What is Pompholyx?
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Picture 1 – Pompholyx Image
Source – avicenna
The term Pomphlolyx is a Greek derivative which means a bubble. It is a kind of skin eczema that is characterized by the occurrence of small itchy blisters on the hands and the feet. It also causes the inflammation and the drying up of the skin, thereby causing irritation. It is usually caused by seasonal changes, stress factors or allergens. It is also known as Dyshidrosis, Dyshidrotic eczema pompholyx, Dyshiodrotic dermatitis, and Vesicular eczema. The name Dyshidrotic literally means one who sweats too badly. Specifically, Pompholyx hand eczema is known as Cheiropompholyx and pompholyx feet eczema is known as Pedopompholyx. It may be of an acute or chronic type depending upon the nature of eczema that one is affected with. Problems such as scaling, fissure formation and lichenification occur in case of pompholyx. Although pompholyx hand or feet eczema is not contagious in nature but it may be a significant cause of social embarrassment. It is common among people of all ages but it has specifically been found to affect mostly beings of the feminine gender.
Symptoms of Pompholyx
Pompholyx is signaled by the formation of tiny blisters or vesicles on the hands and feet. The blisters usually occur on the sides of the fingers or on the palms. In the feet it is usually seen to affect the toes and the soles. The vesicles may cause itching and burning sensation. The blisters are deep-seated in nature and do not have the tendency to burst or break until and unless triggered by an external force or a substance that is most likely to cause infection and irritation such as soap, water, etc. Eventually, the tiny blisters acquire the tendency to merge together to give rise to blisters which are obviously greater in shape and size. The blisters contain a fluid known as serum which accumulates in the skin cells which are affected. Any kind of scratching of the blisters may cause the blister to turn red and swell and form crust and crack. Normally, the skin cracks or peels once the blisters are on the process of healing. But the process of cracking is painful. In case of severe dyshidrosis or pompholyx, the finger nails or the toe nails may develop ridges and may cause swelling, a condition known as Paronychia. The swelling associated with pompholyx is actually the swelling of lymph nodes of the palms and the feet. It is mostly known to affect people who are allergic in nature and may also suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems.
Pompholyx Causes
It has still not been possible for doctors and scientists to exactly discern dyshidrosis causes but a number of conditions are supposed to trigger the disease which are enumerated as the following:-
- Excessive sweating is supposed to be one of the causes for pompholyx which is noticed in cases when one suffers from anxiety, frustration or stress related problems. Sweating is believed to trigger vesicular eruption that is a characteristic of pompholyx eczema.
- Fungal infections like the Athlete’s foot are one of the most common causes of pompholyx that causes vesicular eruption and discharge of pus.
- Allergic agents such as carbonated and alcoholic beverages, food items high in nickel and caffeine content and also dairy products may just not cause but also intensify pompholyx eczema and pompholyx dermatitis. Some of the items that fall within the purview of such allergic irritants are cocoa, chocolate, soy, butter and cheese, etc. Allergies may also be caused by contact with Cr (6+) compounds such as Potassium dichromate, other leather preservative may also lead to pompholyx. Dust mite allergies may also be the cause behind dishydrosis.
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight may lead to skin disorders of several types including pompholyx.
- It has also been observed that people who are exposed to chlorinated water, antibacterial soaps contribute to intensifying pompholyx. As is also common with all kind of skin eczemas, antibacterial soaps, deodorants and fragrances, and its contact with fresh meat and fresh fruit juices may aggravate the situation.
- Damp conditions may trigger the outbreak of pompholyx. Certain kinds of fabrics such as nylon and synthetic types are known to encourage dyshidrosis.
- Dermatitis of all kinds such as Seborrheic and Atopic may also be the reason behind the occurrence of pompholyx.
- Immune problems such as Ulcerative colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Crohn’s Disease are also known to exacerbate pompholyx.
Diagnosis of Pompholyx
Picture 2 – Pompholyx Eczema
Source – eczemapicturesite
One can diagnose dyshidrosis by undergoing an allergy test where the suspected substances are applied or brought close to the body to observe if the substances actually trigger a reaction. It is best to go for an allergy test for the entire body, medically known as Alcat to determine an allergic reaction that has caused pompholyx as one of its effects.
Pictures of Pompholyx
Check out these pompholyx pictures to know more about the disease.
