Dyshidrosis eczema, known more often as dyshidrosis or even pompholyx, is a skin problem characterized by the formation of small blisters on the palms of the hands, fingers and under the soles of the feet. The cause of this disorder is still unknown, but there are several factors that can trigger it, such as exposure to nickel or cobalt, fungal infections, allergies and / or excessive stress. Over time, the skin affected by dyshidrosis tends to become thicker and more scaly, causing itching, inflammation and redness. You can treat the ailment with home remedies and in severe cases follow medical therapies.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treating Dyshidrosis at Home
Step 1. Use a cold, wet compress to relieve irritation
The cold can soothe the discomfort caused by the burning sensation and / or itching of eczema. Cold therapy also helps reduce inflammation in the blisters and numb the irritated nerve endings that transmit the pain signal. Soak a clean, soft cloth in cold water and place it in the freezer for a few hours before wrapping it around your inflamed hand or foot.
- Cover diseased skin with the cold pack for at least 15 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day or as needed.
- If you want the compress to stay cold a little longer, put crushed ice in a plastic bag and wrap it in a soft cloth before applying it to your skin.
- Do not immerse your affected hand or foot in ice; You may feel relief at first, but doing so may shock your blood vessels and trigger chilblains.
Step 2. Apply aloe vera
It is a popular natural remedy for treating irritated and inflamed skin. Not only is it great for softening inflamed, itchy areas and reducing the pain caused by dyshidrosis, it also greatly accelerates the healing process. This plant also has antimicrobial properties, which reduce the severity of eczema if it is caused or aggravated by fungal or bacterial infections. If you apply it several times a day as soon as you notice redness and irritation in your hands or feet, you can greatly combat the ailment.
- Aloe vera contains polysaccharides (complex sugars) that moisturize the skin and keep it moist. It can also stimulate the production of collagen, which makes the skin supple.
- If you have an aloe vera plant in the garden, break off a leaf and apply its thick gel or sap directly to the irritated skin.
- Alternatively, purchase a package of pure aloe vera at a drugstore or health food store. For best results, keep it in the fridge and apply it when it gets cold.
Step 3. Consider using oatmeal
This is another home remedy for soothing irritated and itchy skin that works fairly quickly. The oat extract contains elements with anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve skin discomfort caused by eczema. Then make an oatmeal paste (not too thick), chill it for a few hours in the fridge, apply it directly to the inflamed skin and wait until it dries. Finally, rinse the area with running water but be gentle, as the oatmeal can be slightly exfoliating and you don't have to irritate the skin further.
- As an alternative, you can purchase fine ground oatmeal (sold as colloidal oatmeal in drugstores and health food stores), mix it in a tub with cold water, and soak your hand or foot for 15-20 minutes each. day.
- If you want to save money, you can make fine ground oatmeal yourself by putting instant or slow cooker oatmeal in a blender until it's a smooth, very fine powder. You will find that when finely ground it mixes much better with water.
Step 4. Keep skin hydrated by applying thick creams or ointments
Thick ointments, such as petroleum jelly, mineral oil, or even vegetable fat, are often recommended for treating eczema because they retain moisture on the skin and become a protective barrier against potential irritants. Alternatively, you can opt for creams that are thicker than regular moisturizing lotions, such as Eucerin, which are just as effective, although they need to be applied more frequently than regular moisturizers, as they are absorbed faster. Keep your skin hydrated throughout the day, especially after a bath or shower, to retain moisture and prevent the skin from cracking or drying out.
- If the itching and irritation are bothersome, consider applying a hydrocortisone cream. This drug does not require a prescription (when the concentration is less than 1%) and is effective in quickly reducing pain and swelling.
- Take some time to massage the cream or ointment into the cracks between the fingers and toes and other areas that are often affected by dyshidrosis.
Step 5. Take antihistamines to reduce itching
These over-the-counter medications, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine (Clarityn or others), can relieve the itching and inflammation typical of this eczema. Specifically, they act on the histamines that are produced by the body during an allergic-type reaction.
- By reducing the amount of histamines in circulation, the dilation of the capillaries under the skin also decreases, thus limiting the sensation of itching and redness.
- Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurry vision, and confusion, so don't drive or operate heavy machinery while you're taking them.
Part 2 of 3: Avoid Skin Irritation
Step 1. Reduce the water temperature when bathing or showering to avoid drying out your skin
Water that is too hot promotes dehydration and skin irritation because the heat removes more of the natural sebum that protects the skin. Therefore, for your eczema problem it is best to take a cool or lukewarm bath or shower. If you can regularly take cold baths of at least 15 minutes you can really hydrate the skin, because human skin has good absorbency. Conversely, hot water tends to drain moisture away from the skin, especially if you use bath salts.
