Sharing my experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema, also known as Pompholyx, as well as, how I’ve treated it thus far, what it even is, my symptoms (complete with photos), & the potential causes of this hand & foot eczema.
This post (originally posted in March 2021) documents my experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema, also known as dyshidrosis or pompholyx (which is an ancient Greek word for bubbles). Dyshidrotic eczema was something I struggled with for over 2 years. My eczema first showed itself in October of 2020 & I had no clue what I was dealing with for the first 5ish months until I received a diagnosis.
At the time of writing this post, I was living in Norway. I finally received the diagnosis after months of searching to find answers into what was going on. Below I will share my entire experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema which is a foot & hand ezcema, more in depth throughout this post. Long story short, this experience was nothing short of exhausting dealing with the brutal itching & painful flares on my left hand. After learning that what I had been dealing with was in fact eczema, I began to do a handful of research to help assist me in healing my eczema naturally.
My Experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema
Overall, I want to share my entire experience dealing with my Dyshidrotic eczema in case anything I did can potentially help someone else along with their own personal eczema journey. Eczema is something that is very personal. I’m almost certain that no two people have the exact SAME case. With that, please take what I say with a grain of salt. I am NOT a doctor or medical practitioner. I am solely sharing my experience, complete with photos of my Dyshidrotic eczema (which aren’t pretty) & will continue to share what works well for me on the journey of healing my eczema naturally.
Check out these posts next:
- Part 2: My Experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema
- 369 Medical Medium Advanced Liver Cleanse Review
- How I Healed my Eczema Naturally
Early October 2020, I woke up one morning & noticed a strange red pimple-like bump on the inside of my left ring finger. Slightly above where my wedding band & engagement rings sits. The bump was prominent & hard. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t painful or itchy. My energy healer, not knowing what we were dealing with, suggested applying baking soda onto the area. As well as, a band aid in an attempt to dry out the area. At first this seemed to work.
About nine days later, the single red bump was now surrounded by multiple little red bumps in an almost perfect circle. I was nervous it was ring worm. My energy healer confirmed it was not. Although the area changed, it still wasn’t itchy or painful. It just felt a little weird. These new bumps stayed around for a few days but leading up towards my birthday which was on October 20th, they appeared to flatten & dry up. Although I didn’t know what it was, I thought it was getting better & it actually seemed to almost disappear. BUT, I woke up on my birthday & I could feel new bumps under the skin & since then, the bumps only got worse.
I arrived to Norway on October 26th, 2020 & after arriving, the area on my ring finger progressively got worse & worse.
Even though the bumps were spreading, changing color & becoming very red & inflamed, they still were not very painful (only uncomfortable), nor was it itchy until December 2020. December was the first time I sought a second opinion because my finger flipped a switch & appeared to be getting much worse. My skin was starting to itch, was very scaly, & was extremely red & inflamed.
We went to the emergency room because that was the only option we knew of in our city. I felt like the doctor I saw did not fully understand the severity of what I was trying to explain to him. There was definitely a language barrier. Regardless of what he understood or not, he mentioned that he thought it was eczema & prescribed me my first steroid cream. He said it was a strong steroid. So after two weeks of applying it daily, I should experience relief. However, it only got worse.
After not experiencing any relief (whatsoever) with the first prescribed cream, I began to doubt if it was indeed eczema.
I have never had eczema or any skin condition really, aside from acne. Honestly I didn’t think eczema could be this extreme.
One night I went down a rabbit hole & came across scabies, which is coincidentally very prevalent in Norway. My extreme symptoms linked up almost exactly with symptoms of scabies – specifically the intense itching (especially at night) & the way the bumps were forming. I truly thought I had scabies & went back to the emergency room to hopefully be told I did or didn’t. After being seen by another doctor, I did not receive an answer. But I was told that I could do a full body scabies treatment to hopefully kill off all of the “bugs” if I did in fact have it. It was miserable. Both Devin & I had to do a full body scabies treatment for 14 hours in an attempt to solve this issue I was having.
Obviously from the title of this post, it’s clear that I didn’t in fact have scabies.
The full body treatment I did was supposed to bring upon relief within two weeks. After two weeks of doing the treatment & still not seeing any relief, I still thought I had scabies but I was told that some prolonged cases of scabies can become immune to the lotion treatment & a second pill treatment is necessary. On the 14th day after my first scabies treatment, my mind was set that I wanted to get prescribed the scabies treatment pill. Devin found a smaller doctor in our city – so we didn’t have to go BACK to the hospital – and we booked an appointment to go see him.
It ended up working out for the best. Because although I went to see that new doctor to hopefully get prescribed the final scabies treatment, this new doctor confirmed that I did not have scabies. But rather, it was eczema with a bacterial infection on top, hence the fluid filled blisters. During this first appointment, my finger & palm were too inflamed for him to tell what type of eczema it actually was.
The doctor prescribed me a round of antibiotics to take for 10 days to take care of the bacterial infection.
Although I am not the biggest fan of antibiotics, I felt extremely desperate & did not want to take any risks with the bacteria infection spreading or growing into something worse or much more serious. The bacterial infection most likely was a result of my excessive itching. Along side the antibiotic, the doctor prescribed me yet another strong steroid cream to use for two weeks.
The antibiotic definitely helped calm the severe red inflammation & skin bubbles full of puss which showed the doctor that there was indeed something bacterial going on. After completing 10 days on the antibiotic, I went back to the doctor for a follow up. And that’s when he told me it was Dyshidrotic Eczema, also known as Pompholyx.
What is Dyshidrotic Eczema?
Dyshidrotic Eczema is a chronic skin condition that involves clusters of blisters, called vesicles, on the hands, feet, or both, that intensely itch & burn. This condition may also be referred to as foot-and-hand eczema, Dyshidrosis, Pompholyx, Vesicular Eczema, Palmoplantar Eczema, or Cheiropompholyx.
Who’s most likely to get it?
