Hi
having now twice this year come up with hideous burn type symptoms mainly on the back of my hands (small puss filled blisters) – ie skin goes red, then red with blisters (initially about 1/2mm across then they seem to meld into large say 1cm across ones), oozing clear and yellowish fluid that sometimes crystallize, eventually dries out and back to ok taking about 6-10 days.

First diagnosis was sun (I’m a true Celt) and I had been on a sailing weekend, however second occurrence was after mountain biking (wearing full finger gloves) the second doctor visit has suggested an allergy, possibly rubber (*and I did change a tube and two tyres – but to be fair I’ve doing doing that for years before). He then incensed me by suggesting I pay about £400 for a private test as the NHS one has a year long waiting list.

Anyway I’ve noticed there appear to be ‘internet’ available allergy tests and was hoping somebody might be able to recommend a cost effective private allergy testing facility or give any other (*appropriate please) suggestions.

Thanks

See if you can get referred to a skin specialist. I had the same problem with the allergy test waiting list, but did get a referral to a dermatology consultant who provided advice that cleared up eczema that I have had since childhood.

To counter what KCR said, I got referred to a skin specialist, and had high hopes that modern medicine would for once be able to get my eczema under control. After 6 months of trial and error with different things, their parting advice to me was “you’ll just have to live with it”.

If your symptoms are specific to one location, it shouldn’t be too hard to narrow down the possible causes. It could even just be a mix of heat, salt and chaffing.