Chronic skin irritation on hands

[obarzanka]

Hi,

My mum has suffered from an extreme form of skin irritation now for over a decade, and no doctor can give her an answer to what it is, or cure for it. The irritation causes the skin on the palm of her hands to itch, peel, be very red and very sore to the touch. It started off as a small patch in the centre of her palm, but has now spread to her whole hand (on the underside). She has also tried herbal remedies, but nothing has ever really helped. To relieve the itching, she uses an oily cream recommended by her doctor. But it never goes away.

Is there anything you can recommend? Have you come across anything similar before?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to pompholyx or dyshidrotic eczema. The exact cause is not known and excessive sweating can be one of the reasons. But some triggers like allergic reaction to soaps, detergents, foods, latex, nickel etc may trigger the symptoms. Apply some calamine lotion on the affected area and keep the area well moisturized. Use only thin applications of moisturizer ointments as excessive amounts of ointment may restrict breathing of the skin and aggravate the condition.

Topical steroids can be applied but they are available under prescription. Moreover to prevent infection, topical antibiotics may be needed. I suggest you to consult a dermatologist and get it evaluated.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep us posted on how you are doing.

[obarzanka]

Yes, we thought it might have been caused by a detergent of some kind, and even though my mum is careful not to use any with her bare hands, it hasn't deterred the skin irritation. It gets more painful and sore year on year.

[allmymarbles]

I had an older relative who developed that condition. It was caused by a dishwashing liquid. It became chronic and was never cured (even though she never used that product again).