- A bath with Epsom salts is not usually recommended for those suffering from eczema (despite its antiseptic properties), because this product tends to drain fluids from the skin.
- Purchase a shower head filter that is capable of blocking skin-irritating chemicals, such as chlorine and nitrites.
Step 2. Use mild soap and natural cleaning products
In some people with eczema, regular soap can dry out and irritate the skin; therefore choose a cleanser that contains natural elements, without fragrances but that is rich in natural moisturizers, such as vitamin E, olive oil or aloe vera. Hypoallergenic cleansers specific for sensitive skin (Neutrogena, Aveeno) are also excellent in case of dyshidrosis, because they dry the skin less. Remember never to rub your skin too hard with towels or vegetable sponges when cleaning the areas affected by eczema.
- Certain detergents, cleaning chemicals, and certain elements found in soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, and perfumes can trigger dyshidrosis eczema - similar to the agents that trigger allergic reactions.
- To be on the safe side, always wear protective gloves when using cleaning products so your skin doesn't come into contact and absorb any chemicals.
- Remember to wash your clothes with irritant-free detergents and fabric softeners to avoid traces that are harmful to your skin.
Step 3. Don't scratch yourself
If you want your skin and blisters to heal properly, especially if you have open sores or blisters, you need to avoid scratching the painful areas. The friction and pressure caused by this gesture can aggravate the situation and increase inflammation and redness, thus increasing the risk of fungal or bacterial infections.
- Make sure you trim your nails carefully and avoid breaking blisters if you have a tendency to unconsciously scratch yourself.
- Consider wearing thin cotton gloves and / or socks to avoid scratching the skin in these sensitive spots.
Part 3 of 3: Seeking Medical Care
Step 1. Treat blisters properly
If the dyshidrosis is quite severe and a lot of purulent material comes out of the blisters, avoid poking or squeezing them. Instead, check with your doctor to find suitable treatments. Your family doctor will be able to give you treatment directly or advise you to go to a dermatologist, a skin specialist. Your doctor will still be able to apply antibiotic creams to you and properly wrap the blisters with sterile gauze to reduce the risk of infections, minimize scar formation and promote healing. If the blisters are quite large, your doctor may consider draining them before treating you.
- Change the bandage every day (or immediately if it gets wet or dirty), but remove it very carefully to minimize the risk of skin irritation.
- When the blister opens, apply antibiotic ointment and cover the area with another clean bandage that is not too tight.
- There are other skin problems that can resemble dyshidrosis, such as fungal or bacterial infections, scabies, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and chicken pox.
Step 2. Ask your doctor to prescribe a corticosteroid cream
Cortisone, prednisone, and other corticosteroid medications are effective in reducing the redness, irritation and itching caused by eczema by altering the body's immune response. These drugs also have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Prednisone is stronger than cortisone and often proves to be the most suitable for treating eczema - it is able to soothe skin inflammation by reducing the size of subcutaneous capillaries and suppressing the inflammatory response of the immune system.
- Wrap the area of skin you are treating with cling film to help absorb the cream and to reduce blisters faster.
- If the eczema is severe enough, your doctor may prescribe oral steroid therapy for several days to help combat inflammation and discomfort.
- Among the side effects of a long-term cortisone therapy you can note thinning of the skin, an increase in edema (water retention) and a reduced immune response of the organism.
Step 3. Consider topical immunosuppressive medications
Immune-suppressing creams or ointments, such as tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel), may prove useful in severe eczema, especially for those who want to avoid the side effects of corticosteroids. These drugs work by reducing the body's immune reaction to the irritants that cause the disorder, thereby decreasing inflammation, redness, and itching. However, this category of medicines increases the risk of infections and even skin cancer, so their use should be considered as a last resort.
- These creams and ointments are not suitable for children and pregnant women.
- By suppressing the immune system, the body is more susceptible to infectious diseases, such as the common cold and the flu.
Step 4. Try phototherapy
If other treatments are not effective for your specific situation, your doctor may recommend a type of light-based therapy, which combines exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays with certain medications that facilitate the skin's receptive capacity to this type of skin. radiation. Phototherapy appears to work by increasing the skin's production of vitamin D and killing the microorganisms responsible for the disorder - a reduction in inflammation, itching and an acceleration of the healing process have been found in approximately 60-70% of patients. people treated.
- To treat skin disorders, the most common type of phototherapy involves the use of narrow-band ultraviolet (UVB) rays.
- In other cases, eczema is treated with broadband UVB, PUVA (psoralen and UVA) and UVA1 phototherapy.
- Phototherapy does not use the portion of the UVA sun rays, because they are very dangerous for the skin and can accelerate the aging process, as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.
Advice
- Dyshidrotic eczema generally heals without difficulty within a few weeks or months, but symptoms can recur cyclically.
- If you scratch excessively, you could thicken the skin and create chronic irritation.
