Loss of skin pigment on my hands. No idea what it is.

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For a few months now, the skin on my finger tips seems to have lost its pigment. It isn't Reynaud's, because it doesn't change with temperature, and it only affects the front of my hands.

It seems to follow the individual ridges of my fingerprints. I thought it might be vitiligo, but they don't seem to be spreading, and they're only present on the front of my hands (one or two on the bottom of my feet too).

It isn't really bothering me so I don't want to go to the doctor for it. But I really want to know what it is.

Any ideas??

image

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Do you work with chemicals? or power tools? What is the powdery substance on the tip of the fingers in the pic?

    • Posted

      No I don't work with any chemicals or power tools.

      That's actually just dry skin. I work in healthcare so I wash my hand a lot and use quite a bit of hand sanitizer.

  • Posted

    I immediately thought the hand washing and use of sanitizer, which are usually alcohol based, was the answer to your problem and was going to suggest using a hand cream especially at night. Then I saw that you say there are similar patches on your feet. I think you should consult your doctor in case it is something that needs further investigation. Do you use latex gloves a lot? Could be some sort of fungal cause from that or even an allergy to latex. Sorry, looks puzzling.

    • Posted

      Yeah it's really weird. I've tried using a pumice stone to exfoliate my hands, thinking that it might just be dead skin it something... I definitely over did it a little and my hands were a little sore lol but a couple weeks later they looked the same.

      I guess its just something I should ask my doctor about at my next physical.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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