What is it?!?

One of my more severe outbreaks of Dyshidrotic Eczema

A Condition with Many Names:

• Cheiropompholyx (affects the hands)
• Dyshidrosis
• Dyshidrotic dermatitis
• Foot-and-hand eczema
• Pedopompholyx (affects the feet)
• Pompholyx
• Vesicular eczema
• Vesicular palmoplantar eczema

What exactly IS it?

From The National Eczema Organization:

"This common form of eczema causes small, intensely itchy blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet. It is is twice as common in women as it is in men.

Because of the association with seasonal allergies, the dyshidrotic eczema blisters are known to erupt more frequently during the spring allergy season. The blisters may last up to three weeks before they begin to dry and can sometimes be large and painful. As the blisters dry, they may turn into skin cracks or cause the skin to feel thick and spongy, especially if you’ve been scratching the area.

There is no cure for dyshidrotic eczema, but the good news is, in many cases it’s manageable. And like all types of the condition, it isn’t contagious. You cannot 'catch' dyshidrotic eczema from another person, or give it to someone else."

What does dyshidrotic eczema look like?

Tiny bubbles...

In a word: awful!

All types of eczema can be itchy and red, but dyshidrotic eczema is especially virulent and weird.  Here are the hallmark symptoms:

• Deep-set "water" blisters on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms and soles of the feet that start beneath the skin and within hours to days break open with clear liquid.
• Burning sensation and/or itching. 
• Pain 
• Redness
• A period of flaking after the blisters break open
• Scaly, cracked skin during the healing phase
• Tender, almost wrinkly skin at the final healing phase -- similar to waterlogged, pruny skin

It’s important to understand which type of eczema you may have and also your symptoms and triggers, so that you can better treat and manage it. The only way to be sure that you have dyshidrotic eczema, is to make an appointment with your doctor -- preferably a dermatologist.

What causes dyshidrotic eczema?

According to the National Eczema Organization, dyshidrotic eczema usually appears in adults ages 20 through 40 but it can also affect children and older people.   I personally found that my DE came back after a decade in remission when I started perimenopause.  Many women say that it gets either much better OR much worse during pregnancy.  I've read of men developing it when taking testosterone replacement.

If you have other forms of eczema or contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis or run-of-the-mill hay fever, you are at higher risk of developing dyshidrotic eczema.

If you have an occult fungal infection -- in other words, if you don't realize you have athlete's foot, jock itch, a yeast infection or body tinea -- you could develop dyshidrotic eczema on your hands and/or feet as a reaction to the fungal infection somewhere else on your body.  This is one of the most overlooked causes, and the most easy to treat!

In my case, just being around a lot of mold (like living in soggy Southern California during the winter rains, or having a bathtub with a lot of mildew in the grout) can trigger DE.


Is it Genetic?

Although no gene has yet been identified to cause it, dyshidrotic eczema seems to run in families, so if you have a close relative with this icky form of eczema, the bad news is that you might get it too. (The good news is, you have someone to commiserate with!)

Classic beginning of a DE flare

According to The National Eczema Organization, these are the most common known triggers for dyshidrotic eczema:

• Stress 
• Pollen 
• Moist hands and feet from excessive sweating or prolonged contact with water 
• Nickel in everyday objects such as jewelry, keys, cell phones, eyeglass frames, stainless steel items, and metal buttons, snaps and zippers 
• Nickel in foods such as cocoa, chocolate, soy beans, oatmeal, nuts, almonds, fresh and dried legumes, and canned foods 
• Cobalt in everyday objects such as cobalt-blue colored dishware, paints and varnishes; certain medical equipment; jewelry; and in metal snaps, buttons and zippers  (Cobalt colored dishware!!!  This is definitely a weird, weird condition.  I've even read anecdotes from women who developed it from cobalt in their eyeliner.)
• Cobalt in foods such as clams, fish, leafy green vegetables, liver, milk, nuts, oysters, and red meat
• Chromium salts used in the manufacturing of cement, mortar, leather, paints and anticorrosives

Old flare healing and peeling...new flare making blisters

I have personally found that excess cobalt can come in the form of vitamin B12 supplements and injections as well as in beet root, beet root products and beet juice.

I have listed other potential causes not included in the list from National Eczema Organization in My Regimen. 

What western medicine can provide:

For severe cases of dyshidrotic eczema, a doctor may prescribe topical steroids, TCIs or phototherapy. Physicians can also drain the blisters (I so would not recommend this) and possibly give a Botox injection in the hands and feet to reduce any sweating or wetness.  Moisture is a known trigger for this particular type of eczema.

Medical providers can also provide antibiotic treatment if the area of dyshidrotic eczema gets infected.  If you suspect an infection, make an appointment immediately with your healthcare provider!

What you can do at home:

This is where it gets interesting, varied and definitely not a one-size-fits-all program of healing.  

Take a look at my story to learn about my particular case and what works for me.  Take a look at these video stories to see other people explain what they've done.   Browse the links I've curated, from medical articles to blogs.

Here's to your healing and transformation!

You CAN figure this out!  

I've had doctors tell me there was nothing I could do to prevent dyshidrotic eczema.  They were wrong.  I've also had doctors point me toward potential triggers I might not have thought of.  (Occult fungal infection, for example.)  They were right.  If you have not gotten any answers (or hope!) from your medical care provider, by all means get a second opinion.