Dyshidrotic Eczema is most common in people ages 20-40. And is twice as likely to affect women rather than men. If you already have another form of eczema, you unfortunately might be subject to getting Dyshidrotic eczema as well. Some people may experience single flare-ups. But it’s much more common for this type of eczema to come & go over long periods of time according to the National Eczema Association.
What symptoms did I experience?
Below are the most common Dyshidrotic Eczema symptoms. I had/have all of them except the excessive sweating.
- Small blisters on hands or feet
- Itching or burning
- Excessive sweating
- Pain in the effected, blistered area
- Scaly, peeling, dry skin
What causes Dyshidrotic Eczema?
The exact cause of Dyshidrotic Eczema is unknown, but several things can trigger it such as…
- Stress
- Contact with certain metals, specifically nickel
- Sweaty or wet hands & feet
- Warm, humid weather, or changes in temperature
- Certain treatments for a weak immune system (immunoglobulin)
- Seasonal allergies
- Having a family history of atopic dermatitis
- Exposure to chemicals such as fragrance in personal care products
I believe the outbreak of eczema on my hands started as a result of stress, a low-nutrient diet, a weak immune system, & my history of being autoimmune compromised. Many functional doctors don’t often talk about how crucial diet & the role of food plays when it comes to healing our bodies from chronic conditions like eczema. While in Norway, I overconsumed processed foods, soy, lacked essential nutrients, & wasn’t eating enough to support myself internally or externally due to a variety of reasons. I found myself consuming more inflammatory foods & oils not necessarily on purpose. But because I lacked options overseas & many days I simply lacked energy to cook.
Long story short, I could go on & on about what I could have done differently. But the fact of the matter is I did the best I could with what I was given, as many of us do. Now being home, I have access to many more tools & nutritious food to now facilitate healing.
It’s also interesting because there is a definite link between eczema & autoimmune conditions & disease…which I have as well. According to Healio Dermatology, “autoimmune diseases that are significantly associated with atopic dermatitis includes: alopecia areata, vitiligo, chronic urticaria, celiac disease, chronic glomerulonephritis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, unspecified inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis & rheumatoid arthritis.” It is not unusual for people who are autoimmune compromised to also have eczema.
How long have I had it/how it started?
I first noticed a small red pimple-like bump on my ring finger in October 2020 & that’s how it started. I struggled with eczema for 2 years before I found relief after doing my first Medical Medium Cleanse.
How have I treated it?
Since I was in a grey area for so long about what I was actually dealing with, I tried over ten natural remedies including baking soda, honey, topical & oral CBD, Apple Cider Vinegar, cotton gloves, Neem Oil, Olive Oil, Oregano Oil, homeopathic remedies, & more. Nothing helped. After I reached a point of exhaustion, I sought medical advice & “treated” it topically with a variety of steroid creams ranging in strength, in addition to the 10-day round of antibiotics to treat the topical infection. I used a total of 5 steroid creams & none helped.
For many months, the only relief I experienced during an itching flare was to run my hand under ice cold water until I lost feeling. Most nights I ended up doing this in the middle of the night. Because that’s when I experienced the majority of my flares.
I document more of what I’ve done over the years to treat my experience in this Part 2 post & share ultimately how I healed my Dyshidrotic Eczema in this post!
How do you cure Dyshidrotic Eczema?
There is no “cure” to Dyshidrotic eczema but there are things you can do to lessen your triggers, detox your body, & put the eczema into remission in a natural way. After reaching a breaking point in my eczema in the Summer of 2022, I decided to complete my first Medical Medium 369 Cleanse. Doing this cleanse changed my life because after completing it, my hand started to heal. At the time of updating this post (August 2023), my Dyshidrotic eczema is about 99% healed.
To wrap things up, if you too are currently struggling with eczema or have struggled with it in the past, I see you & I feel for you more than you know. Never did I once think I would get eczema. OR that it could be as miserable as it was. It flipped my whole life upside down. You don’t realize how valuable having a pain-free, working hand is until you have a hard time completing daily tasks like going to wash your hair, holding a grocery bag, doing dishes, typing on the computer, the list goes on & on!
At first, it was quite difficult balancing healing naturally & medically.
Especially when you feel desperate. Healing holistically & naturally can absolutely be done. But in most cases it takes trial & error & a lot of time. It’s definitely not instant by any means. And then you have the medical route. Obviously modern medicine is there for a reason. And I absolutely took advantage of it to an extent with my Dyshidrotic Eczema out of pure desperation & discomfort. But as with many other things, an antibiotic or steroid cream isn’t & wasn’t going to address the root of my problems. Which I knew, but I needed the relief. So I had to give myself a little bit of grace regarding that.
During the many hard days I’ve experienced, I found comfort & validation reading other people share their experience dealing with their Dyshidrotic Eczema which ultimately inspired me to share my journey. No two people have the same exact experience but knowing that someone is going through something a whole lot similar to what you may be going through can be quite comforting.
Don’t forget to check out these posts next:
- Part 2: My Experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema
- 369 Medical Medium Advanced Liver Cleanse Review
- How I Healed my Eczema Naturally
Sending those reading lots of healing!
My eczema isn’t always itchy and painful, so I may not have this exact type of eczema, but mine shows up along my fingers in bumps like yours — which, again, may just be normal eczema. Actually, a couple times, I’ve even noticed tiny, bumpy patches on my face.
What consistently clears mine up in about 3 days is clobetasol proprionate. Like I said, my eczema isn’t always painful and itchy but maybe ask your doctor about this topical ointment if it wasn’t already prescribed to you.
Dr. Dan’s cortisol lip balm has helped clear up my bumps as well.
Just thought I’d give you more options on your journey of healing. God bless!