Picture 3 – Pompholyx Picture
Source – netfirms
Picture 4 – Pompholyx Photo
Source – dermaamin
Pompholyx (Dyshidrosis) Treatment
Since the exact cause of pompholyx is unknown, so there are no particular dyshidrosis or pompholyx eczema treatment but in fact many, all of this does not guarantee an absolute cure for pompholyx. Some of the different kinds of treatments for pompholyx are mentioned as the following:-
- Compressing the affected area with cold or wet compresses for about 15 minutes more than thrice or four times a day help in the fast and effective healing of pompholyx.
- Topical steroids can help in reducing inflammation of the skin that is a characteristic feature of dyshidrosis. By helping to reduce inflammation, it also provides relief from the irritation and facilitates the process of healing. They are available in the form of creams such as Lotrisone and others containing Clotrimazole, Betamethasone and Dipropionate, ointment such as the zinc oxide ointments or tablets. But they must be avoided for a long term use since they have strong side-effects which may be extremely for the body.
- Medicines available over the counter (OTC) such as domeboro which contains aluminum acetate and other OTC antistringent help in drying up of the blisters and fastens the healing of dyshidrosis. Medications and drugs such as Efalizumab, Ciclosporin, Clobetasol Propionate are quite helpful in the treatment for pompholyx induced by ulcerative colitis. One has to soak the pompholyx affected area in Borows or Domeoboro solution for atleast half an hour more than once a day. A dilute solution of potassium permanganate is more helpful in drying the pompholyx vesicles and causing destruction of the superficial viral or bacterila agents causing the same. Severe pompholyx or dyshidrosis can be treated with Immunodulators like Pimecrolimus and Tacrolimus that help in preventing organ rejection.
- Chronic pompholyx can be treated with antibacterial sulfonamide such as Dapsone.
- During the dry phase of dyshidrosis, emollients can help in the cracking process and reduces the itching associated with it. Filing the fissures with an emery board helps in minimizing pompholyx.
- A more natural way of treating pompholyx is to keep the palms and the feet immersed in a solution of salt for atleast half an hour which must be carried on for a minimum of 3-4 days or more. One may also soak the affected feet or hands in a solution containing white vinegar. This is the best pompholyx home treatment. One can also treat it at home using Plantain infused in olive, lavender or other kinds of oil.
- In cases when pompholyx is highly associated with itching, the application of hemp oil or vaseline petroleum jelly can provide some relief.
- One may wear unbleached cotton gloves for covering the hands to prevent the area from getting scratched and making it less prone to bacterial or viral agents which are responsible for causing infection.
- One can clear up the pompholyx blisters and soothe itching with the help of surgical spirit or alitretinon 9-cis-retinoic acid such as Toctino in case of chronic pompholyx.
- Soaps which contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate must be strictly avoided as it is known to exacerbate the infection. It is advisable to apply aloe vera to the affected area after cleaning them.
- One may also go for a Light Therapy to treat Dyshidrosis which are available in a varied form such as PUVA therapy, the UVA-1, the Low Level Light Therapy, UVB therapy and also the Grenz ray therapy. In such cases the skin is put under a solution of psoralen before exposing it to sunrays.
However, the best way to treat pompholyx or dyshidrosis is to maintain ones personal hygiene and addressing the dietary needs which prevents the intake of alcoholic and addictive substance which may induce pompholyx. One may go for stress management counseling to prevent the supposed cause of most of the cases of dyshidrosis. In order to prevent further pompholyx complications, one must be under the supervision of dermatologists. But, pompholyx is of a recurrent nature and if not treated well may recur. So, an effective treatment is necessary for pompholyx but nothing ensures an absolute cure.
References :
Wikipedia
www.ehow.com
www.womens-health-beauty.com
www.patient.co.uk/health.com
www.ayushveda.com
www.natural-homeremedies.com
This is totally incorrect. I am a podiatrist studying pompholyx, aka dyshidrosis. Please check your facts. there is a cause and a cure.
Please advise what the cause and cure is?
And that cause and cure would be?…
Yes Carole, please share your knowledge with us. I have suffered off and on with this on my feet for a number of years. Betnovate cream helps the irritation but nothing seems to cure it.
Carole,
Please tell of the cure for Pompholyx as OTC creams help for the short term only.
I have broken out with this a few times especially w/sinthetic fabrics in shoes ,I use cotten & leather lined now. I have tried numerous ways W/doc. ect., sounds wierd but I tried soaking w clear amonia & water and worked great,it dried within A few days not weeks as before . Try it next time your desperate hope it works
I disagree with you Carol! I have had this condition for over 25 years and there is NO cure! ONLY Preventative measures and high hygiene! The only thing that seems to help is Vinager soaks and vaseline and occasional as grose as it sounds urine. I have gone through extreem measures trying to find a fix for this as it is a huge social embarassment and nothing works long term. I have used every type of topical creams from otc to scripts, ointments foot soaks, hand soaks. I get it so bad on my feet it hurts to walk or even wear shoes so any truethful help would be greatly appriciated!
