Itchy hand rash with blisters. Dyshidrotic Eczema: Understanding Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options
What are the main symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema. How is dyshidrotic eczema diagnosed. What triggers dyshidrotic eczema flare-ups. Which treatment options are available for managing dyshidrotic eczema. How can you prevent dyshidrotic eczema outbreaks at home.
What is Dyshidrotic Eczema?
Dyshidrotic eczema, also known as dyshidrosis, pompholyx, or vesicular eczema, is a skin condition characterized by the sudden appearance of small, itchy blisters on the palms, sides of fingers, soles of feet, and toes. This chronic condition tends to come and go over time, with no permanent cure available. However, proper management through medication, moisturizers, and good hygiene practices can help control symptoms.
The condition primarily affects adults between the ages of 20 and 40, with women being twice as likely to develop it compared to men. While mild cases may resolve on their own, more severe instances can significantly impact daily activities and quality of life.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Dyshidrotic Eczema
The hallmark symptom of dyshidrotic eczema is the eruption of small, itchy blisters in clusters. However, several other signs and symptoms may accompany this primary feature:
- Intense itching or burning sensation prior to blister formation
- Blisters concentrated on the edges of fingers, toes, palms, and soles
- Redness and cracking of the affected skin
- Increased sweating around the blistered areas
- Thickening and discoloration of nails
Typically, these blisters last for about 2 to 3 weeks before subsiding. However, the skin underneath may remain red and tender for some time afterward. In severe cases, particularly when the feet are affected, the condition can make walking difficult. Similarly, hand blisters can interfere with daily tasks such as cooking, typing, or dishwashing.
Can dyshidrotic eczema blisters become infected?
Yes, dyshidrotic eczema blisters can become infected, especially if scratched excessively. Signs of infection include increased pain, swelling, crusting, and the presence of pus in the blisters. If you notice these symptoms, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional promptly to prevent complications.
Unraveling the Causes of Dyshidrotic Eczema
The exact cause of dyshidrotic eczema remains unclear to medical professionals. However, several factors have been identified that may increase the risk of developing this condition or trigger flare-ups:
- Genetic predisposition (family history of dyshidrotic eczema or other forms of eczema)
- Presence of allergies, particularly hay fever
- Stress
- Contact with certain metals (nickel, cobalt, chromium salts)
- Excessive sweating or prolonged exposure to moisture
- Warm, humid weather conditions
- HIV infection
- Certain immunosuppressive treatments
- Seasonal allergies
It’s worth noting that approximately half of the individuals with dyshidrotic eczema also experience other types of eczema, such as contact dermatitis or atopic dermatitis. Despite its appearance, dyshidrotic eczema is not contagious and cannot be transmitted through physical contact.
Diagnosing Dyshidrotic Eczema: What to Expect
Diagnosing dyshidrotic eczema primarily relies on clinical observation, as there is no specific laboratory test to confirm the condition. If you notice blisters on your hands and feet, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist. The diagnostic process typically involves:
- Physical examination: The dermatologist will closely inspect your hands, feet, and nails for characteristic signs of dyshidrotic eczema.
- Medical history review: Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms, their duration, and any potential triggers you may have noticed.
- Differential diagnosis: Tests may be conducted to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as athlete’s foot.
- Allergy testing: In some cases, you may be referred to an allergist for patch tests to identify potential allergies to metals or other substances that could be triggering your symptoms.
How do patch tests help in diagnosing dyshidrotic eczema?
Patch tests are particularly useful in identifying allergies that may be contributing to dyshidrotic eczema. During these tests, small amounts of various substances, including different metals, are applied to your skin using patches. The skin’s reaction to these substances is then observed over a period of time, helping to pinpoint specific allergies that could be triggering or exacerbating your eczema symptoms.
Effective Treatment Strategies for Dyshidrotic Eczema
While there is no cure for dyshidrotic eczema, several treatment options can help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of flare-ups. The choice of treatment often depends on the severity of the condition and individual response to different therapies.
First-line Treatments
- Topical corticosteroids: Prescription ointments or creams containing steroids can help reduce inflammation and itching. Applying a wet compress after using the cream can enhance absorption.
- Oral steroids: For severe flare-ups, oral steroid medications like prednisone may be prescribed.
- Antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Claritin) can help alleviate itching.
