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DYSHIDROTIC ECZEMA Dyshidrotic
eczema appears as intensely itchy blisters on the hands, fingers and
soles of the feet. When it affects the hands it’s called cheiropompholyx
and pedopompholyx when it affects
the feet. It is also known as pompholyx,
keratolysis exfoliativa, or vesicular
eczema of the hands and/or feet.
The
term pompholyx (Greek "bubble") is generally reserved for the
cases of deep-seated itching blisters. Generally associated with, but
not caused by, excessive sweating (hyperhydrosis). The
cause of this pattern of eczema is not fully understood but in some
cases there is a history of allergic contact dermatitis especially to
nickel. Very often no specific allergen is found despite extensive patch
testing. This form of eczema is aggravated by stress. Oral
antihistamines help to alleviate the intense itch. Frequently applied
calamine lotion helps to cool the affected skin. The
condition is characterized by the sudden onset (1-3 days) of
deep-seated, clear blisters. In the later stages, scaling, thickening,
and painful fissuring typically occur. Secondary bacterial infection is
very often a complication with dyshidrotic eczema. In many patients, the
condition worsens during the summer months. Hand
eczema occurs most frequently in persons who frequently have their hands
immersed in water, such as food preparers, nurses, or florists. The
warm, moist conditions in shoes provide an ideal situation in which foot
dermatitis may also flourish. These eruptions often become chronic and
can be severe. Chronic hand-and-foot eczema is similar to other forms of
dermatitis in appearance. Dyshidrotic
dermatitis (pompholyx)
is a form of hand eczema more common in women which starts on the sides
of the fingers as itchy little bumps and then develops into a rash. The
condition can also affect only the feet. Some patients have involvement
of both the hands and feet. Hand
eczema is the general term used to describe a variety of skin
irritations that your hands can develop. You may have itchy, scaly
patches of skin that flake constantly. Or your hands may become red,
cracked and painful. In some cases, the rash worsens into weepy bumps.
These problems can happen to anyone at any time of life, but they are
more likely:
Dishpan
hands are actually a form of hand eczema. It occurs because constant
wetting and drying breaks down the skin's protective outer barrier. If
you already have hand eczema or are recovering from an episode, you need
to avoid getting water on your hands so often. Perfumes and
preservatives in soaps and irritants in household cleansers can make
things worse. Unfortunately,
there is no quick and easy solution to hand eczema. Clearing up an
episode of the condition can take several months, and you'll need to
continue babying your hands for as long as a year even though they
appear eczema-free. The
exact cause is not known. Dyshidrotic eczema often appears during times
of stress. People who have dyshidrotic eczema are genetically
predisposed to it. Some consider it is caused by abnormal sweating. The
condition may be mild with only a little peeling, or very severe with
big blisters and cracks which prevent work. The first (acute) stage
shows tiny blisters (vesicles) deep in the skin, associated with itching
and a burning feeling. The later and more chronic stage shows more
peeling, cracking, or crusting. Some patients will have mostly one
stage, and some patients will have mostly the other. Some times both
stages occur at the same time. Secondary infection with
staphylococcal bacteria is not infrequent. The result is
pain, redness, swelling and crusting or pustules. As
in other forms of hand eczema, pompholyx is aggravated by contact with
irritants such as water, detergents and solvents. Contact with them must
be avoided as much as possible and protective gloves worn. Some people
with pompholyx are found to be allergic to nickel,
a common metal. Nickel allergy can be detected by patch
testing. These patients must try not to touch
nickel items. Pompholyx
often runs a chronic course, but may go away for long periods. It often
reappears after a period of nervous tension, worry or stress.
Unfortunately pompholyx does not have any quick sure cure. Possible
triggers:
Clearing
up your hand eczema depends largely on how you change your day-to-day
habits. These changes may be difficult, and that's why we've gathered
together this collection of tips for living with hand eczema to make the
process easier for you:
If
your job is causing your hand eczema, your doctor will help you
determine what irritating chemicals or work practices are contributing
to your condition. In addition to modifying those risks, many of the
same hand-protective strategies you use at home also can help you at
work. Here are some ideas:
Ironically,
the more water there is in a lotion or other moisturizer, the more
likely it is to worsen your hand eczema. So-called "cream"
moisturizers contain more water than oil. When the water evaporates they
have a net drying effect on the skin. (They are called cream
moisturizers because they are white in color.) So the very best
moisturizer for hand eczema is a greasy one. It has very few
ingredients, holds the skin's natural moisture in and provides a
protective barrier to keep irritants out. Ingredients
to Avoid:
Eventually
you'll learn to be a skilled reader of labels for lotions, shampoos and
other cosmetics. If your doctor has told you you're sensitive or
allergic to a specific substance, of course avoid products that contain
it. But there are a wide variety of other ingredients, usually
preservatives, which can cause skin irritation or allergy. It's best to
avoid them if you already have hand eczema. Once
you have an episode of hand eczema, your risk of having another one
increases greatly. For some people, hand eczema becomes chronic. This
lack of an easy fix from conventional medicine has made some hand eczema
patients desperate to look for alternative treatments. How well these
"natural" therapies work, though, remains unclear. Treatment
varies with the stage of the disease.
A
tiny percentage of individuals with the condition note flares in their
condition after ingesting metal salts, specifically chromium, cobalt,
and nickel. Diets that eliminate these metal salts may help in some
cases. It
is vital for people with eczema to maintain a good skincare program.
Research has shown that fewer steroids are needed by those people who
moisturize their eczema most frequently. The general principle involves
bathing instead of showering as much as possible. When the eczema is
flaring up, two baths a day might be advisable. People with eczema
should avoid regular soap and instead use a substitute, usually a cream
that moisturizes as well as cleans. Frequent
baths reduce the numbers of bacteria on the skin, and remove the dead
skin and crust. Baths are also useful for reducing the level of itching
and improving the natural moisture in the skin. In this International Eczema-Psoriasis Foundation website, you will find information about eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, guttate psoriasis, their symptoms, causes and treatments. You will be able to distinguish between eczema and similar conditions such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, contact eczema, light sensitive eczema, juvenile plantar eczema, eczema craquele, eczema herpeticum, atopic eczema, infantile eczema, adult seborrheic eczema, varicose eczema, discoid eczema, dyshidrotic eczema, palmoplantar psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, scalp & ear psoriasis, and nail psoriasis. Treatment, symptoms and medications used in the treatment of eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and skin conditions that co-exist with dermatitis, such as adult acne, lupus, and rosacea will be presented. The informative text on eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis discusses treatment, causes, and lifestyle changes that help treat dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.Here are some
other websites dealing with skin diseases: |