Hi Kallie, thank you so much for reading & sharing your suggestions! I too wish you all the best on your eczema journey…I know first hand, how exhausting it can be! Sending love! xo
I feel relief reading someone else’s journey with this. I have psoriasis that comes and goes, and I used to struggle with it much worse when I was younger. On top of my mom trying to figure out that, I used to get what I now know as dyshidrotic eczema on my hands. It was miserable being in middleschool and having these patches of insanely itchy blisters in between my fingers! Eventually they went away, so here we are now. I’m 22 and having run out of my allergy medication, as I’m highly allergic to anything green outside pretty much and get full body hives without antihistamines, I’m experiencing a flare up of the eczema for the first time in 10 years. Along with that, I have a scaly rash along the underside of my chin/neck area that itches like crazy! Safe to say I’m trying desperately not to scratch myself to the point of infection. I’m not sure what environmental stressor has triggered so many allergic reactions on me, but I have my allergy medication back in stock so hopefully that will prevent any further reactions. Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to journal your journey with this. It makes me feel not so alone, knowing I’m not the only one dealing with this!
Hi Savannah, thank you so much for stopping by, reading about my journey, & for sharing a little about yours. I’m so sorry that you too have had to deal with such discomfort. You are definitely NOT alone! xo
Hey, I have crazy eczema too, I have had all sorts of different kinds. All over my body, but the worst on my hands.
This might sound crazy and probably not super great for you or your skin, but when your putting tons of steroid cream on anyway, and sometimes your willing to try anything because of the pain, it may be worth a try.
I sometimes put my hands in bleach, I Dilute it with water, but I find it kills the bacteria and it’s able to dry up and clear up.
Also with the creams I use a shit ton multiple times a day for a few days and I find that works better than using it sparingly for weeks on end.
Hi Erin, thank you for sharing – funny enough, I came across the bleach recommendation as well, but never tried it. I hope you’re able to find relief. Thankfully I’ve been able to improve my eczema through a diet, supplement, & lifestyle protocol…just shared a new post with a recent update. Wishing you all the best! xo
I just read some used a rock salt bath for their hands. He boils water. Then he lets his hands sit in there until all the blisters pop. He uses witch hazel to wipe it up.
Worth a try! I’ve been desperate with poison Ivy before & came pretty close to using the bleach technique. Never was brave enough to go through with it.
Good luck!
That sounds intense!
I have been searching for others with this kind of eczema. I have had it on my right palm and middle fingers for almost two years now. I too tried steroids and topicals that did nothing. I am currently using a homeopathic ointment (Emuaid) that calms itching and inflammation and an organic tallow eczema balm (Primally Pure) that moisturizes. these two have been making progress that I have yet to see with any medication. I have only been using these two for less than a week and it is helping me so much. I seem to get breakouts while sleeping because I clench my hands while I sleep and this seems to make them sweaty and I wake up with a palm full of new blisters….. I am thinking an eczema glove may help keep my hands dry at night. I am also trying to stop consuming processed foods and include organic and healthy foods. I highly recommend these two products as they are medication free! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Bridget! Thanks so much for stopping by to read my post – I’m so sorry that you too are dealing with eczema. I wanted to share this Thyme Out Spray with you…it’s truly the only thing that has helped me with the itching & inflammation during flares. Wishing you the best on your healing journey – we got this! xo
Dear Madi Rae,
I LOVE your website!! I can tell you put a lot of effort into it, and I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed using it!
Much thanks,
Halie
Thank you so much Halie! Appreciate you stopping by! xo
Hi!
I have been dealing with this dyshidrotic eczema for almost 7 months now. Never had skin issues til then, so it has taken me by surprise. A very horrible surprise! I too have noticed it flares during the night. I go to bed with super dry skin and not many bubbles to then wake up with sore, swollen bubble covered palms and fingers. Worst part is they develop under the already sore dry flaky skin, so it never really gets to heal. I’ve gotten no relief but I’ll try to 2 things you’ve suggested in your comment.
Hi Amanda, gosh, I’m so sorry to hear you’re also dealing with dyshidrotic eczema. I hope the Thyme Out spray can provide you with some relief, it definitely helped me regain part of my sanity at night. Sending lots of healing your way. xo
I’ll take any suggestions! Unfortunately, I don’t think I can stomach celery juice:(
I’m just glad I’m not alone with this. I noticed a bump on my foot when I came back from the pool one day this summer.
Mine is on the inner side of my heal on my right foot. Itched so bad, although, it was summer. I assumed it was a mosquito bite. At one point I thought it was gone… till I looked down to itch it & realized it had gotten much worse. The itching drives me crazy to the point I’ll pop those blisters just to feel the instant relief. My doctor insisted it was fungal…. Which was much better than my diagnosis of a flesh eating bacteria. After 2 weeks with the anti-fungal cream, I now know that’s not what it is. I feel the best thing for me so far, has been when I wrapped it with neosporine. Which now, it makes sense. Tonight, I tried cortisone cream instead. Id prefer to try something natural if you have any more suggestions!
Well, again, thank you for helping me realize I’m not going to die:) I really don’t like doctors, nor do I trust them. I’m hoping to figure this out on my own.
Thanks again! Hope you all are now happy & healthy.
Hi Lacey! Thank you for sharing your experience, I’m sorry that you’ve been struggling. You’re definitely not alone! I’m not sure if you’ve seen me share this in other comments, but this Thyme Out Spray really helps me during an itching flare! Wishing you all the best! xo
I have what looks to be the same thing in both my hands and feet but was told it is psoriasis. Treatments of every sort haven’t really helped. One made things much worse and I was covered from head to toe basically. Mine forms plaque after drying out.
Thanks for sharing! I’ll be following your progress.
Cindy
Hi Cindy! Thanks for commenting! I’m so sorry that you too are experience something similar. I just posted about my experience doing a Medical Medium Cleanse, which helped my eczema significantly! You can find that post here! Wishing you lots of healing! xo
I suffer from this on my hands, currently and have an exhausting history with it on my feet which at the moment has not shown its ugly head. My hands are in a viscous mentally exhausting cycle right now. I have found myself wanting to cry because I am so tired of dealing with it. When I think I have a handle the bumps come back and itch tremendously which mess with me mentally. I wish there were more direct ways of fighting this.
