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In dealing with this recurring problem, I have found the solutions I need without having to use prescription drugs and steroids. There are prescription medications to manage acute symptoms, so please talk to your doctor about your options. Personally, I didn't find that prescriptions offered me any long-term solutions, and I didn't like the potential side effects from chronic steroid use.
Here's what works for me:
1. I figured out my triggers!
Repeat after me: Dyshidrotic eczema is weird, and caused by many things! You might have to do some personal detective work to figure it out.
Look here for what the National Eczema Organization identifies as the top dyshidrotic eczema triggers. According to my additional research (start here to learn more) as well as anecdotal evidence from other DE sufferers, these are fairly common potential causes:
- Stress
- Hormone fluctuations from PMS, pregnancy and perimenopause
- Atopic reaction to a fungal infection elsewhere on your body
- Atopic reaction to a mold allergy
- Atopic reaction to other allergies -- pollen, dust mites, pet dander, etc.
- Atopic reaction to food intolerances or food allergies (beer, wine and gluten are common triggers)
- Atopic reaction following a contact dermatitis reaction to something you came in contact with
- Nickel allergy reaction (dietary nickel as well as nickel in jewelry, belt buckles and tech devices!)
- Cobalt allergy reaction (dietary as well as from cosmetics, cobalt colored dishes and cobalt paint )
- Metal sensitivity from orthopedic steel implants like hip replacements
- Vitamin B12 injections or therapeutic levels of B12 of supplementation reaction
- Reaction to excess cobalt after increase in consumption of beets, beet products and beet juices
- Reaction to common chemicals in skin care products (see the video section)
- Breakdown of the moisture barrier in your skin (from overwashing, overuse of alcohol disinfectants)
- Reaction to antibacterial hand soaps
- Excess sweating (This used to be the standard cause given by doctors, but is out of favor now.)
- Sensitivity to salicylates (This is more often related to regular eczema as discussed in this book.)
- Possible correlation with Hashimotos Thyroiditis
If there is one thing I've learned about dyshidrotic eczema is that there is no single cause for it, and you may find one trigger, eliminate it, only to discover that another one causes you to have a flare down the line.
It may take some allergy testing, trial and error with diet, figuring out chemical sensitivities and experimenting with topical, pharmaceutical, dietary and lifestyle solutions.
Seek help from professionals, but also be your own detective!
If you are just starting this unpleasant journey, you may find like I did that many physicians are either baffled by or unfamiliar with this condition. Don't be discouraged. Dermatologists are your best bet for getting accurately diagnosed! (If you don't have access to a dermatologist, consider one of these board certified online sources.) But even after diagnosis, there is no medical cure. Many of us, however, have found the next best thing to a cure by managing our triggers and thereby eliminating flares.
Don't be surprised if you think you've figured out your DE only to have recurrences. My dyshidrotic eczema literally disappeared for over a decade when I went gluten-free only to reoccur midlife when my hormones were fluctuating and my allergies were worsening. I seem to be much more sensitive to mold now than I used to be, and I find that if I take antihistamines during weeks when mold counts are high, I don't get the usual DE flare.
I avoid excess nickel and cobalt, and don't take too much supplemental vitamin B12 because methylcolbamin equals cobalt! I carefully watch for fungal infections as well as too much environmental mold -- all fungus triggers a dyshidrotic response for me. (You can find out more about all of these potential causes and more by exploring the links here.)
2. I don't eat crap!
To remain DE free (and also manage other autoimmunity issues) I eat diet a gluten-free, nightshade-free, mostly organic lacto-Paleo diet free of all grains other than limited amounts of white rice. Am I suggesting you'll have to eat this strictly to be DE free? Absolutely not! We all must find what works for us. I share my own story to inspire others to look deeply into potential dietary causes. My diet might not work for you. I've seen several videos from a DE sufferer who solved his outbreaks going vegan --the literal opposite of a paleo diet-- highlighting how one person's cure is another's poison. (And vice versa!)
In addition to my dietary restrictions, I no longer eat any processed foods. I make my own salad dressing. I cook from scratch using fresh ingredients. I buy only organic and eat most of my meals at home. I avoid excess nickel and cobalt foods. I no longer drink beer (gluten!) or red wine (sulfite allergy!) I also make sure to get plenty of good fats in my diet. Low-fat diets always came with skin rashes for me. I now use plenty of olive oil, grass-fed butter, coconut oil and avocados.
3. I chill out!
I know, it's a crazy world and we can't help getting caught up in the rollercoaster of modern daily life but for me, my skin is the first place I register stress. In addition to DE I get atopic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis if I am particularly stressed out.
If I feel my hands or feet start to burn (the first sign I'm getting a DE flare) I first make sure to calm down, get plenty of sleep and lighten my schedule for a few days. I regularly meditate, practice positive visualization, take walks in nature and focus on things that make me feel calm and happy. I turn off my phone (for calming down as well as to avoid the contact with cobalt in these devices) and I just go into a lower gear for a while. I manage to do this as a busy working mom, too.
4. I practice impeccable skin care!
There is ample evidence that DE is a condition aggravated by a breakdown of the skin's moisture barrier. I make sure to keep my hands and feet moisturized and avoid excess washing/overdrying. I limit my use of those alcohol-based gels and I use only natural skin care products. (See my favorites below.)
The Big Three
These three skin products used together have been my secret to healing my skin during dyshidrotic eczema flares. I use them one on top of the other, in the order they appear here, three times a day. (Click on the images to purchase -- I have mine on Amazon Subscribe and Save so that I never run out!)
For me, the combination of seaweed extract, vitamin E, Burdock and Bearberry extracts help calm my skin from the beginning blister phase through the dry, peeling phase.
Other Helpers:
I also cannot stress emphatically enough how much more manageable my outbreaks are when I take an antihistamine. I do best on over-the-counter Benadryl, which calms the itch and eases the burn.
Always consult your doctor for advise on medication.
During the first few burning/itching phase of blisters, it helps me to soak my hands and feet in a strong solution of sea salt. This is my favorite brand:
Always consult your doctor for diagnosis of any fungal infection.