- Cold compresses: Applying a cold, wet compress to the affected areas for 15 minutes several times a day can provide relief.
Advanced Treatment Options
If standard treatments prove ineffective, your dermatologist may recommend more advanced therapies:
- Phototherapy: This treatment uses ultraviolet (UV) light to improve skin condition. It may be combined with a sensitizing medication to enhance the skin’s response to light therapy.
- Botulinum toxin injections: These can help reduce sweating in the hands and feet, which may trigger blisters.
- Immunosuppressant medications: Topical tacrolimus (Protopic) or pimecrolimus (Elidel) can help calm inflammation and irritation without the side effects associated with long-term steroid use.
- Blister drainage: In some cases, a dermatologist may carefully drain fluid from the blisters to provide relief. It’s crucial not to attempt this at home, as improper drainage can worsen the condition.
Home Care and Prevention Strategies for Dyshidrotic Eczema
In addition to medical treatments, several home care practices can help manage dyshidrotic eczema and prevent flare-ups:
- Gentle cleansing: Wash hands and feet daily using lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Pat the skin dry gently after washing.
- Moisturizing: Apply a thick, emollient moisturizer immediately after bathing or washing while the skin is still damp. Look for products containing dimethicone for added skin protection.
- Avoiding triggers: Remove rings before washing hands to prevent moisture from getting trapped. Wear gloves with cotton liners when hands are in water, such as during dishwashing.
- Managing humidity: Use a humidifier in dry weather to maintain optimal skin hydration.
- Stress management: Since stress can trigger flare-ups, incorporating stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga may be beneficial.
Are there any dietary changes that can help manage dyshidrotic eczema?
While there’s no specific diet proven to cure dyshidrotic eczema, some individuals find relief by identifying and avoiding foods that seem to trigger their symptoms. Common culprits may include dairy, gluten, or certain types of nuts. Additionally, consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, may help reduce inflammation. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes.
Living with Dyshidrotic Eczema: Long-term Outlook and Coping Strategies
Dyshidrotic eczema is a chronic condition that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. However, with proper management and care, many people can effectively control their symptoms and minimize disruptions to daily activities.
The long-term outlook for dyshidrotic eczema varies from person to person. Some individuals may experience a decrease in symptom frequency and severity as they enter middle age. For others, the condition may persist but become more manageable with consistent treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
Coping Strategies for Dyshidrotic Eczema
- Education: Learn as much as possible about your condition to better understand triggers and management strategies.
- Support groups: Joining support groups or online communities can provide emotional support and practical tips from others living with the condition.
- Stress management: Develop effective stress-coping mechanisms, as stress is a known trigger for flare-ups.
- Consistent skincare routine: Establish and maintain a regular skincare routine that works for you, including gentle cleansing and frequent moisturizing.
- Occupational adjustments: If your work involves frequent hand washing or exposure to irritants, discuss potential accommodations with your employer.
- Regular follow-ups: Maintain regular check-ups with your dermatologist to monitor your condition and adjust treatment as needed.
Can dyshidrotic eczema be completely cured?
While dyshidrotic eczema cannot be completely cured, it can be effectively managed. With proper treatment and lifestyle modifications, many individuals achieve long periods of remission or significantly reduced symptoms. The key lies in identifying personal triggers, adhering to prescribed treatments, and maintaining good skin care practices. Remember, what works best can vary from person to person, so it may take some time to find the most effective management strategy for your individual case.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Dyshidrotic Eczema
While dyshidrotic eczema is generally not a severe medical condition, there are instances when professional medical attention becomes necessary. Being aware of these situations can help prevent complications and ensure timely treatment.
Signs that warrant immediate medical attention:
- Signs of infection: If you notice increased pain, swelling, warmth, or pus in the affected areas, seek medical help promptly.
- Severe pain or discomfort: If the pain associated with your dyshidrotic eczema becomes severe or interferes significantly with daily activities, consult your healthcare provider.
- Widespread rash: If the rash spreads beyond your hands and feet or covers large areas of your body, it’s time to see a doctor.
- Fever: The development of a fever alongside your eczema symptoms could indicate an infection or other complication.
- Persistent symptoms: If your symptoms don’t improve with over-the-counter treatments or prescribed medications, follow up with your dermatologist.