Yes, Christa – I deeply feel every word you just said! It is beyond exhausting. I’m in the same boat now where I thought it was getting better but over the past few days I experienced yet another flare. My thoughts go out to you truly. I will be sure to share my updates, especially if I find something that does start to solve this…that is my hope! But in the meantime, know that you are not alone! xo
It has been 18 years now I’m suffering with this on my finger tips mostly on my right thumb. I struggled too much during my college days. Now if I’m cooking continuously for four or five days then it gets flared up again. I was treated with gentamicin with clobetasol propionate cream but I stopped using this. I am fed up with this. Sometimes I am really really exhausted because of this. Feeling difficult to work with this. When the bumps become bigger I feel itchy and burning sensation too. Hope for a complete cure from this.
Thank you for reading & for sharing your experience. I’m so sorry that you too have dealt with this, I know first hand how exhausting it can be! xo
I hear you. I also suffer from this tedious disease. Usually mine doesn’t get worse(really serious) but this time I feel like it’s spreading day by day and it makes me so stressed out. I’m exhausted… In my case, I think it started about 5 years ago (can’t remember exactly I feel like I have these my whole 20’s) when it’s very small doctors get confused with other disease or did not care about my condition seriously, It comes and goes I was so stressed and full of anger, which makes my condition get worse but there’s no way out…
Recently I thought I accept these and somehow make peace with it and it seemed work out at some level (doesn’t grouping, not itch (most of the time)…but now I’m so sad and despair…
I hope everyone who suffer dyshidrosis get better and cured completely and never go back again
Hi Claudia, thank you so much for reading my post & for sharing your experience. I so deeply relate to everything you shared. I’m at a point now where I’m trying to not give it attention & make peace with where I am now but it’s immensely difficult. Sending you lots of healing as you continue to find a cure! xo
I first notice my left hand small bump, rash happen in May 2021 and then getting worse slowly spread in June of 2021. My doctor told me recommend avoiding acids food, fast food, junkies. I trying to change diet food like cherries or mix berries. Also give me triamcinolone Acetonide Cream I apply in my skin, doesn’t seem helpful. It is stressful for me don’t know how to dealing with it nothing happens before. I purchased Aveeno Eczema Therapy it seem okay help stay moisturizer. Im 38 year old soon will be reach to 40 year old, I believe my bod changes. I hope that I can do better. Thank you for sharing with your story. You are not the only one everyone who have similar experience.
Hi Charmina, thank you for sharing your experience & for reading about mine. You are definitely not alone, hang in there! xo
Hi, I got it for the first time after my cat suffered an extremely dramatic death back in August 2019. Because of this, I firmly believe my dyshidrotic eczema was triggered by (emotional) stress, as it was not allergy season and I had made no diet or lifestyle changes. As you, I tried every natural and medical remedy available, but nothing helped. Then, after around 15 months (October/November 2020), it suddenly disappeared completely. I had made no changes, but I was over the moon. Sadly, about six weeks ago (April 2021) it came back full force, so I’m now looking for new remedies and found this article and thought I’d share: https://jddonline.com/new-treatment-for-dyshidrotic-eczema
Hi Elsa, thank you for reading & for sharing your own experience. So sorry to hear about the passing of your cat, I too believe there is some sort of emotional connection to the flares. Hang in there, sending lots of healing your way! xo
Hi Madi, try to wear a cotton gloves specifically for eczema upon applying your topical ointment/cream. Try to avoid the affected areas from getting wet as water could absorb the moisture in our skin. I have eczema as well, and actually, I have several types of eczema 🙁 well, topical steroids worked for me last month and as of this moment, I am trying to withdraw the use of topical steroids and I am currently using Young Living essential oil eczema mixture… Please continue sharing your experience 🙂 I hope you will feel comfortable soon…
Hey there, thank you so much for reading & for sharing your own experience with eczema. I’ll have to look into the Young Living essential oil eczema mixture! I wish you comfort & healing as you continue your eczema journey as well!
Have you ever looked into Tinea Manuum… Your photo looks more similar to that than dishydrotic eczema. Tinea Manuum classially presents with severe pruritis (itching) more so than eczema. Additionally, Tinea Manuum classically presents with the annular (ring-like) pattern you are having. this is less common with dishydrotic eczema.
Treatment for Tinea Manuum is an anti-fungal. Quick cure. Always good to get a second opinion!
Hey Lauren, thanks so much for reading about my experience & taking the time to comment sharing your suggestion!
Hey Madi,
I enjoyed reading your story, I’ve dealt with multiple types of dermatitis for the past 4 years since I was about 18, and dyshidrotic eczema is probably the most embarrassing in appearance for me and the most irritating. I get it exactly where you do too, and I’m not even sure how it started it just came one day and has never fully gone away. I’m so interested in your juice/diet attempt to send it into remission I’ve never thought of trying anything internally healing like that, please keep sharing your updates on what you’ve tried/ what’s worked for you! I’d appreciate it.
Take care x
Hi Ariane, thank you so much for sharing your experience & for reading about mine! I’ll have a part 2 coming soon! I do believe anything that’s showing itself on our skin is because of something else going on internally. The tough part is figuring out what that is! Sending you lots of healing xo
Hi Madi and all other dyshidrosis sufferers,
I’ve been there. I read the same webMD articles, tried the same diet changes, changed my jewelry, “de-stressed”, kept my hands dry, applied the same oils, baths, etc. and never found relief. It took me 10 years before I found my answer.
I had stumbled on a blog very similar to this one where a man, unhappy with the answers from the medical community, was documenting his trials with finding the root of his dyshidrosis. He was testing a possible link to sodium lauryl sulfate. Man, that stuff is in everything! I decided I had tried everything else; I might as well try removing that too. It took awhile to find alternative solutions to nearly every bath product, lotion, toothpaste(!), etc. but, when I did, it STOPPED. It resurfaced occasionally but I was able to continue pinpointing what new topical products I might have introduced or what other ingredients in my products might be causing trouble and then cut them out. (Turned out cocamidopropyl betaine was another big one for me.)
