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Please help. Husband has rash on his hands for 3 months.
Husband developed rash on hands one week after grabbing an underwater plant in the caney fork river in Tennessee. He immediately had neddle like spines in his hand. He tried to pick them out and we went on about our business. One week later , he developed a rash on his hands that seems to begin with little red dots which then progress to flaking and peeling skin. It has made his hands painfully sore. Went to a skin doctor, gave him some cream, but it has not made it go away. It seems to have gotten worse. My profile picture is an up close picture of his hand. Has anyone seen anything like this before???? Desperately seeking any input.
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Hello @cheriradtech,
I can understand how worried you must be! I'd like to welcome you to Connect, and assure you that you've come to a great community to seek some answers.
It sounds like your husband may have some form of allergic contact dermatitis; here is some detailed information from Mayo Clinic: http://mayocl.in/2iJY27M
And, I would also encourage you to take a look at this link, about swimmer's itch, which can be caused by parasites in lakes and rivers: http://mayocl.in/2iQq6a2
In the meantime, I'm tagging @misskm, @humando, @mrsdeecee, who've talked about some form of dermatitis, and I hope they can provide some insight for you.
@cheriradtech, did you identify the plant? Does you husband have any other symptoms, beside the rash on his hands?
No, we have tried to look up the plant ( it looked like a feathery soft fern in the water, but when he grabbed it, it was anything but soft and he immediately said he had needle like things in his hands so he tried to pull them out, but they were almost invisible. The water in this particular river stays around 48-52 in the summer. No one ever swims in it due to the temp. ( not a nasty body of water). He has no other symptoms, only this problem on his hands. It is only on palms and in between fingers, not on back of hands.
Hi, @cheriradtech. Welcome to Connect. Have you contacted someone with the Dept of Forestry for the Caney Fork Area? They might have some information or resources to help you. Or maybe they are aware of similar reactions in others. At least, you might be able to get the identity of the plant for your doctor to use to investigate treatment for your husband's reaction.
BTW I looked up CaneyFork. It is a beautiful waterway!
Rosemary
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2 ReactionsThat is a great idea! I didn't think of that. I will look that up and see if they can direct me in at least identifying thr plant. Maybe they know also if it can cause something like this. The Caney is a beautiful place and in the summer months, it is packed with kayakers!
Thank you for replying. : )
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2 Reactions@cheriradtech, Let us know what you find out. Rosemary
Will do.
Contacted forestry division today.. havent had a reply yet.
@cheriradtech, How is husband's hand rash? Did you get a reply from Forestry Dept.?
Rosemary
Sorry, I forgot my password and couldnt get in and reply. My husbands hands are not as bad but the rash comes and goes, gets worse then better. The forestry div. never contacted us. The doc put him on clobetasol cream. And neosalus foam. The doc says its eczema but my husband is convinced that grabbing the plant in the river broght all of this on. I doubt I will ever get him on the water again! It looks as though the hand problem is now something permanent thst he will have to live with. Never ever had a problem til the week he touched the plant!!!!!!
@cheriradtech, So, it sounds like he has gotten some relief, even though he is not happy with the diagnosis. I do hope that this does not cause a problem for him (and you) with getting back on the water. Maybe at first he will hesitate....but I am willing to bet that he will be charmed by the magical spell of that beautiful waterway in Tennessee 🙂
I am sending you this link to eczema.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eczema/basics/definition/con-20032073
Thanks for the update. And I invite you to look thru the other discussions and read, or join in. Hold on to that password!!
Rosemary
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