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From: Susan
Date: 3/3/2007
Time: 1:32:07 PM
Remote Name: 74.37.167.77
Hello, I have know what the triggers are for those tiny blisters. It is antibacterial soaps, dog shampoos, and the waterless, antibacterial hand cleaners like Germ X. It took me a lot of years and money for doctors and medications ...and none of which helped. I find that cortizone creams help get over them. My suggestion is to lay off of the antibacterial soaps and waterless hand cleaners and if you have dogs to bathe wear gloves. Pet shampoos often contain antibacterials. I have fought the blistering of the hands and sometimes on the feet for over 20 years. They are pin head sized blisters that are very itchy, then the skin peels for 3-4 weeks. One doctor had me on Nizoral for 4 years, which was a waste of money as it was not a fungus. Then about 4 years ago another doctor told me it was Dyshidrosis exemia and that it was caused was probably nerves. Every doctor I have seen over the years expressed that it was nerves. I disagree with the nerve thing. I started to log when the break outs would start. That may be a funny way to start. But, I had noticed at first that I always broke out on a Sunday or a Monday. I know this sounds hokey. Then I got to thinking what I did over the weekend that triggered the blistering outbreaks. As it turned out I shampooed our dogs either on a Saturday or Sunday and always broke out the next day. So I started wearing gloves and the out breaks stopped their regular attacks. One time the blisters hit so hard and fast, my hands swelled and I could not remove my rings. I had to have the rings cut off of my fingers..you talk about expensive! Then, I noticed that every time we traveled I would start breaking out with the blisters half way to our family visits. As it turns out it is the Antibacterial soaps that are the triggers. The home varieties of soft soap don't seem to be the culprits but the ones that are in the public restrooms in gas stations, schools, resturants and etc., they contain a very strong antibacterial ingredient. Another culprit is the waterless hand cleaner that are steeped with antibacterials. There has to be a common ingredient in these soaps that cause some people to be allergic to them. I classify these blisters as an allergy to what ever is in the soaps. My worse out break was made worse when a doctor recommend me to soak my hands for 20 minutes 3 times a day in Hybaclis (not sure of the spelling) but it is the same as surgical soap.....and the blisters went into a sever infection, glands in my neck and underarms were inlarged...the blisters went into pustuals all over my hand....and of course the surgical soap had a antibacterial property in it. The waterless antibacterials hand cleaners like GERM X triggered my 2nd worst outbreak of blisters and actually ruined some of my finger nails. As the blisters went into the matrix of the nails....and some of my nails will not grow out very far because of the deep ridge they created when the matrix was damage. This out break took only 10 minutes to make my hands errupt with the blisters. It was made worse because the waterless hand disenfectant was allowed to stay on my hands for several hours. After I quit using these soaps I have quit the blistering. And just this week I have re-confirmed my suspicions....I am a teacher and have to clean art brushes...and used the soap in the dispenser to clean brushes with and got some of the soap on my hands and now I have those itchy annoying blisters. This is the first out-break of the blisters in 4 years...sence I figured out what was causing them to be triggered on my hands. So, I would advise anyone who has a problem with the blistering to carry their own soaps with them in small bottles....avoid public restroom soaps all together....and of course if you have dogs shampoo them with gloves on. It took me the better part of 20 years to figure all of this out it was the antibacterial soaps. If you suffer the Dyshidrosis exemia...and get the blisters....it is worth a try you have nothing to loose but the blisters. For years we have been told to us the antibacterials to prevent the spread of germs......but I am 60 years old and plain soap and hot water will do the same....After all I have lived this long and do not suffer colds and flues.... I have several friends that have the same problem....they have laid off of using the public restroom soaps and they found they had the same sinsitivity as I have to the antibacterials. I hope my testimonial will help others. It is worth a try. Susan in Arizona