I’ve now been free of this for 7 years. I found this post while looking for his because I wanted to thank him. I couldn’t find his post but I wanted to share my story here in case it helps someone else like his helped me. I hope you all find your relief soon.
Best,
Ashley
Hi Ashley, thank you so much for sharing! When researching I too found stories of people putting their eczema into remission when they eliminated harmful ingredients like fragrances & sodium lauryl sulfate, but I’m extremely passionate about using clean products, so I eliminated those ingredients years ago before my eczema even showed itself. But it definitely could be an answer for someone else – it’s crazy how our bodies are all so different. I’m so so glad you have found a solution – it definitely gives me hope & I wish you continued healing! xo
I just wanted to say a huge thank you Madi for this blog post and to Ashley for your comment. xx
4 weeks ago I had a bad flare up of dyshidrotic eczema between my fingers on both hands which was getting worse every day and started spreading onto my palms. I was frantically trying every cream and emollient but nothing was helping until I read your comment about sodium lauryl sulphate. I’d recently changed my face cleanser and went to look at the ingredients and there at the top of the list was sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). I stopped using the cleanser immediately and within a few days the blisters started to clear.
I think the cleanser must have triggered some reaction to SLS as now I am unable to use the hand soap and shampoo that I have always used. These also contain SLS and have given me contact dermatitis on the backs of my hand so I’ve changed my liquid hand soap to an SLS free bar and use gloves to wash my hair. The contact dermatitis is now clearing too.
I’ve been using an emollient cream every time after washing my hands and highly recommend this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doublebase-Diomed-Dry-Skin-Emollient/dp/B084F578HM It soothes my skin from itching and has helped to keep them moisturised.
I am so grateful to both of you for sharing your experiences as it has helped me so much.
Sending all my hope and healing for others on their eczema journey. X
Hi Kate – I am SO grateful that you found some relief after taking the time to read my post & the other comments shared. Sending you continued healing on your own journey..thanks so much for stopping by! xo
I’m so happy to hear that it helped, Kate!! xx
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Of course it was the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate that was causing all these tiny little, painful, itching, annoying, water filled blisters that combine into bigger MORE painful, debilitating blisters on my hands and feet. Of course it was the Sodium Lauryl Sulfate! What was I thinking?
Wait….what the hell is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? How the hell is it doing this to me?
I’ll be checking my personal hygiene products for SLS soon. Where else could I be getting it from possibly? Maybe….just maybe…this conversation has helped me find the culprit as well.
I’ve been dealing with what I am now comfortable calling dyshidrosis for about ten years now. And the only relief I have ever found in the middle of a random dyshidrosis flare up is cleanliness, some good eczema therapy lotion, open air and SUNSHINE! But I hope there is a preventative measure that can rid me of this embarrassing pestilence called dyshidrosis.
Until then,
Thank you for your insight.
Wow – 10 years…I hope you’re able to find relief soon, I can’t imagine! Maybe SLS is your missing link! I’m glad you were able to grab the Thyme Out Spray too. That’s truly been the only thing that has provided me any sort of relief during flares. Have you ever worked with a homeopathic doctor? I recently got some blood & stool tests done in an effort to resolve the root cause of my eczema & my recent protocol I was given, based on my results, has really started to bring me some improvements.
Again, wishing you all the best on your healing journey…my thoughts are with you! xo
Hi Madi, I suffered to have very thin skin on my thumb&index fingers since I am in my 20s usually due to exposure to detergent and dish soaps and especially during cold weathers, though itching and redness was never present before.Im now in my 30s.
During the lockdowns last year, I have tried washing clothes thereby exposing my hands to bleach every 2weeks. I had this exact type of eczema though I only found out about its name from your blog, thus confirming all my symptoms.
I had it for 1year now, and tried natural ways to cure it (aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, petroleum jelly) nothing worked. But 2 weeks ago, my friend had me purchase Whitfield’s Ointment. And it did wonders! Now my palm and fingers looked the best it’s been since last year. You might want to try it too!
Your blog really helped me btw knowing that I am fighting with other people against this issue.
Hi there Aniah, I’m so glad you found my post – you are definitely NOT alone!! Thank you for sharing a little about your own journey with eczema & I’m thrilled you found something to assist you! I will definitely be looking into that product, I appreciate you thinking to share with me! I wish you continued healing along your journey! xo
Hi I am a female age 33 I have never got this till now twice it funny because I work at the same job where I am caring a metal blade in between my fingers second time and it’s taking a while to heal. I’ve had about 4 days now and it just staring to itch more early morning right know I’m calm, but it itch around 3:00am once I woke up to use the bathroom can you please tell me what works for you to stop itching I am trying to manage stress and like I say I do believe it’s cause from metal, but I can’t believe how it just happing it’s quite embarrassing too.
Hi Vanessa, I’m so sorry to hear that you too are struggle with this. It’s awful. Crazy, that my middle of the night itching happens around 3am too. Although my eczema is no where near healed, I started to use this Thyme Out Spray & it has been the ONLY thing that has helped thus far with my itching flares. I’d highly recommend. Wishing you all of the best.
Thank you yes i will buy the spray again I just started getting I never had this problem when younger..I am now relaxing my fingers at work today was a bit uncomfortable I had hold the mop but not to grip or it will hurt .
I totally feel your pain…hang in there! xo
Hello Madi,
I’ve been dealing with what I am now comfortable calling dyshidrosis for about ten years now. And the only relief I have ever found in the middle of a random dyshidrosis flare up is cleanliness, some good eczema therapy lotion, open air and SUNSHINE!
I just added a bottle of Thyme Out Spray to my amazon shopping cart. In addition to searching for SLS in my products I will also try this the next time I’m trying to watch a movie and my fingers are itching and on fire due to a dyshidrosis flare up.
