A series of red bumps or a rash on the hands is a common condition and is very rarely life-threatening, although it may make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. Dermatitis, the general term given to inflammation of the skin, has many causes and occurs in many forms. It usually presents itself as swollen, reddened and itchy skin that sometimes evolves into blisters.
Causes
There are various reasons for skin irritation to develop on the hands. Contact with substances such as soaps, detergents, chemical solvents, cleaning products, metals, rubber gloves and ingredients in personal care products can cause an allergic reaction that results in dermatitis or eczema. Once skin becomes inflamed, overexposure to water or too much dry air can trigger the condition and make it worse.
Heredity may be a factor in the tendency to develop skin reactions, which may also be associated with a history of hay fever or asthma. Food allergies or food intolerance can produce atopic skin conditions that result in red bumps under the skin on the hands. Other causes include reactions to medications, bacterial or viral infections and parasites.
Symptoms
Skin conditions on the hands can range from mild to severe in intensity, and sometimes are accompanied by swelling and blistering. Extreme itching may cause sores, which could become infected. Skin bumps caused by a fungal infection often display as itchy blisters along the sides of fingers, according to Penn State University's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Rashes appearing on the top of the hands are often caused by irritants or allergens. If poisonous plants caused the skin irritation, blistering and weeping sores often result.
Medicines
Drug rashes can result from the use of some medications. The most common culprits are antibiotics, anti-seizure medications and diuretics, according to MayoClinic.com. A drug rash can begin as red spots on the hands and spread to all areas of the body. Drug rashes usually disappear within three weeks of discontinuing the medications that caused them.
Prevention
To avoid dermatitis and other skin irritations to the hands, avoid contact with the causative substance. Gloves and protective clothing are helpful when handling cleaning products or chemicals that may cause a skin reaction. Barrier creams can prevent poison ivy and epoxy resins from making contact with the skin. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, there is little evidence that desensitizing with injections or tablets containing the responsible irritant is effective in preventing contact dermatitis.
Treatment
Hand eczema is not contagious but some fungal infections look like eczema, so see a dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis. Many hand rashes and irritations can be difficult to treat, while others subside on their own. In severe cases, ultraviolet light treatments, along with a drug called psoralen, offer temporary control of allergies. An older treatment, known as Grenz ray therapy, is a form of black light that bordering on an X-ray but does not penetrate past the skin. Compresses are often helpful for blistering spots on the hands. Prescription creams and topical antioxidant ointments may provide relief to the skin. If an infection is present, you may need an oral antibiotic.
References
- Northwest Georgia Dermatology: What Causes a Hand Rash?
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Health and Disease: Hand Dermatitis
- MayoClinic.com: Slide Show: Common Skin Rashes: Drug Rash
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Dermatitis: Prevention and Treatment
- American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: Hand Rashes
