patient story

Don's story

Detailed description of symptom alleviation with hot vinegar. Sept 2006.

I have had the problem for 14 years and am currently 61. I was a machinist for years with no problems and then one day it started and have had it ever since. I believe the prolonged contact with the chemicals is what started it. Primarily mineral spirits. I have tried creams prescribed by the doctor for $65.00 for a small tube and they basically do nothing. I no longer go to the doctor for the condition as they seem to know nothing and simply prescribe stuff that does not work. They also express little interest in the problem as they don't realize how incapacitating it can be and view it as something merely as aggravating.
Thanks
Don

I have had this condition for over 10 years and it runs in cycles. it will clear up for a while and then launch into a chronic severe cycle for a year or so. After experimenting with almost everything I have finally found a treatment that actually works. As soon as I realize the outbreak is beginning, I immediately make a solution of regular white vinegar diluted in half with water, put it in a bowl and heat it in the microwave for about 1 minute or as hot as my hands can stand. I soak my hands until the water gets cold about 15 minutes and then gently dry my hands. The itching and burning is intense immediately after removal from the solution for about 15 minutes after which there is no itching or burning whatsoever or 10 to 12 hours.

I do this 3 times a day after the outbreak, and within 2 days all the inflamation is dried up and the scaling begins. I put water on my hands and then coat the affected areas lightly with petroleum jelly and wipe off the excess with a towel. The vinegar literally stops the progression of the blisters immediately, starts the drying and begins healing within 1 or 2 days. Putting water on the skin prior to the application of the petroleum jelly provides moisture to the skin and the jelly provides protection. Diaper rash ointment and other skin softners irritate my skin and partially restart the irritation. I have found this simple treatment to be more effective than virtually any other method I have tried including all the expensive medications prescribed by my doctor who doesn't have a clue.
Hope this helps.
Don

The white vinegar soak is in fact a diluted acid soak. I don't know if it will work for everyone however it has been a lifesaver for me. The vinegar soak literally stops the progression of the inflammation and blistering dead in its tracks and immediately starts the drying process within usually 1 day in my case. My condition is diagnosed as severe and if left untreated my hands look as if they have been in a fire or affected with some flesh eating bacteria. Its very embarassing and people don't want to shake hands with you or handle anything you have touched.

When using the vinegar soak make sure the water is as hot as you can stand it. After the first treatment you feel an immediate relief and can see the blisters are drying up. The best part is that after the initial 15 minutes of stinging after the soak, your hands feel almost normal and their is no itching whatsoever for 10 to 12 hours. With everything I have tried before, the itching has been so bad I would scratch myself bloody, especially during sleep. This vinegar treatment also reduces the swelling. Even with the most aggressive outbreak after 3 treatments my hands show remarkable improvement and by the third day are well into the scaling stage.

I have found that when removing the dead layers of skin it is better to use a small pair of nose hair sissors and cut the flaking skin flush with the surrounding tissue. By pulling the flaking skin it removes the skin in areas not yet ready to be exposed and reveals red raw skin which is very sensitive, so the small sissors work well. When I moisturize during the flakey and scaling skin period, I wet my hands with water and while wet put a marble size glob of vaseline in my palm and rub my hands together spreading the vaseline all over. I then gently wipe the surplus with a towel. With this treatment I can stop even the most serious outbreak within a couple of days and my hands simply look like I have dry skin and sometimes almost normal.

Additionally you can carry a small bottle of vinegar solution with you and use it cold to prevent outbreaks at work and other locations where you cannot use the hot treatment. The cold treatment is somewhat effective and will reduce the initial onset of the problem to minimal levels until you can use the hot treatment. With this condition especially during the drying period always have a thin coat of vaseline on your hands. When you leave your hands dry they soak up contaminants and irritants like a sponge restarting the cycle. Prior to learning of this treatment I have had periods of 5 or 6 days where I could not use my hands for any fine motor skills whatsoever. Since using this treatment I can immediately stop any outbreak almost immediately with total itch relief and start the drying stage within one day after treatment. Also when I get that tingling sensitive feeling in my fingers which lets me know a breakout is imminent, the vinegar soak will reduce the outbreak to almost nothing and in some cases prevent it completely.

I have known about this treatment for over a year and have recommended it to many others who have all saved tons of money on expensive ingredients. Every person that I have recommended it to has reported spectacular results.
Don

I have had a number of people ask me regarding which is better, the hot vinegar soak or H202. In my experience each has distinct advantages. The H202 clearly works better than the vinegar in removing the dead skin surrounding the blistered areas and overall provides softer skin. The H202 stings much more during the treatment and does not stop the itching as effectively. The hot vinegar soak seems to immediately stop the progression of any latent blisters, and within 30 minutes of the treatment completely stops the itching for 10 to 12 hours. The vinegar does not remove the dead skin around the affected areas as well as the H202. I use both treatments and consider both to be necessary.

During a major outbreak I will use the H202 treatment for around 10 minutes and then use the hot vinegar soak with water as hot as I can stand it until the water cools, about 15 minutes. This back to back treatment stops the progression in its tracks and provides relief from itching all night. Immediately after the treatment a soft towel can be gently rubbed against the skin to remove whatever little pieces of dead skin are present in you are in the scabbing stage. It is somewhat difficult to resist the temptation to rub hard and use the towel to scratch the itching. If you can resist the temptation to scratch for 30 minutes after the treatment, the itch will totally disappear.

I then wet my hands to moisturize the skin and coat with vaseline while still wet and then wipe off the surplus. My condition is pretty much limited to my hands and this procedure works well for me. Others I know who use the same procedures have had virtually the same results.

Written by Don McG. © 2006-2007
Updated 1-26-2007

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