- Impact on quality of life: If dyshidrotic eczema is significantly affecting your work, sleep, or overall quality of life, discuss additional treatment options with your healthcare provider.
Remember, early intervention can often prevent more serious complications and lead to better management of your condition. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your dyshidrotic eczema symptoms or treatment plan.
How often should individuals with dyshidrotic eczema have follow-up appointments?
The frequency of follow-up appointments for dyshidrotic eczema can vary depending on the severity of your condition and how well it’s being managed. Initially, your dermatologist may want to see you every few weeks to assess your response to treatment. Once your condition is stable, follow-ups might be scheduled every 3-6 months. However, if you experience a sudden worsening of symptoms or new concerns arise, it’s important to schedule an appointment sooner. Always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for follow-up care, as they can tailor the schedule to your specific needs.
Dyshidrotic Eczema: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
Written by Stephanie Watson
- What Is Dyshidrotic Eczema?
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Symptoms
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Causes
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Diagnosis
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Treatment
Dyshidrotic eczema is a sudden rash of small, itchy blisters on your palms and along the sides of your fingers. This skin condition can also make blisters pop up on the soles of your feet or on your toes.
Your doctor might call it by another name, including dyshidrosis, foot-and-hand eczema, pompholyx, vesicular eczema, or palmoplantar eczema.
There’s no cure, so these blisters will come and go over time. But you can manage them with medicine, moisturizers, and good hygiene. They might start to taper off once you get into middle age. And if you have a mild case, it could go away on its own.
The small, itchy blisters are the most noticeable sign of dyshidrotic eczema. These usually pop up in clusters. You may also have:
Itching or a burning pain before blisters appear
Blisters on the edges of your fingers, toes, palms, and soles of your feet
Red, cracked skin
Sweaty skin around the blisters
Nails that thicken and change colors
The blisters often go away in 2 to 3 weeks. But the skin underneath can be red and tender for a while.
Dyshidrotic eczema can be mild or severe. If you have a severe case that affects your feet, the blisters can make it hard to walk. Blisters on your hands can make it hard to do things like cook, type, or wash dishes.
Sometimes, the blisters can get infected, especially if you scratch them a lot. Signs that you have an infection include:
Pain
Swelling
Crusting
Pus in the blisters
Doctors aren’t sure what causes dyshidrotic eczema. It mostly affects adults ages 20 to 40, and it’s twice as common in women as in men. You’re more likely to get it if you have allergies like hay fever, a family history of dyshidrotic eczema, or other forms of eczema.
Several things can set off dyshidrotic eczema, including:
Stress
Contact with metals like nickel, cobalt, or chromium salts on your job, or from things like costume jewelry
Sweaty or wet hands and feet
Warm, humid weather
HIV infection
Certain treatments for a weak immune system (immunoglobulin)
Seasonal allergies
About half of all people with dyshidrotic eczema also have other types of eczema such as contact and atopic dermatitis. This condition isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it from touching someone who has it.
No lab test can confirm that you have dyshidrotic eczema, but if you notice blisters on your hands and feet, see a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in your skin). They’ll look at your hands and feet, as well as your nails. Your doctor could also suggest tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms like athlete’s foot.
You also might need to see an allergy doctor (allergist). Patch tests can show if you have an allergy to nickel or another metal. During these tests, your doctor will put patches with a small amount of different metals or other things on your skin to see whether you react to them.
Your doctor can prescribe an ointment or cream with a steroid in it to bring down swelling and help get rid of the blisters. Your skin will take in the medicine better if you put a wet compress on it after you use the cream. If you have a severe flare-up, you might need to take a steroid drug, like prednisone, in a pill.
An antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Alavert, Claritin) can help with the itch, too. Or you might hold a cold, wet compress on the blisters for 15 minutes at a time several times a day.
If these treatments don’t work well for you, you might try one of these:
Light therapy. This uses ultraviolet (UV) light to clear up your skin. You might first get a sensitizing medication to help your skin respond better to the light.
Botulinum toxin. These shots stop your hands and feet from sweating, which can trigger the blisters.
Medicines that slow your immune system. Tacrolimus (Protopic) ointment or pimecrolimus (Elidel) cream can calm the swelling and irritation. These drugs can be options if you don’t want to take steroids.
