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Dyshidrotic Eczema: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Dyshidrotic Eczema
1. What is it? Dyshidrotic eczema is a form of eczema that affects the hands and feet, but is more common on the hands. It tends to affect young adults and older people. Most people who develop this form of eczema have a history of allergy. 2. What does dyshidrotic eczema look like? In the early stages, this form of eczema appears as small, fluid-filled vesicles along the sides of the fingers, palms, or bottoms of the feet. The vesicles can rupture and form weeping crusts, which can sometimes take up to a few weeks to heal. If the vesicles...
Dyshidrotic Eczema: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Dyshidrotic Eczema
1. What is it?
Dyshidrotic eczema is a form of eczema that affects the hands and feet, but is more common on the hands. It tends to affect young adults and older people. Most people who develop this form of eczema have a history of allergy.
2. What does dyshidrotic eczema look like?
In the early stages, this form of eczema appears as small, fluid-filled vesicles along the sides of the fingers, palms, or bottoms of the feet. The vesicles can rupture and form weeping crusts, which can sometimes take up to a few weeks to heal. As the vesicles heal, they can leave behind rings that demarcate where the vesicles were. In general, the skin beneath the vesicles is not damaged.
Bacterial infection of open vesicles is a common complication. This can spread through the tissues and become cellulitis, an infection of the soft tissues of the hands or feet. The infection can also spread to nearby lymph nodes. In rare cases, the infection can spread to the blood and cause septicemia (generalized bacterial infection), which is life-threatening. The nails may also be affected; They can become thick, pitted, discolored and ridged.
3. The myth of dyshidrotic eczema
This form of eczema got its name because it was believed to be caused by excessive sweating of the hands. It is now known that the fluid that accumulates in the vesicles is not sweat, but serum. The serum was felt to accumulate between the outer layers of the skin when the skin became irritated.
4. What causes dyshidrotic eczema?
Researchers aren't sure why people develop dyshidrotic eczema. However, a number of things have been found to be related to its development. There is a seasonal pattern that occurs more frequently in warm weather. Some people develop dyshidrotic eczema after exposure to very sunny weather.
The condition is more common in people who have had contact dermatitis in the past. It is particularly associated with certain professions. People who have to wash their hands regularly, such as chefs, nurses, and dentists, tend to get this type of hand eczema more often. Dyshidrotic eczema is aggravated by irritants such as solvents, detergents and soap.
5. How to treat dyshidrotic eczema.
The best approach is to find out which irritant contributes to its development and avoid its use. Another wise treatment is symptomatic. Your doctor may prescribe oral anti-itch medications for the severe itching that usually accompanies this condition. Applications such as diluted potassium permanganate or aluminum acetate can be used to dry out the blisters. Steroid ointments can also be used in the acute stage to clear up the condition. In severe cases, oral steroids may be used for short periods of time.
It is also important to keep the skin well hydrated to avoid dryness and painful cracks that sometimes occur with dyshidrotic eczema. It's best to use a thick moisturizer like emollient or petroleum jelly.
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