue

5. Body pain.

6. Mental confusion (brain fog)

Do any of these symptoms happen to anyone else???

Spring_Daisy profile image
Spring_Daisy in reply toJasmine84

Jasmine84

I'm truly sorry to hear of your miscarriage.. I know what it feels like to lose a child.. I don't know you.. but it saddens me to hear about your little angel.

I would love to chat with you if you are able and don't mind.. I've had a very similar situation happen to me as well as very similar.. if not exact symptoms you've spoken about. Im still going through so much mentally and physically that I've had several thoughts about ending my life to make it all go away (I swear Im not mentally insane lol) I went to the Dr's and my local hospital a few times about my issue but I end up with no answers for any help or relief. To be honest?! I told my husband not long ago (suffering for almost 3 years now w/ symptoms) that i felt as if my body is starting to shut down.. I had 3 really bad episodes with my body recently (1 about a month ago and 2 within a week). I'm 31 years old with no major past health problems (until these symptoms started) I can't seem to get any answers from anyone.

Im lost, confused, sad, depressed, anxious, mentally and physically drained, my body hurts HORRIBLY, and my symptoms are rapidly getting worse! Please message me if you would like to chat.. Please!

Jasmine84 profile image
Jasmine84 in reply toSpring_Daisy

I'm so sorry to hear that. I know what your going through with the pain. What are all of your symptoms. Feel free to message me, is there a message option on here? U can message me on kik if you have it.

Smile_more profile image
Smile_more in reply toSpring_Daisy

Hello Spring_daisy. I just created an account to try and reach out to you. I just had to. It saddens me to hear how you’re going through all of this and you have nobody to turn to. I want to say a few things from the bottom of my heart, even tho I don’t know you, please hear me out.

The fact that you’re feeling very lost, confused, sad, depressed, anxious, mentally and physically drained, and more, with no answers to anything whatsoever, I want to tell you that you first of all are not alone in this. There are people that understand your pin. Not a lot, but they do. I can recommend you to turn to my best friend. He will help you if you turn to Him with all your heart and with an honest open heart. His name is Jesus. Tell Him everything the way it is, ask Him to come into your life and to make a complete turnaround. He did that in my life when I was broken, abandoned, felt so down and saw no purpose of living. Now, my life is so filled with love, joy, happiness, healing of my broken heart and body. God does amazing miracles and if you call on His name and ask Him with a full open heart with the desire to change for Him, He will fill you with all of the love, joy, peace, and much more. It’s only by the grace of God I’m still alive and it’s only by His mercies that I have made it this far. Below I will post some Bible verses to encourage you through this hard time of yours. I wish I had somebody to direct me into God’s direction when I was in a very bad position. But God found me and turned me into the person that I am today. It is the BIGGEST, and I mean the BIGGEST blessing to be called a child of God. If you have not repented of your sins, ask Him in simplicity to forgive you. And God being a just God will forgive you and help you grow. Here’s the verses. And please, if you do want to talk more, I want to help get you started on a life with God. It’ll make all of the difference in your life. If you’d love to talk, I’m here. I’ll keep you in my prayers as well. Please don’t hesitate to write to me.

This is the Holy Bible. New King James Version. I highly recommend.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NKJV

“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ NKJV

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:26‬ ‭NKJV‬

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:4‬ NKJV

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God bless you, and I hope all works out for you and I pray and hope you feel better soon.

MONATMMP profile image
MONATMMP in reply toJasmine84

Has your hair loss gotten any better? Stress from surgery can cause this in which case your DNC. After my DNC I did not lose hair, but it looked fried no amount of conditioner helped me. May continue to take prenatal vitamins. I’m so sorry for your loss.

Jasmine84 profile image
Jasmine84

Everyone, someone pointed out dermatomyositis to me. Surprisingly it causes splitting fingers

MMA09 profile image
MMA09

My dr told me these are caused by the herpes (non genital) virus.

J1966 profile image
J1966 in reply toMMA09

Did they let you know what to use on it?

Tammy1976 profile image
Tammy1976

I get these awful cuts on my fingers/hands all the time and go through so many bandaids which temporarily help with the pain, but I’m a bartender and wash my hands a lot so they don’t stay on long. I thought that maybe I had cut myself with shards of glass, and that’s why I kept getting these cuts but after reading many comments, I think it’s definitely some kind of condition.

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