Draining the blisters. Your dermatologist can drain fluid from the blisters. Don’t try to do this yourself. You could make the eczema worse.
To control the blisters at home:
Wash your hands and feet every day. Use lukewarm water and a mild, scent-free soap. Afterward, gently pat your skin dry.
Take your rings off before you wash your hands. Moisture can get trapped under your rings and cause more blisters.
Wear gloves with cotton liners whenever your hands are in water, like when you wash dishes.
Put a thick moisturizer on your hands and feet every time you shower or wash. Rub it on while your skin is still wet to seal in water. You also might use a cream that has dimethicone to protect your skin.
Turn on a humidifier in dry weather to keep your skin from cracking.
If allergies set off your eczema, try to stay away from things that trigger them.
Don’t scratch the blisters. You’ll make them worse.
If you’re sensitive to nickel or cobalt, your dermatologist might tell you not to eat foods that are high in these metals. Nickel is in foods like chocolate, broccoli, legumes, and nuts. Cobalt is in shellfish, liver, nuts, beets, cabbage, and chocolate.
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Dyshidrotic Eczema: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
Written by Stephanie Watson
- What Is Dyshidrotic Eczema?
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Symptoms
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Causes
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Diagnosis
- Dyshidrotic Eczema Treatment
Dyshidrotic eczema is a sudden rash of small, itchy blisters on your palms and along the sides of your fingers. This skin condition can also make blisters pop up on the soles of your feet or on your toes.
Your doctor might call it by another name, including dyshidrosis, foot-and-hand eczema, pompholyx, vesicular eczema, or palmoplantar eczema.
There’s no cure, so these blisters will come and go over time. But you can manage them with medicine, moisturizers, and good hygiene. They might start to taper off once you get into middle age. And if you have a mild case, it could go away on its own.
The small, itchy blisters are the most noticeable sign of dyshidrotic eczema. These usually pop up in clusters. You may also have:
Itching or a burning pain before blisters appear
Blisters on the edges of your fingers, toes, palms, and soles of your feet
Red, cracked skin
Sweaty skin around the blisters
Nails that thicken and change colors
The blisters often go away in 2 to 3 weeks. But the skin underneath can be red and tender for a while.
Dyshidrotic eczema can be mild or severe. If you have a severe case that affects your feet, the blisters can make it hard to walk. Blisters on your hands can make it hard to do things like cook, type, or wash dishes.
Sometimes, the blisters can get infected, especially if you scratch them a lot. Signs that you have an infection include:
Pain
Swelling
Crusting
Pus in the blisters
Doctors aren’t sure what causes dyshidrotic eczema. It mostly affects adults ages 20 to 40, and it’s twice as common in women as in men. You’re more likely to get it if you have allergies like hay fever, a family history of dyshidrotic eczema, or other forms of eczema.
Several things can set off dyshidrotic eczema, including:
Stress
Contact with metals like nickel, cobalt, or chromium salts on your job, or from things like costume jewelry
Sweaty or wet hands and feet
Warm, humid weather
HIV infection
Certain treatments for a weak immune system (immunoglobulin)
Seasonal allergies
About half of all people with dyshidrotic eczema also have other types of eczema such as contact and atopic dermatitis. This condition isn’t contagious. You can’t catch it from touching someone who has it.
No lab test can confirm that you have dyshidrotic eczema, but if you notice blisters on your hands and feet, see a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in your skin). They’ll look at your hands and feet, as well as your nails. Your doctor could also suggest tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms like athlete’s foot.
You also might need to see an allergy doctor (allergist). Patch tests can show if you have an allergy to nickel or another metal. During these tests, your doctor will put patches with a small amount of different metals or other things on your skin to see whether you react to them.
Your doctor can prescribe an ointment or cream with a steroid in it to bring down swelling and help get rid of the blisters. Your skin will take in the medicine better if you put a wet compress on it after you use the cream. If you have a severe flare-up, you might need to take a steroid drug, like prednisone, in a pill.
An antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Alavert, Claritin) can help with the itch, too. Or you might hold a cold, wet compress on the blisters for 15 minutes at a time several times a day.
If these treatments don’t work well for you, you might try one of these:
Light therapy. This uses ultraviolet (UV) light to clear up your skin. You might first get a sensitizing medication to help your skin respond better to the light.
