2016-04-20 - Return of the blisters

Gah, blisters have come out on my hands again. They look very similar to pics from this blog.
Except from that blog which sums up my situation (although the blisters are much less itchy this time around for some reason, although my fingers can get really itchy):
Blisters on the hands. These tiny blisters can form on  the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. This is sometimes known as dyshidrotic or pompholyx eczema, although in my case, it was not a true eczema, but a direct result of the steroid withdrawal. The tiny blisters ooze a clear fluid, which can easily get infected, as the hands are in constant use. I try to keep my hands as clean as possible, and moisturise often. The blisters are very itchy and uncomfortable.

You can see on my finger knuckles the dry splitting skin, that's the worse, been like that for months now: 

Ignore the black spots, that's from paint:

2016-03-16 - Return of annoyance

Since new year, my knuckles have been flaring up on both hands. In first couple of months of 2016 it's been rather annoying with splitting skin on the knuckles. In March, it's died down a bit, but can flare up in to red and itchy. Just doesn't seem to want to go away!
Palms of hands and rest of my skin is totally fine.

2015-12-25 - One year on, Christmas present, healed!

A year ago, last Christmas was when I applied my last topical steroid in utter frustration and began researching. That's when I found about TSW and began my journey.

Thankfully, it only took me three months to get over the worst and a year on after a few flares, my skin is now better than it's ever been in memory. A niggling bit on my knuckle on my left hand has FINALLY healed (after two months of annoyance), in time for Christmas :-)

Annoying, it's been a full on season for hay fever here in NZ over past month and I've noticed that if I go running, I need my inhaler and I've been feeling hay fever effects, guess I'm not cured :-( 

2015-10-29 - Ahh, sweet, sweet relief!

Last month+ have been awesome! Skin is what I'd call normal. Better than I ever remember.
Just one annoying tiny patch on the first knuckle of the 4th finger on my right hand, just won't fix itself! I know it's nothing really, but because everything else is so perfect now, I have to point it out.
I've been keeping it covered with band-aid and some Vitamin A ointment which stops the itch and softens it.

Irritation is on first knuckle on 4th finger. So minor you can't see it in this pic, but does get damn itchy if not covered!

2015-09-14 - Skin finally come right, as such

Skin is much more supple and very calm. Hasn't been too bad over past month, just dry. You can still see that the palm of my left had is fairly dry. 

I use some Aveeno sparingly once a day on my hands, usually after shower. Can see a bit of shine on it in these pics when I put it on earlier.

2015-08-22 - still recovering

Rough, but not too nasty. Dry on right hand below thumb, always takes longest to come right.

2015/08/08 - Taken longer than I though to recover from that flare.

Taken a few weeks for my hands to recover from flare on 21st June (7 weeks) and get back to where they were. Still dry and rough on bottom of right palm below thumb, but quite tolerable.