Dyshidrotic eczema is a condition in which small, usually itchy blisters develop on the hands and feet.
This blistering type of eczema is twice as common in women than men.
People are more likely to develop dyshidrotic eczema when:
The cause is unknown. The condition seems to appear during certain times of the year.
Small fluid-filled blisters called vesicles appear on the fingers, hands, and feet. They are most common along the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles. These blisters can cause intense itching and scaly patches of skin that flake constantly or become red, cracked, and painful.
Scratching leads to skin changes and skin thickening. Large blisters may cause pain.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose this condition by simply looking at your skin.
Sometimes, a skin biopsy or skin scraping may be needed to rule out other causes, such as a fungal infection.
If your doctor thinks the condition may be due to an allergic reaction, allergy testing (patch testing) may be done.
Scratching only makes the condition worse. Anti-itch medicines taken by mouth, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and loratiadine (such as Claritin), may help you stop scratching. If you scratch while asleep, take an anti-itch medicine before bed.
Apply an ointments or creams on the hands at least two times per day, and after every hand washing.
Your doctor may prescribe steroid (or corticosteroid) ointments creams, or other creams or ointments such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus.
Your doctor may recommend the following if you have severe symptoms:
Do not scratch the blisters. You should avoid frequent bathing, hand washing, and irritating substances, which can make itching worse.
There is no cure. Dyshidrotic eczema normally goes away without problems, but symptoms may return later. Excess scratching may lead to thick, irritated skin, which is more difficult to treat and takes longer to heal.
Call your doctor if you have:
Dyshidrosis; Pompholyx
Veien NK. Acute and recurrent vesicular hand dermatitis. Dermatol Clin. 2009 Jul;27(3):337-53.
Eczema and hand dermatitis. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 3.
Updated by: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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