Thanks for the link.
Hi there,
I recently been diagnosed with this and did all kinds of treatments (lotions, steroid creams, etc). Where I found healing was is in keeping the skin dry and away from water as much as possible during a flare. And most importantly, I covered the inflamed skin with a medical thin, see-through waterproof dressing (called a tegaderm) for most of the day- you can get it usually at any medical supply store. I had an epiphany – dyshidrotic-seems to translate to “dislike of water”. I also just washed my skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser and wore gloves during dishwashing etc. Hope this helps anyone out there like it did for me.
Hi Sean, thank you so much for sharing your experience! Grateful for readers like yourself who have shared what has helped you, because you never know if it will become an answer for someone else who reads! Wishing you the best on your continued healing journey!
I so appreciate your post and all of the possible leads offered in the comments! Many thanks for opening up about this. I have it on the bottoms of my feet and the itching is definitely crazy-making. When it first showed up it was also on my fingers. Going to try some of these suggestions. I also find that ice can provide relief, though temporary. In the winter I sometimes go stand in the snow!
Hey Sam, I’m so glad you found my post. I know I’ve taken great comfort in realizing I am not alone in this all. Sending lots of healing your way! xo
Hi Madi! Thanks for posting, always great reading about other people’s experiences while looking for ways to calm my dyshidrotic eczema on my hands! Just out of curiosity, have you found that any specific eliminations from your diet or other diet rituals (such as celery juice) have helped at all? I went through a phase where I tried eliminating yeast, and although it did help my stomach pains, it did little for my blisters on my hands. Thanks again for sharing your experience!
Hi Ingrid! You’re so welcome, thank you for taking time out of your day to read about my personal journey. Up until this point, I have been unsuccessful in linking a specific food or food group to my eczema flares. I am having a food intolerance blood test done to try to find something there & I’ve been trying to remove nickel from my daily life as much as possible at least for a few weeks to see if that helps the eczema calm down. Also, I mentioned it in a comment above, but I started using a Thyme Out spray that I purchased from Amazon. It has been the only product I’ve used that has brought me any sort of relief. Highly recommend if your blisters on your hands are itchy. If you have any other questions, please let me know! Thanks again for stopping by – wishing you lots of healing! xo
I wish blogs like this had been around when I first started struggling with this type of eczema when I was 13. Mine seemed to flare around my period. It went away when I got pregnant. Here I am 6years later with the start of a flare. This I believe is entirely stress related. The only thing that worked some what before was this disgusting coal tar lotion that had another acid in it. I’m wishing I had some now. I think I’ll be calling the dermatologist tomorrow. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to go in. Hope you get some relief soon!
Hi Sara, thank you so much for stopping by to read about my experience. I’m so sorry you too are dealing with this eczema. I agree, I believe a huge link is stress! Here’s to hoping we find answers, wishing you the best! xo
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s a nasty affliction that’s also very ugly. What starts with a bump ends up consuming several fingers. I thought, in the beginning, was it akin to shingles, caused by the herpes zoster (chicken pox) virus but I do believe it is pompholyx eczema. I work with rescuing hedgehogs in the UK and have also been told a trigger can be contact with fungal spores, which wild hedgehogs do tend to carry. I have therefore been using a combined steroid cream and antifungal called Lotridrem.
It’s very uncomfortable, like pins and needles when it’s active too.
Thank you for sharing Lynda! Here’s to hoping you find relief soon! xo
I’m so glad I found this post. I also found one little red pimple on my finger a few months ago and since then four of my right hands finger got blisters, also my lips, and began to itch. My dermatologist has send me about 5 steroid creams and none of them had worked. She hasnt told me that this is my condition, but im certain that i have the same thing as you. Sometimes I want to cry because it even hurts to take notes for college because of my blisters. I will try to reduce stress in my life and eat healthier so it gets better. Thanks for sharing your experience with this type of eczema, it helped me to know im not the only one going through it.
María, I am so sorry you are struggling. I know exactly how you feel. If possible, I’d recommend trying to find a naturopathic doctor to help you address the root cause. Anytime something is showing itself on our skin, it’s a result of something “off” internally. If you’re blisters are itching, I’d suggest checking out this Thyme Out spray. It’s the only thing that has brought me relief from the horrific itching. Wishing you the best & sending lots of healing your way! xo
Omg wow! Your pictures look so similar to how my hands looked this past year. Over the past few months my hands have gotten much better but I went through such a terrible and painful and itchy cycle of my eczema coming back! Not sure if you’re interested but after trying sooo many steroid creams, natural creams, going vegan, and cutting things out from my diet and products- I finally started using products from Eczema Honey and that has helped me TREMENDOUSLY!!! I work in healthcare so i’m constantly washing my hands but it’s gotten so much better. Less of the red, inflamed blisters, and now just the occasional dry patches in the space between my fingers.
Hi Angelica, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by to read about my experience! I’m so sorry to hear you’ve dealt with something similar, but I’m happy to hear you’re experiencing a bit of relief! I actually tried a few products from Eczema Honey a few months ago & unfortunately, they just didn’t work out for me. Did you have a favorite product of theirs you tried? I started using something called Thyme Out (from Amazon) & so far, that has been my main source of relief during flares!
Anyways, wishing you the all the best as you continue your healing journey! xo
Hi, I’m 24 .. dealing with this right now (almost similar) … seeking for any kind of help I can get from so many dermatologist …but all I get is some steroids which suppress these symptoms for a week or two and then they (these flare ups) comes back .
Currently getting a homeopathic treatment , just hope it work.
Hi Himanshi, I’m so sorry that you too are dealing with something similar. I’m glad you are seeking help from a homeopathic doctor. That’s what I’m currently doing as well & I’m finally starting to see some major improvements. I wish the same for you! In the meantime, I wanted to share a spray that has helped me tremendously manage the itching & inflammation – it’s called Thyme Out.
