Dealing With Dyshidrosis
You have small blisters on your hands, particularly on the sides of your fingers. You have tried a couple of things to remedy this situation but nothing seems to work. You could have a condition known as dyshidrosis.
Dyshidrosis is a common form of dermatitis of the hands and feet. The condition is tied to the sweat glands where abnormal sweating may bring about the disease. Some experts believe dyshidrosis may be caused by contact with nickel or some other noxious metals. Others suspect that stress may bring out this condition. The list of possible food offenders includes herring, oysters, asparagus, beans, and mushrooms, just to name a few.
Dyshidrosis is seen most frequently in people age 20 to 40, affects men and women evenly, and occurs much often in warmer weather.
The condition begins with small, clear, often intensively itchy blisters on the palms and sides of fingers and often on the soles of feet. When the blisters dry up, the affected area becomes scaly, red and oozing, with cracks in the skin.
Dyshidrosis is usually caused by repetitive contact with one or more irritating chemicals. Stress and sensitivity to nickel have been reported to cause flare-ups. No medical treatment is known to prevent attacks.
And while many investigators still believe sweating is a factor in this condition, the exact cause is unknown. For most, dyshidrosis amounts to an uncomfortable inconvenience, but it can still be incapacitating for some.
The condition ranges in severity from mild, with only a little peeling, to severe, with big blisters and cracks, that if there on your feet, can limit activity. Chronic dermatitis of the feet is associated with warm, moist conditions in socks and shoes.
The blisters can last as long as three weeks. Dyshidrosis may be associated with a similar skin condition called atopic dermatitis as well as allergic conditions such as hay fever.
One prominent factor of dyshidrosis is that the blisters can reoccur, sometimes before the skin heals completely from the previous blisters. The blisters are usually small—about the width of standard pencil lead—and grouped in clusters and look like tapioca. In more severe cases the small blisters may merge together to form larger blisters. Once the blisters dry and flake off, the underlying skin may be red and tender.
In general, this condition does not respond as well to steroids, as other dermatitis does. However, some people are helped, even dramatically, by steroids, especially when applied to the affected areas after the blister stage. Ultraviolet light may also be effective.
One of the best things you can do on your own is to avoid anything that may irritate the skin on your feet. Wear clean, white cotton socks whenever you can and keep your feet dry. If the condition moves toward your hands, you should wear cotton gloves under latex gloves when doing any wet work. You should use a hand cream after washing your hands. If the condition persists, you might want an allergy test done for sensitivity to nickel. If the results are positive, you may begin a nickel-free diet. If infection occurs, then antibiotics may be given.
Dyshidrosis is a skin condition that you may experience once in your life or it may come and go. Talk to your health care provider about what types of remedies are appropriate for you.
