losing finger tips

[PartyBoy]

Several times a year the top several layers of skin peel off of my fingertips. After it does so, it takes a while for the skin to grow back. My fingers then are really sensitive to heat, and I lose some feeling sensation until they grow back

Has this happened to anyone else? The only other people I know that have had this happen are all divers.

Any advice or ideas are greatly appreciated.

[nilsonov]

Looks like fungus. OTC foot fungus cream works to get rid of it, you just have to use it religiously for 2 weeks.

[primalpete]

The solution is witch hazel. Seriously.

After a shower apply it to your hands and let it soak in. Use it a few times a day whenever you wash your hands until the pealing stops, then once a day after that.

All drug stores sell it. Always next to the rubbing alcohol. Store brand is normally way cheaper than Dickinsons.

I have had that problem for over ten years. Always after diving or fishing. If I dont use it my hands will peal.

Its great if you have to get fingerprinted though.

[Proulxr07]

Yup that happens to me also. When I was working as a mate my hands would never stop peeling.

[Blackstone]

My fingers were bad about doing this since I was a kid. My dermatologist said that is is a combination of over use and dry skin. My fingers did it long before I was a diver. I worked in a warehouse unloading trucks and the cardboard would do it. I also was really into lifting weights and that also helped make them peel. It's NOT a fungus. I found that aquaphor once a day really helps. I always use aquaphor to heal my tattoos. I noticed several years ago that which ever arm I was working on the opposite hand would not peel since I was using those fingers to apply the aquaphor 3 times a day. Mine seem to be worse in the winter when the air is dry. They also start doing it during diving season. It's just the drying out that does it. Aquaphor=problem solved.

[hd_0027]

Originally Posted by PartyBoy

Several times a year the top several layers of skin peel off of my fingertips. After it does so, it takes a while for the skin to grow back. My fingers then are really sensitive to heat, and I lose some feeling sensation until they grow back

Has this happened to anyone else? The only other people I know that have had this happen are all divers.

Any advice or ideas are greatly appreciated.

i have that same thing happen all the time. For me, my hands, especially my fingertips become swollen, and very sensitive to heat and touch for about 72 hours. Then about a week later they peel like crazy.

I Asked about it on scubaboard.com and the medical moderator said it may be that my wetsuit is too tight around my wrists. He said it may be causing "a mild ischemia/reperfusion injury" No one else over there seemed to have the problem.

Let me know if you hear of anything that works.

HD

[primalpete]

Same symptoms. Try witch hazel.

[FROM_THE_DEEPS]

Same symptoms. I've had it for about 2 years now. No diving until recently. I've heard it might be "excema" or it might be fungus. I've had no luck getting rid of it, but the treatment for excema seems to be regular application of hydrocortizone and cream.

I'll try witch hazel but I'd sure love to hear someone who figured out a solution!

[AndrewK]

Heard you can get that from handlin alotta fish . my hands used to be terrible from commercial fishing up here.