A related discussion,
tiny bumps on inside of fingers was started.
A related discussion,
Eczema on hands and fingers was started.
I have been a sufferer of the same problem since nine years old, now I'm 36. Many Dermatologists and a plethera of cortizones later I still have the pompholyx, which seems to worsen under stressful situations, and the meds definitely weakened my skin, a lot. Always searching for an alternative to the cortizone, a friend relayed her story, she had it also except a much worse case went through a radical moist dressing treatment at the Mayo clinic that worked for her using Robathol oil in combination with Vanicream for moisture, gloves at night. I am tying it, it seams to help.
Hi, I also have dishidrotic eczema on my hands and feet, and my doctor prescribed Fluocinolone Acetonide Cream USP, 0.025%. It works wonders for my skin, I just dab it on at night before bed when I have a flareup and the blistery rash is gone by morning. The stuff is pretty strong, though, and I only use it when I need it (I was told it thins the skin.) Good luck!
Dana
Dr. Rockoff,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I have been doing a lot of research to come up with the diagnosis of pompholyx. When I saw a dermatologist a couple of years ago, he said it was dermatitis and gave me Temovate Emollient cream. This really ate away at my skin, caused inflammation and seemed to make matters worse so I quit using it. Even an OTC 1% Hydrocortisone cream I tried (Cortaid) just seems to peel off a layer of skin, but is that desirable? The only thing that seems to be soothing is Triple Antibiotic Ointment but I know that doesn't make sense because it's not primarily a bacterial infection. The other thing I use regularly is Eucerin Cream. Any ideas about other treatments would be appreciated.
Good diagnosis, Susan! Your identification of these tiny blisters as "pompholyx," the archaic name for dyshidrotic eczema, is most impressive. This form of eczema ("dyshidrotic" means "bad sweating," a plausible but discredited hypothesis) has no specific cause, but can be controlled by appropriate topical steroid and emoliient creams. Implicit in your question as to what this "really is," is the assumption that there is a specific cause, avoidance of which will eliminate the problem. Would that this were so. It "really is" pompholyx, and that's about all one can say about it, other than that you should obtain the most effective symptomatic treatment you can, and use it when the symptoms interfere enough with your wrk, which they will do at times, but not always.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff