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The palms of the hands, the sides of the fingers and sometimes the soles of the feet might develop tiny, fluid-filled blisters due to the skin disorder called dyshidrosis.
Usually lasting three weeks, the blisters that develop in dyshidrosis are extremely itchy. Your skin may look scaly once the dyshidrosis blisters have dried. Usually, the blisters return before your skin has had a chance to fully recover from the previous ones.
Most frequently, rubbing creams or ointments on the afflicted area is used as treatment for dyshidrosis. Your doctor can recommend oral corticosteroid medications like prednisone or injections in extreme cases. Eczema, acute palmoplantar eczema, vesiculobullous dermatitis and pompholyx are other names for dyshidrosis.
Symptoms
The sides of fingers and palms are where dyshidrosis-related blisters most frequently appear. On occasion, the soles of the feet may also be impacted. The blisters typically have a small size, similar to the width of a standard pencil lead. They tend to form clusters, resembling tapioca pearls.
In more severe instances, the small blisters can merge together, resulting in the formation of larger blisters. Dyshidrosis-affected skin can itch and hurt a lot. Within three weeks, the blisters are dry and start to peel off. Dyshidrosis tends to exhibit a recurring pattern, regularly for several months or even years.
If you experience a rash on your hands or feet that doesn’t go away on its own, call your doctor.
Causes
Dyshidrosis’ precise cause is unknown. It may be connected to atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, as well as other allergic diseases including hay fever. When a person has nasal allergies, their eruptions may be seasonal.
Risk factors
Dyshidrosis risk factors include:
- Age. Occurs between 20 to 40 years old.
- Gender. Females are more prone to developing dyshidrosis than males.
- Family history. Having eczema or contact dermatitis in the family.
- Stress. There seems to be a higher prevalence of dyshidrosis during periods of mental or physical stress.
- Exposure to certain metals. These typically occur in an industrial context which include nickel and cobalt.
- Atopic dermatitis. Dyshidrotic eczema can appear in some atopic dermatitis sufferers.
- Sensitive skin. The likelihood of developing dyshidrosis is higher in people who itch after contact with particular irritants.
Diagnosis
Your doctor can typically identify dyshidrosis through a physical examination. Dyshidrosis cannot be definitively diagnosed by a lab test, but your doctor may recommend tests to rule out other skin conditions that present with comparable symptoms.
For instance, the type of fungus that causes athlete’s foot can be determined using a scrape of your skin. By exposing patches of your skin to different substances, you can identify your skin’s allergies and sensitivities.
Treatment
Treatment options may include the following depending on the severity of your signs and symptoms:
- Corticosteroids. Creams and ointments with high corticosteroid concentrations may hasten the blisters’ healing. In order to increase absorption, wrap the treated area in plastic wrap. After applying a corticosteroid, moist compresses may also be used to improve the medication’s absorption.
Prednisone or other corticosteroid medications may be recommended by your doctor if the condition is severe. Steroid use over a long period of time may result in negative side effects.
- Phototherapy. In the event that previous treatments are unsuccessful, your doctor may suggest a unique form of light therapy that combines exposure to UV light with medications that help make your skin more susceptible to the effects of this type of light.
- Immune-suppressing ointments. People who desire to reduce their exposure to steroids may benefit from medications like tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. An increased chance of skin infections is one of these medications’ adverse effects.
- Botulinum toxin injections. Injections of botulinum toxin may be suggested by some medical professionals to treat severe dyshidrosis.
