Odd dark brown patch on my hand

[cloud9shopper]

So I recently caught the orchid bug and went on a purchasing spree. Within a 2 week period I purchased five Phals, four Paphs and 2 Cattleyas. Some were obtained at a local florists, a few from my local grocery store and some from reputable sellers on eBay.

A few days after my new acquisitions (I only had one prior to this buying spree) I noticed a patch on my right hand that started out pink at first and over the last week has turned a dark brown. It has just started peeling a little. It doesn't itch or hurt. I have never experienced this before, and can't help but think it's associated with my new found hobby? Maybe due to watering my orchids and the soil? With an exception of one rescue phal that had root rot, they are all relatively healthy plants with no visible signs of disease.

I searched Google up and down and can't seem to find a comparable symptom/issue. I am going to make an appt with a dermatologist this week, but was wondering if anyone here has ever experienced this?

I attached two photos. The first one was taken 10 days ago, and the second one was from today.

[Island Girl]

Hmm... I don't know, have you been using sphagnum moss? Either by repotting an orchid with it, top dressing, rescue, or just touching it in one of the pots? You have to have a cut/scrape/wound of some kind to start with, and is quite rare, it also is more likely to occur in immuno-suppressed individuals. But, sometimes ppl can get an infection from sphag moss... It's called Sporotrichosis. I don't remember what it looks like tho...

Also want to add, when you go to the doctor (& I think you prob should, to be safe), mention that you are an orchid grower (& if you have sphagnum moss in use at your house), just in case... Hopefully it isn't serious, this infection is quite rare, but should be mentioned to your Dr. just in case. Good Luck! I'm sure it is just a regular rash... I get those all the time, I have rather sensitive skin, so a regular rash (dermatitis, as my doc calls it) can be normal for me, lol.. My point is, is that you shouldn't freak out or anything!

[Jayfar]

CDC - Fungal Diseases - Sporotrichosis

CDC - Symptoms of Sporotrichosis

Symptoms of Sporotrichosis
The first symptom is usually a small painless nodule (bump) resembling an insect bite. The first nodule may appear any time from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure to the fungus. The nodule can be red, pink, or purple in color, and it usually appears on the finger, hand, or arm where the fungus has entered through a break in the skin. The nodule will eventually become larger in size and may look like an open sore or ulcer that is very slow to heal. Additional bumps or nodules may appear later near the original lesion.
Most Sporothrix infections only involve the skin. However, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, including the bones, joints, and the central nervous system. Usually, these types of disseminated infections only occur in people with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, a pneumonia-like illness can occur after inhaling Sporothrix spores, which can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, and fever.
If you think you have sporotrichosis, you should see a healthcare provider.

[Rowangreen]

It doesn't sound like that fungus fits.

Could you have burnt yourself? I got a burn that was like that from doing enamelling once: accidentally touched some extremely hot metal, but got it under water imediately. It didn't hurt, but turned brown and peeled after a few days.

[Leafmite]

It looks as though you are allergic to something. I am allergic to cats and after I pet a kitty, if I don't wash my hands right away, they turn red as if they are burned and become very itchy, then begin peeling until they bleed. Does this sound similar to what you have?
As for what is causing it, if you are certain you haven't come into contact with anything new, I can only think of a few things it might be. It could be a fertilizer (some people use fish emulsion or seeweed extract), or a spray (fungicide/pesticide/plant polisher), or perhaps the medium (spores or, if bark, maybe it came into contact with poison ivy or some other plant).
Instead of giving up the hobby, buy some latex gloves and a different potting medium and repot your orchids into something different and see if that solves the trouble.
I mostly use red lava rock for a medium for my orchids but I do use a little New Zealand sphagnum moss. I am not too thrilled with how dusty the moss is and I have been looking around for something else. I might try cutting up a sponge into small pieces and mixing that with small lava rock chips.

[kindrag23]

I got a large amount of plants in all at once, and have yet to figure out what touched me that caused me to get an itchy bumps all over my arms. In fact the spots have yet to go away....but I do have a messed up immune system with severe allergies so my body can be in the vicinity of something I am allergic to and my body starts going haywire.

[Leafmite]

Is one of your plants a vanilla? They cause many to break into a rash, I am told. Most orchids are completely non-toxic, thankfully.
Hope you find the problem.

[kindrag23]

@Leafmite I think i heard that they can secrete a substance that can cause irritation..

[Leafmite]

Yeah, you don't want to brush the vine with your inner arms, I am told. Mine are still small so no need to worry yet.

[kindrag23]

Yeah I dont have one any more it had issues...and died a good month b4 my rash started. So who knows.