Botulinum toxin. These shots stop your hands and feet from sweating, which can trigger the blisters.
Medicines that slow your immune system. Tacrolimus (Protopic) ointment or pimecrolimus (Elidel) cream can calm the swelling and irritation. These drugs can be options if you don’t want to take steroids.
Draining the blisters. Your dermatologist can drain fluid from the blisters. Don’t try to do this yourself. You could make the eczema worse.
To control the blisters at home:
Wash your hands and feet every day. Use lukewarm water and a mild, scent-free soap. Afterward, gently pat your skin dry.
Take your rings off before you wash your hands. Moisture can get trapped under your rings and cause more blisters.
Wear gloves with cotton liners whenever your hands are in water, like when you wash dishes.
Put a thick moisturizer on your hands and feet every time you shower or wash. Rub it on while your skin is still wet to seal in water. You also might use a cream that has dimethicone to protect your skin.
Turn on a humidifier in dry weather to keep your skin from cracking.
If allergies set off your eczema, try to stay away from things that trigger them.
Don’t scratch the blisters. You’ll make them worse.
If you’re sensitive to nickel or cobalt, your dermatologist might tell you not to eat foods that are high in these metals. Nickel is in foods like chocolate, broccoli, legumes, and nuts. Cobalt is in shellfish, liver, nuts, beets, cabbage, and chocolate.
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Rubella in children and adults: symptoms, methods of treatment
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Pediatrician
Creation date: 2016. 03.30
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Rubella
Rubella is an acute viral disease predominantly of childhood. A typical manifestation: a pink-red rash that appears first on the face, and then spreads throughout the body within a few hours.
The susceptibility of children to rubella is high. Usually, children under the age of 6 months have innate immunity received from their mother, but if the child does not have specific antibodies, he can get sick even in the first months of life.
Rubella is most common in children aged 2 to 9 years.
Immunity after the transferred rubella is persistent, lifelong.
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Causes of rubella
Rubella is transmitted by airborne droplets. Although the virus is considered non-persistent, contact transmission of the disease (for example, through children’s toys) is also possible.
The incubation period for rubella is from 11 to 24 days (in most cases – from 16 to 20 days). The patient is contagious already a week before the rash appears. After the rash, the risk of infection persists for another 5-7 days.
Another option for transmission of infection is during pregnancy, from mother to fetus. With such congenital rubella, the virus is secreted for a long time – within 1.5-2 years after birth (with sputum, urine, feces).
Rubella risk
The main danger of the disease lies in its effect on the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy. Up to 11 weeks, the probability of infection of the fetus upon contact with the source of infection is 90%. The consequences can be serious: various pathologies and fetal death. Therefore, rubella is included in the number of ToRCH infections (a group of infections that pose a particular danger to the fetus and the health of the unborn child).
Symptoms of rubella
The main symptoms of rubella are:
Rash
Rubella is manifested primarily by a rash. The rubella rash looks like small pink-red spots of a round or oval shape.
In children, the rash lasts 2-4, occasionally 5-7 days, then disappears – without pigmentation and peeling.
More about the symptom
Swollen lymph nodes
There is enlargement of the lymph nodes, especially those located on the back of the head and back of the neck.
Catarrhal phenomena
Sometimes in children with rubella, catarrhal phenomena are observed: a slight runny nose, sore throat, dry cough.
Symptoms of rubella in adults
In adults, rubella is much more severe: headache, general weakness, fever (up to 38-39 ° C), muscles hurt. The disease can affect the joints (primarily the small joints of the hands).
Methods for diagnosing rubella
Do not assume that you or your child is already immune because you have experienced symptoms that fit the description of rubella. Other viral diseases can have similar symptoms. Absolute certainty can only be given by a blood test for specific antibodies.
Serological blood test
Serological analysis detects the presence of antibodies to the rubella virus in the blood. Such an analysis can be done separately, or you can use the “Diagnostics of ToRCH infections” profile.
More about the diagnostic method
To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with the specialists of the Family Doctor network.
Rubella treatments
If symptoms appear that suggest rubella, the child should be shown to the pediatrician, and the adult should consult a general practitioner.
Symptomatic treatment
Rubella is treated with bed rest and symptomatic treatment. The patient should receive enough vitamins (in the form of vitamin preparations or in kind).
