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January 24, 2005
rash decisions
So there's this itchy rash on the backs of both of my hands, in about the same places on both hands. It's nearly mirror image rash blotches. In some places there are whole rashy blotches, and in other places it's a collection of tiny red bumps. On the backs of my knuckles too, but not between them, nor on the webbing between my fingers. It's not anywhere else either, like in my crotch or waistband area. It all appeared in the middle of last week after that nasty cold spell which sucked all the moisture out of the air, pointing to a possible bacterial irritation due to extremely dry skin. While it has not spread, it has gotten redder and itchier since last week. While one would think it might be scabies, I haven't gotten any nookie for three months, so that can't be it, unless I got something by merely brushing up against the slutty masses at MAL. And I'm not getting the rash in the usual places that scabies like to chill out in. And thank God it's not anywhere else. Plus, some comments by friends in the know who shall remain nameless say that the bumps are not as angry looking as scabies bumps are. It kinda looks like a poison ivy rash, but I've never gotten irritation from that plant ever in my life, and I don't recall any possible exposure to it. Plus I'm immune to poison ivy because I'm a 13th level Ranger / 10th level Druid. And why is it only a uniform irritation on backs of my hands? I keep thinking it has something to do with dry hands. Regardless of my suspicions and paranoias, I'm off to see Dr. Woof at 3pm today. I may ask for another prostate exam on the spot just to be sure.
Anyhow, I had a good weekend, and enjoyed quiet time around the house without the sluggardly roomate lounging about. I went out to Remington's on Friday night to meet up with a friend who is in town. Had fun chatting with the friend and Rob from rugby, but I still don't care much for Remington's. Something about the clientele idly mouthing the words to that "Ever and Ever, Amen" song (that I hear every time I go there) with bored looks on their faces. Saturday night at Blowoff was fun especially due to a smaller crowd, although that didn't stop one drunk hipster from going about the entire bar making requests for 3-ways with anyone resembling a male. Hon, it makes me feel so special when I see you asking the same thing of me that you've already asked a dozen people before me, and a dozen afterwards. 3-ways must be very special for you indeed. And please use some deodorant next time...there's a difference between a manly scent and a nauseating smell.
OK, one more time on this issue people: blurry images of yourself taken from your camera phone, or postage-stamp sized images for your nekkid online profile pic IS NOT SUFFICIENT! I want high resolution pics, clear enough for me to count each and every hair on your body - because I am.
Posted by jimbo at January 24, 2005 9:26 AM
Comments
I vote for eczema based on your description. Icy cold weather tends to bring this out. But with it being so uniform, it could be a reaction (contact dermatitis) to gloves. Do you wear gloves at the gym or outside?
BTW, scabies is pretty contagious. I got it from touching a kid once. But it doesn't sound like scabies at all, usually you get bumps between your fingers.
I love rashes. You don't actually have to examine or touch a patient or probe their parts. You can just look at them and then make up a diagnosis if you don't know what it is. Most of them get better with steroid creams anyhow.
Posted by: Dellwood at January 24, 2005 11:20 AM
After my surgery in December the antibiotics made me break out in a mini-polka dot rash. A month later I'm still developing lovely red spots.
Posted by: homer at January 24, 2005 11:24 AM
Or maybe you should ask for pictures clear enough to count the rashy sorta scabies-like bumps....
Posted by: ZZ at January 24, 2005 11:36 AM
also sounds to me like eczema. it does affect the hands just like that especially when the skin has been really really dry like you described.
Posted by: myke at January 24, 2005 1:07 PM
I got scabies once just from sleeping in a bed at a cheap youth hostel, so, sex is not required.
But, again, it doesn't really sound like that's what you have, even though when I had them, they weren't between my fingers either.
Posted by: Eric at January 24, 2005 1:20 PM
I'm with the eczema/very dry skin. I know it sounds oh so fey, but seriously consider using Nivea Cream, the old fashioned kind in the blue jar. It will remoisturize much better than the lotions and won't risk infection from too much moisture.
Posted by: copperred at January 24, 2005 1:58 PM
I've been reading about a lot of bloggers having a unknown rash. Huh....makes you think. :)
Posted by: mark at January 24, 2005 3:21 PM
you can get scabies from a simple handshake...might be worth checking into.
Posted by: mobius at January 24, 2005 4:47 PM
Sounds like eczema to me too, except it's probably just chapping...it got cold real fast and I'd guess you started wearing gloves, and moisture gets trapped in there and when you take them off dries quickly, leaving you chapped.
My advice: some hand lotion 2 or 3 times a day plus an OTC cortisone-type thing before bed, if it doesn't clear up in a few days examine more closely.
Posted by: Michael at January 24, 2005 5:04 PM
Oh my god! Jimbo, I didn't know you had webbing between your fingers. Every time I think we have reached the limits of your coolness, something new comes to light. Tell me, were your Atlantean ancestors on your mother's side, or your father's? How many hours can you stay underwater? Can you communicate with all fish, or just aquatic mammals?
Posted by: Clever Monkey at January 24, 2005 6:38 PM
I am 1/36th Atlantean from my Mother's side. I'm the great-great-great-great grandson of Prince Ragnar of Norway who was known to have Atlantean consorts during his travels away from the coast on his longboat. I can only communicate with and control goldfish and guppies, and some species of plecostamus, however.
Posted by: jimbo at January 24, 2005 8:27 PM
hmm...drunk hipster sounds like a prize...i wouldn't want to win. where do you play d&d?
Posted by: Brechi at January 24, 2005 11:42 PM
My great-great-great-great grandpa can beat up your great-great-great-great grandpa.
Posted by: Kevin at January 25, 2005 3:53 AM
Kevin: your great-great-great-great grandpa was a Sasquatch.
Posted by: jimbo at January 25, 2005 9:32 AM
My Gay Doctor looked at the mysterious
poison ivy like rash on the backs of my hands(and tops of feet) this morning, and suggests an allergic reaction to the wool glove linings and wool socks I've been wearing. Seems that skin stressed by dryness and cold may succomb to allergic reactions it normally resists. He doesn't think scabies. Topical steroid ointment seems to have helped, we'll see.
Posted by: Ed T. at January 25, 2005 1:57 PM