Wishing you all the best on your healing journey. xo
I am so pleased, excited, and relieved to find this blog!! I’m a surgical tech and have been suffering with this for about a year now. They say the accelerants in the gloves I use could be the culprit, but will soon find out. Still have not found anything that helps. I am definitely going to try eliminating sulfate in products I use daily. I also came across a review on Amazon about a cream that helps relieve itch instantly. I have yet to try it, but the customer had the same issues and she swears by it and says the bumps are disappearing!
Here’s the link –
Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion, Relief for Eczema and Psoriasis, 3.4 ounces (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M28M61C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0KRDRJ6Q0AGRH2WQH8HV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
She also posted 3 products she uses to help as well.
SkinSmart Eczema Therapy Spray (removes microbes that cause flare up)
Primrose Coldpress-it’s a daily supplement but I think it may help with hot flashes, which for me causes flare ups
Gloves in a bottle- I will use this daily and before bed with cotton gloves overnight as a protective barrier as well.
Good luck everyone!! My prayers are with you and I hope we all find some relief from this issue!
Also, my dermatologist recommends a patch testing for chemicals to see what I might need allergic to that may have caused my outbreak.
Amazing Kaye! Thank you for being so generous with your recommendations! I too will be praying for you as you continue to move through your own personal healing journey! Thank you for sharing the article about the photo therapy too! I’ve never heard of that, so I’m excited to read! Take care! xo
I forgot to mention that I found an article from a nurse that has tried photo therapy and it changed her life! Here is the article! I’ll be discussing this option with my dermatologist as well!!
Here is her story!
https://www.daavlin.com/melissas-story/
Ive been dealing with this condition for over 15 years.
….would you believe that i just found out it can be triggered by heavy metals in the body (specifically nickel?!) I’m currently going through a body detox and avoiding foods that are known to often contain cobalt and nickel.
Wishing you the best – I know how ‘irritating’ this conditional can be <3
Hi Cassy! Thanks so much for stopping by! Yes! That is currently a part of my protocol as well! No jewelry too – my naturopathic doctor has me avoiding metals whenever I can, even jean buttons, or anything that goes directly against my skin. Wishing you all the best – I hope your body detox is successful! xo
Hi, I am a 18 year old girl. Living in developing country, somewhere in Asia. I suffer this since 6 months ago. Actually, I’m not really sure if this is dyshidrosis or not since the doctor from public health sevices(idk if it’s really the actual translation but anyway it’s a public health services for low level people to go to when they’re ill) said that i only suffer from fungal disease, he prescribed me some cream-medicine and it actually worked. I thought i alreay healed but then after some days i didn’t apply the cream anymore it started to appear again on my foot (does it mean i’m addicted to the medicine? 😭).I searched it up online and it looks like the way you described it but only in different area. Just want to know if the main trigger is stress? Because this thing started in the middle of my study for college entrance exam and you know it is so stressful. Also, i’m kinda short in money bcs of covid that’s why i dont go see a specialist. Right… my mom also suffers from eczema so yes, probably i inherited this from my mom😫
Hi there! I’m so sorry that you have been struggling with this too! I do believe stress plays a roll in the flares. I wish you the absolute best as you try to find some answers! xo
Thanks so much for all the info & documenting your journey! I too have been suffering with this on my hands for about 2 years. It is an exhausting process & the worst is when you think you have it under control it comes back. I wanted to share my experience as of late. I recently had an appointment with a Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor who has prescribed some herbal teas, salt soaks & herbal creams. I definitely have noticed some changes but he reminds me that the goal right now is to bring down the inflammation & not have as many outbreaks & when the flares do come up they don’t last as long. It will take some time and I am committed to his plan, but thought it may be worth mentioning as it is a great natural route to try.
Hi Johanna, I’m so sorry to hear that you have struggled for so long with this. I just surpassed my 1 year mark & indeed it is beyond exhausting. Thank you for sharing your experience of seeking out a Chinese Medicine Doctor & I’m glad you’ve noticed some changes. I wish you the absolute best on your continued healing journey! xo
Thanks to the person that said tea tree oil-mixed it into my oil of olay moisturiser and been putting it on as often as I could since Sunday and it’s nearly cleared it already. This time last week it was really sore and itchy. Thank you!
Hi Claire! So glad that you found my post & that one of the shared suggestions brought you some relief! Wishing you the best on your continued healing journey! xo
I didn’t have a name for it but I believe this is exactly what I have on my hands. It comes and goes and most recently has started to flare up again. I wish I knew why it went away last time so I could repeat it. I tried steroid creams and other treatments but nothing really seemed to make a big impact. It can become incredibly painful and itchy. I believe stress has caused my current flare up. I appreciate all of the suggestions on here. I will continue to follow your progress in hopes you find some relief as well.
Hi Andrea, I’m so sorry that you too are dealing with this! I know I have definitely found comfort in knowing that I’m not alone in dealing with this. Wishing you the absolute best on your healing journey – if you’re still experiencing itching, this product has been the only product I’ve been able to get some relief with, so I wanted to share! xo
Hi! I periodically search for info about dyshydrotic eczema for my son who is 13 yrs. old. I am so sorry you are suffering so much. I will pray for you! My son had eczema since he was born. He would wake up with blood on his crib sheets from scratching in the night. Totally broke my heart! Like most people we tried numerous creams, doctors and natural remedies, as well as elimination diets and metal detox. Through trial and error we figured out that taking the following helps tremendously!
1. Glycine 1000mg (the amino acid most needed by your body to heal your GI tract)
2. Probiotics (I bought a few good brands and we rotate periodically to populate different types of good bacteria in the gut.)
3. Allegra (a daily antihistamine)
4. Vitamin B – 100 (helps with all sorts of skin issues)
After a month of that, he was completely healed. Furthermore, he stayed healed until he stayed off the supplements for a month or so..
As a topical, we found that PURE Vitamin E helps (Jäson’s Brand), covered in socks at night. Since that was unpopular after awhile due to the stickiness, he found that Gold Bond Healing Lotion is a great substitute.