I have developed this problem over the past five years, and my mother has it too. I have tried everything there is, and nothing has helped. I came up with this idea after going through all kinds of remedies. I found that patchouli oil helps some. More so for me than the creams the doctor prescribed. Also, I know it isn’t good for me in the long run, but taking benedryl three times a day, and ibuphrphen with it, helps keep it at bay. And mine has been so bad at times, that I have scratched till it bled, crevasses in my feet, and just plain painful. But taking the benedryl does help a lot. And I can tell when it’s time to take again, cause the itching will start up again. I hope this will help others suffering from this problem. And to the person who said there is a cure and treatment, undoubtedly doesn’t have this problem, or they would know, there is NO cure, just relief of anyway we can find it. And that comes from top doctors at a well known teaching hospital.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001835/
To Carol Knight, this is an article from the dermatology professionals, and they say, there is No known cure.
There is no cure. Dyshidrotic eczema normally goes away without problems, but symptoms may return later. Excess scratching may lead to thick, irritated skin, which is more difficult to treat and takes longer to heal.
this condition has cost me my job and my mobility. please if anyone knows anything let me know. my doctors know less than i do about it.
I’ll never give up looking for an answer but it has totally changed my life. So far nothing works & no cure. I have it chronic for 1 1/2 years now.
I use a cream that works wonderfully but doesnt clear it for good. It is called mupriocin
The only success I’ve had was removing soy from my diet. I haven’t been able to afford an allergy test, but I suspect I may have other food related triggers.
For now I’ve gone from bleeding feet to small blisters and occasional itching that is treatable with OTC creams instead of internal anti-histamine drugs.
I’ve been suffering for about 8 months now. They itch like ant bites when you pop them. I found that if I take a Benadryl, the itching stops long enough for me to come out of the manic scratching state that drives me from standard crazy to clinically insane. People see me shaking my hands like I have ants all over them, and they wonder if I’m on crack or something. I believe this condition is caused by breathing in the Boron released from aircraft exhaust trails. Sugar, excessive friction, and heat seem to trigger it as well. I’m sure there are other triggers, but I have no idea what they are. The allergy specialist said he doesn’t treat any condition that looks like this.
David I have had this for 12 yrs , 4 yrs of it being full on, to the point I could not use my hands due to the swelling and pain. Steroid cream did help a little but long term has now thinned the skin so do not use it for long periods. Mine was set off by stress at work. And when it started it had to run it’s course often it would take weeks for a cycle. Now I still get small outbreaks but not whole of hand and I manage these my way and that is. if it’s itchy I use a soap or cream and a spoon of Raw sugar, this scratches the itch like nothing else and because the sugar is dissolving while you are rubbing it in your hands it doesn’t do damage to the skin ( unless you do it to often) then I use pinetarsol wash to help dry the blisters then a aqueous cream for the cracks. To much cream Will make you hands sweat Not good, also see if you are allergic to lanolin I was and it was part of the initial problem finding treatment.. Also they say not to use hot water but it would help easy the itch then into cold water. Meditation, looking At your diet are all tools I now use. This is working for me but you need to find what works for you because I don’t think I will ever be free from it
I’ve been fighting this for years on my hands and now recently on my foot. Mine is related to nickel allergy which I just found out. Touching metals is the biggest trigger but also eating products with nickel in it makes the flare ups worse. If I keep my hands clean and try not to sweat…that also helps. Just seems like they have cures for everything else, why not this????
Does any sufferers know if it can spread to other parts of your body ie my arms
Lorna, I have it on my forhead,so I guess it can spread.
I have finally found what I have on my palms. The same burning blisters. I’ve had it for a year and couldn’t find the diagnosis. All the dermatologist kept telling me was that my palm was sweaty.. But couldn’t understand why all of a sudden I was getting these blisters. Sometimes they burn so bad I have to soak my hand in cold water.. can’t b believe there is no cure. I need help to see what had been working to stop them from spreading. It started as one small blister now when it happens it takes over the whole palm. Help….
Has anyone tried soaking hands and/or feet in apple cider vinegar?
I read here you could soak your hands in a white vinegar solution or Plantain infused with olive oil and lavender and other oils. Or even soaking hands and feet in a salt solution could help, these are more natural remedies that are out there.
I haven’t been diagnosed but the symptoms and images match too well.
Mine didn’t start until I worked at a restaurant that used bleach water to clean.
