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Dyshidrosis is a skin condition that causes fluid-filled blisters on the hands or feet, often accompanied by intense itching. It can be treated with steroid ointments, wet compresses, and stress reduction therapy. Women are more likely to develop it, and it is associated with atopic dermatitis. Certain substances, fungal infections, and extreme temperatures can trigger it. Treatment may also involve antibiotics and ultraviolet light therapy.
Dyshidrosis, sometimes called pompholyx or dyshidrotic eczema, is a condition that affects the skin on the hands or feet. On the sides of the fingers and on the palms of the hands, fluid-filled blisters, known as blisters, may develop. These blisters are associated with intense itching and can also affect the toes and soles. As the blisters heal, the skin dries out, cracks, flakes, and peels. The condition tends to recur and can be treated with steroid ointments, wet compresses, ultraviolet light, and stress reduction therapy.
Women are about twice as likely to develop dyshidrosis as men, and the disease is seen more frequently in adults under 40. When the condition affects the hands, it may be referred to as cheiropompholyx and when the feet are involved, podopompholyx. Although dyshidrosis has no known cause, it is associated with a type of eczema known as atopic dermatitis. About half of people who have dyshidrosis also have atopic dermatitis. Both of these skin conditions cause itching and both can lead to the complication of skin infection, which requires treatment with antibiotics.
In some people, episodes of dyshidrosis can be triggered by contact with specific substances, such as cobalt and nickel, or the ingredients in toiletries such as shampoo. Occasionally, a fungal infection elsewhere in the body can cause a reaction that leads to the development of dyshidrosis in the hands. Stress can make the condition worse, as can extreme temperatures. Sometimes, the blisters can enlarge and join together to form large blisters known as bullae. Over time, nails may become thickened and pitted or ridged.
The main type of treatment for dyshidrosis consists of steroid ointments applied directly to the affected skin and antihistamine medications to relieve itching. In cases where blisters have developed, a dermatology specialist may recommend the application of moist compresses, and large blisters can be drained using a syringe. You may also need to take antibiotics to prevent infection.
Therapy using ultraviolet light may be beneficial for people whose dyshidrosis does not respond to initial treatments, and stress reduction techniques may be helpful. While in less severe cases the condition may clear up on its own, in many cases it comes and goes over a long period of time. Although the disease can occur in older people, it is less common in later years, and after middle age, the number of episodes may begin to decrease.
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