Vaccination
Vaccination is a simple and effective way to avoid the danger of getting sick already in adulthood. It is especially important to exclude the threat of rubella disease to the expectant mother. The prevention of this disease is so significant that rubella vaccination is included in the National and Regional immunization schedules.
The vaccine is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Vaccination is carried out at the age of 12 months, repeated immunization (revaccination) – at 6 years. For girls who have not had rubella and have not previously been vaccinated, the vaccine is administered at the age of 18 to 25 years. Specific immunity is provided in almost 100% of cases. It develops 15-20 days after vaccination and persists for more than 20 years.
More about the treatment
Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.
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Dyshidrotic eczema – Eva Art
Why do itchy blisters appear on the palms and feet?
Dyshidrotic eczema is a type of eczema (dermatitis) that is characterized by an itchy, blistering rash on the fingers, hands and feet. It occurs in children and adults and can be acute, recurrent, or chronic. In English-language literature, the term “pompholyx” is used for this condition, which means “bubble”. The clinical course of dyshidrotic eczema can vary from mild, self-limiting to severe, chronic, and debilitating, resistant to treatment. It is impossible to single out an unambiguous cause of dyshidrotic eczema. It is believed that pompholyx is a skin reaction caused by various external and internal provoking factors.
The most likely causes of dyshidrotic eczema are as follows:
1. Genetic factors. Filaggrin is a structural protein in the stratum corneum of the skin that plays an important role in its barrier function. Mutations in the filaggrin gene cause disruption of the skin barrier. This leads to increased permeability of allergens into the skin.
2. Atopy. According to some reports, about half of patients with dyshidrotic eczema have a personal or family history of atopy (atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis). Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are often elevated even in patients reporting no history of atopy.
3. Hypersensitivity (allergy) to nickel. Nickel contact dermatitis has been reported in 30% of patients with dyshidrotic eczema. Nickel ingestion with food can also be a cause of dyshidrotic eczema in some patients. Increased urinary nickel excretion has been reported during exacerbations of pompholyx.
Profuse sweating is thought to result in localized concentrations of metal salts that can induce a blistering reaction.
A diet low in nickel may reduce the frequency and severity of pompholyx flare-ups.
4. Hypersensitivity to cobalt. When cobalt is consumed with food, allergic dermatitis in the form of dyshidrotic eczema occurs less frequently than when nickel is taken orally. Much more common is the co-occurrence of nickel and cobalt allergy, seen in 25% of nickel-sensitive patients who develop pompholyx. In these cases, the eczema is usually more severe.
A low cobalt diet has been suggested to help patients limit their intake and keep blood levels of cobalt below the threshold for pompholyx flare-ups. In addition, this diet reduces the amount of nickel consumed.
5. Contact exposure to allergenic chemicals or metals. Dyshidrotic eczema flare-ups are sometimes associated with exposure to allergenic chemicals found in metals or cosmetics (eg, chromium, fragrances, dyes, preservatives, etc.)
Shower gel, shampoo, hair dye, etc. often act as a contact allergen.
6. Fungal infection. In some patients, pompholyx develops with a fungal infection and resolves with antifungal treatment.
7. ID reaction. This is a reaction to distant foci of a fungal or bacterial infection. For example, with a fungal infection of the feet (or bacterial interdigital diaper rash), itchy blisters may appear on the hands.
8. Emotional stress. This is a possible factor in dyshidrotic eczema. Many patients report recurrences of pompholyx during stressful periods.
9. Hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating. To date, it has been proven that hyperhidrosis of the palms and feet is not the cause of pompholyx, but is an aggravating factor in 40% of patients with dyshidrotic eczema. Reducing sweating of the palms after the introduction of botulinum toxin helps to reduce / stop itching and blisters.
10. Climatic and seasonal factors. Environmental factors (seasonal increase in temperature, high humidity) exacerbate rashes in the form of bubbles.
Although phototherapy is a known effective treatment for pompholyx, exposure to ultraviolet A rays can trigger an outbreak in some patients. The use of photoprotective agents in this case leads to a decrease in the frequency and severity of exacerbations.
11. Other factors. The results of various studies describe other possible causes of the development of pompholyx, such as taking certain drugs, foods, smoking tobacco, diseases of the internal organs.