Help!

[neilli]

Folks,

This might sound girly, but I'm getting desperate: I have this problem where the skin on my finger tips tears open to leave raw splits across the tip-callouses on both my hands. I've had allergy tests, and I don't appear to have a problem there, and I've used many different creams and ointments with no real success. At the moment, I have to moisturise every hour or so, and then use Superglue to hold the splits together.

Basically, apart from pain when I type, put clothes on etc, it means that I can only play guitar for around 15 minutes before I start getting a redrum graphic up the fingerboard (not good cos I'm mainly a maple guy!) I've tried using those rubber thimble things that bank clerks wear to count bills, but they just drag up the strings and make me miss where I was aiming for, so while it's better than nothing, it's not ideal....

Basically, has anyone got an ideas, either to fix the problem, or for a workaround so I can play?

Like I said, I know this sounds trivial, and it is compared to what some folks deal with, but it's remarkably debilitating and not being able to play guitar is starting to seriously get to me.

Cheers
Ian

[Tekky]

Re: Help!

What does your doctor/dermatologist say?

(I'm not a doctor, I just play one on TV...)

[neilli]

Re: Help!

That's the problem: I've just come back from geting the results from 5 days of allergy testing, and, nothing!

There were mutterings of some ultra-violet treatment, but that seemed to be a 'last ditch effort' and other than that they don't seem to have too many ideas.

[Tekky]

Re: Help!

OK, do you have a follow-up appointment? Do you have another doctor to get a second opinion from? Did your first doctor refer you to a dermatologist?

[MBreinin]

Re: Help!

Aside from a medical remedy...how about just building up a huge superglue callous that can't be broken?

Mike

[jgcable]

Re: Help!

You need to start picking your nose. Boogers are a natural moisturizer.
Seriously, get a second opinion from a dermatologist. It sounds bacterial.

[ROCKPRO]

Re: Help!

Are you, or have you been taking any opioid based pain killers for an extended period for another or any other problem?

If so the skin cracking may be an indication of the release of the molecule that has bonded with the DNA within the nucleus of your
cell port.

It may be awhile before this condition goes away and you may have other rashes or goose-bump like indications in other areas.

If you have NOT been using opioid based pain kllers then I suggest you have your blood count checked. See a dermatoligist not an allergist.

[neilli]

Re: Help!

Thanks for the replies guys...

I originally saw 2 dermatologists who work in tandem, who prescribed ointments etc, and have now seen a third who completed the allergic tests...

I'm not on any medication at all (apart from alcohol to numb the pain!) and don't have any other similar problems elsewhere on my body (toes, elbows etc)

The superglue callous idea is great in principal, but they always lift, and when they do, they take a couple of layers of skin with them [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: Help!

I'm no doctor either, but it sounds like it can be one of 2 things.

Simple dermititis, which is a simple viral infection just under the first couple layers of skin. It can be treated pretty easily.

OR...in the worst case, it could be a form of Pyshoriasis (sp?) which has the same symptoms that you're talking about above. Get a second opinion on what it could be definitely, and good luck!....that sucks in either case!

[TheUntalentedOne]

Re: Help!

Are the fingertips the only place that this is happening ? If so then that narrows it down .
Do you use one specific type of guitar string ? Nickel allergies are very common . Try changing your string type . If this is coming from the strings a clean break of a few weeks may be needed .
BTW I am a Pharmacist . You can PM the details of what you have been prescribed to me if you like .

Mark

[thor]

Re: Help!

Tony Iommi has his fingertips clipped off in an industrial accident. He plays with homemade rubber tips that he melted down from a "squeezy bottle". (Not sure what a squeezy bottle is....but he said in an interview that he tried many different materials until he found one that worked.)

[STLKINGV]

Re: Help!

When I worked in the warehouse, my fingers and hands would do the same thing.....The cardboard would extract all of the natural oils from my hands... I relied in "Corn Huskers Lotion"

Adrian

[neilli]

Re: Help!

It is only on my fingertips, but it's on both hands, so though it was considered, with it being on my thumbs as well logically that rules out guitar strings (tapping aside!) - we did wonder if it was from computer keyboards as it's more or less coincident with the areas of fingers / thumbs which touch the keyboard.

However, the allergy tests came back fully negative, so like I said I'm not sure where to go. I have had 3 different steroid creams but I've been advised to keep away from using them for a long period...

Oh, and for interest, Squeezy is a brand of washing up liquid over here.....

[dinkyjacksonman]

Re: Help!

Maybe from your stress?
When you have stress,weird things happen to bodies that sometimes there is no cure but only to relax and let it go naturally.
Maybe you need to stop using PC and no guitars for a week?
Try to avoid all the things that you need to use your fingertips ?

[TheUntalentedOne]

Re: Help!

Ian

Did they test for a Nickle allergy ? From what I am picking up you have been using steroid creams for a long period ?
Whatever initially caused this , the prolonged use of steroid creams should be avoided if possible . They end up thining the skin and suppressing the area's immune response . This will leave your fingertips vulnerable to infections of all kinds.
Ian , trust me you are going to have to give playing a rest for a few weeks anyway . For example , if you had a gash in your arm would you rub a piece of abrasive metal up and down it for 15 minutes every day and expect it to heal ?
Did you tell the dermatologists the extent of your guitar playing ?