Question:
I just found out about this and wanted to warn everyone else who has herpes and eczema just like I do (I have genital herpes and eczema on my hands and inside my elbows). Apparently if you have herpes and you touch the area you have it in while you are having an outbreak of eczema the two can interact and spread a severe rash either in the area that you generally have eczema or all over your skin. I was looking at some pictures and they are incredibly daunting! I know that this will make me a hundred times more paranoid than I already am. I just wanted to share because I was unaware about this and thought that maybe there were others who should know about this too.

Answer:
hi there,
I have eczema too (mostly on my hands...sometimes other areas) and this is one of the many reason why I have developed a form of OCD where I am obsessively washing my hands now. Anytime I touch myself down "there" be it from cleaning to sexual, whatever! I wash my hands immediately and thoroughly....to thorough, as you know, excessive soap and water can fire up the old eczema. It is a catch 22.

I have recently gotten this little pimple-like bumps in the palms of my hands, and I am ALWAYS worried that it is herpes whitlow of somekind, but then went online and found another form of eczema and it looks just like it. But I am petrified of contracting herpes whitlow. Then what?!!? I have a baby, and have to hold and tend to him all the time.....would I have to wear gloves for the rest of his toddler years?!?!? it is scary and frustrating. I am 99% sure it is my eczema, and it IS from the overzealous handwashing, but in the back of my head, I think...nope...it could be herpes.

I hate this damn virus. I really do. I hate second guessing myself and everything around me and THAT is what this virus has taken from me.

I am glad that you posted this info though, I think most people should be aware. Many of us have eczema.

Answer:
I agree...I see little bumps on my hands where I KNOW I have had eczema my whole life and it looks just like it always has in the past before I had herpes...yet I am still curious if it is herpes or not. I have been washing my hands a lot because I am paranoid about spreading the virus to other areas, but I use cetaphil soap (it is mild and kind to the eczema on my hands). I also slather up with Curel lotion afterwards to try to keep the eczema at bay.

I know how you feel...I wish I could talk to my pre-herpes self and slap her around a little bit for all of the things that I always took for granted that I have to constantly think about now.