It starts like tiny, barely visible bubbles, like clusters of fish eggs. Then it itches and gets inflamed. My finger swells and my skin gets taut and shiny and red. When they pop, there’s so much serum. it still itches and my skin dries out so much that it cracks. It leaves little holes if I itch too hard and pop the bubbles.
Sometimes the itching is so bad I scratch myself raw on my denim or another rough fabric.
Hot water feels sooooooooo good on it (while burning the unaffected area)
Wish I could post pics and show
I have had this problem for 9 months now, I am a hairdresser, had patch testing done, I am allergic to ammonium sulphate , Nickle and ppd, I have tried so many creams, starts to clear up then starts again. The itch is unbelievable, I get relief under really hot water, but then that dries my skin out, I really don’t think I will ever be free of this
SO SORRY (& I mean it!): That is, to hear your guys’ and gals’ stories. Mine is a similar one. A whole bunch of suffering that nonsufferers of this condition have no clue about. Then the difficulties of differential misdiagnosis compound the frustration.
POMPHOLYX: Like one of the posts indicated, my symptoms look and feel way too similar to the way you all describe for it to not be pompholyx (*like in picture 3). If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, then…?
MEDS: In my case, I was diagnosed the past year with ringworm for a small circle of bumps at the base of my middle left finger. But the 2% Miconazole Nitrate cream did little to relieve either the itching or the small red bumps. What helped?
1. Walgreens brand of atlete’s foot cream “terbinafine hydrochloride cream 1%” to help with fungal part of infection
2. “Mupirocin ointment USP 2%” to help with bacterial part of infection (*in my case, secondary to my initial ringworm lesions that freaked out after a. they spread to the adjacent ring finger and were scratched open when i realized too late that the nitrate cream wasn’t helping any and b. when cutting multiple kiwi fruit and the juice irritated the heck out of the bumps turned mini-tapioca-looking-blisters)
Hope this might help someone out there…
SO SORRY (& I mean it!): That is, to hear your guys’ and gals’ stories. Mine is a similar one. A whole bunch of suffering that nonsufferers of this condition have no clue about. Then the difficulties of differential misdiagnosis compound the frustration.
POMPHOLYX: Like one of the posts indicated, my symptoms look and feel way too similar to the way you all describe for it to not be pompholyx (*like in pictures 1-4). If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, then…?
MEDS: In my case, I was diagnosed the past year with ringworm for a small circle of bumps at the base of my middle left finger. But the 2% Miconazole Nitrate cream did little to relieve either the itching or the small red bumps. What helped?
1. Walgreens brand of atlete’s foot cream “terbinafine hydrochloride cream 1%” to help with fungal part of infection
2. “Mupirocin ointment USP 2%” to help with bacterial part of infection (*in my case, secondary to my initial ringworm lesions that freaked out after a. they spread to the adjacent ring finger and were scratched open when i realized too late that the nitrate cream wasn’t helping any and b. when cutting multiple kiwi fruit and the juice irritated the heck out of the bumps turned mini-tapioca-looking-blisters)
Hope this might help someone out there…
As a kid about 10yrs old, I started getting this condition. My parents bought a new/old house in the N.E.. It was water blisters on my hands and feet. I would scratch till they popped. Then they crusted over, and looked ugly. I also sweated profusely : arm pits, hand, feet. It caused me a lot of stress. Our family doctor had no explanation. But, ‘food allergies’. I stopped eating everything- but meat. Then I moved, and it just went away almost overnight. I’m a senior now, and my food allergies have come back. But I get the water blisters like measles-all over my body, instead of on my hands and feet. I get itchy too. I don’t sweat profusely. NOW I only eat: salads, potatoes, coffee, tea, water, soups, boiled seafood and baked chicken. Anything that is lactose and gluten free. Yeah! FYI: My gallbladder recently filled up with sludge before this all started, and my stomach blowed up like a balloon. I take Pro/Pre biotics, enzymes before I eat, and multi vitamins and Krill oil=DAILY. If I don’t, I spiral out of control all over again. My advice to everyone: eliminate foods one by one and see if that works. If you work in the yard or house with chemicals: wear gloves. Use Green Tea bath shower gell once a month: head to toe. Buy good stuff only. Caress bath soap for bathing. If you itch: use Aloe gell. Wear white cotton gloves for hands, and white cotton socks for feet break out. But apply Aloe before gloves or sock-wait for it to dry.
Take a look at (link removed)
My wife suffered since early 2017 with a sudden outbreak on her hands and feet. We implemented a treatment plan based upon Carole Knight’s recommendations. Her skin is now clear (though she is still experiencing some itching).