Hope this helps someone. God bless you! Amy
Amy you are so very kind, thank you for sharing all of that. I’m so sorry that your son struggled with eczema too, I will pray for his continued healing as well! Take care! xo
I suffered with this for months in my late teens my doctor thought it looked like scabies but was on my souls of feet in betwern toes and palms of hands and in betwern fingers never spread further. I used anti fungal creams athletes foot cream, the itching at night was intense, in the end one night I poured bleach on to my hands to kill off the fungus, and it worked , treated my feet just rubbed bleach over them and rinsed and within 3 days all gone and back to normal, In my fifties now and never had it again touch wood.
Hi Joy! Wow, what an experience, thank you for sharing! I’m so glad that it never showed up again!
Madi, how are you doing now? Your pics kinda look like dyshidrosis, but it’s strange it’s affecting the top of your hand. Generally this eczema affects the bottom of hands and feet where the skin is different.
Have you tried hot water to kill the itch? It works better than ice water. You stick the hand under running water and wait for it to get really hot (not to scald), just hot enough for you to draw your hand back. You may want to do it two times in a row if the itch isn’t completely gone. The cells let go of the itch causing chemicals because of the heat, and it takes them to build them up again, maybe four hours or more, and you’ll be itch free for that period of time which is a blessing and helps with the healing.
I have become convinced over the years that it is a form of contact dermatitis in predisposed people. Though, like you say, it can be triggered by certain metals or fungus. Which means that protecting your skin is key in healing.
Never use creams, use only ointments to protect your hands. If you use steroids, use an ointment also, not a cream. Be very sparing in steroid use. A tiny bit goes a long way. Apply ointments often to create a barrier between your skin and whatever irritates it. (Creams contain water, ointments or salves do not.)
Use only natural soap. Avoid detergent bars and liquid detergents. I have found it very useful to switch to soy-based detergents (no perfumes or colorings) for the wash. Never use fabric softeners in the wash, they breach the skin something awful.
Soak your hands in hot apple cider vinegar, full strength. Or try strong hydrogen peroxide, I use 27%. Beauty supply stores carry it, or pool care stores.
Add zinc and B-complex to your diet. Biotin also helps heal the skin, in doses of at least 10 mg per day (not mcg).
Good luck! 🙂
Hi Vera! I apologize for just now getting around to approving your comments. I approve them in bulk & have had a busy month! Thank you for sharing your many suggestions – hopefully it can help someone reading! Wishing you the best!
Oh and I fogot to add… if you do use strong peroxide, just dab it on. It may turn the skin white as it burns off the sick cells and any irritant chemicals adhering to your skin. Not for soaking! If you have only 3% peroxide, you could soak.
I had this. Exactly. I tried all the creams. And lotions. And tricks. And prayers. Nothing worked and seemed to be slowly making the area worse. What FINALLY worked was soaking my hand in a Burow’s solution for 20-30 minutes. Immediately after the soak, I dry my hand and use a soft sterile gauze to wipe away any dead skin/opened blisters. Then, I apply a mild hydrocortisone to the softened skin. (hydrocortisone can’t really work through the tough/dry skin on fingers/palms).
Please try the Burow’s solution. The brand I use is Domeboro, but I’m sure there are other brands too. Those tiny (almost microscopic) blisters need to be opened and drained/dried out first. I started feeling relief after the very first soak – this product saved my sanity.
Good luck. I hope my suggestion works for you, and if not – someone else.
Hi Steph, thank you so much for taking the time to read about my experience & share some of your own personal suggestions! Hopefully it helps someone reading! Wishing you the best! xo
i’m experiencing the exact same thing like you! at first it was just little bubbles on one finger and they didn’t disappear for like 2-3 months.. one day the bubbles are finally gone only for me to wake up at 3AM to a very itchy bubbles on a way larger area on the hand.. it’s extremely stressful because it’s on my right hand and it makes it harder to be productive! i also run ice cubes to relieve extreme itchiness, but i supposed water isn’t exactly good for the eczema? i feel relief finding your post here and reading everyone’s experiences on the comments but at the same time it stressed me out because everyone seems to say that it could go for years!! how am i supposed to deal with it.. 😭 i was actually expecting it to get better and disappear in a few days.. but years? noo….
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, you’re definitely not alone. I’ve finally after 14 months of dealing with this have been able to find some relief after working with a naturopath in order to address the root issue internally! Wishing you the absolute best on your healing journey. xo
Hello lovely, I just wanted to comment on here and say that I have been dealing with the exact same thing on both my hands and my feet and it’s now spreading to my other limbs. I’ve been dealing with this for over 2 year now, doctors have done absolutely nothing other than give me steroid creams(which your body can get addicted and make your symptoms much worse) but about a year ago, I found a nutritionist who helped me almost cure this. Now there is no cure, but this is the only thing that has taken my symptoms away completely, and when I am consistent with it I don’t have any issues. You may look into what’s called a carnivore diet, after three days on this my symptoms and bubbles were almost gone, however I would only use this diet for about a month to reset your gut. I found out that it is because my body cannot handle gluten, sugar, carbohydrates, yeast, and any type of fungi so mushrooms and things like that fuel this issue. But my hands and feet were completely overrun by this to the point where I couldn’t take care of myself it was miserable. After cutting out gluten, sugar (this is the main one that effects me) carbs and yeast I have NO SYMPTOMS THEY ALL GO AWAY! The only other thing I would say, is if you’re going to try it stick with it because it is totally worth it. I wish I had found out about this so much sooner because my nails deteriorated and my cuticle has not grown back since and my nails are totally ruined for the time being, but cutting those things out has changed my life. I hope this helps💕 I’ve been struggling for years, but feel free to reach out if you have any questions or anything im a long term survivor of this so I know what ur going through
Camille! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. I am so glad you’ve found relief. It’s so funny that you mentioned your nails & cuticles because my nails & nail beds have completely changed on the hand I have my eczema. It’s so difficult. I’m grateful to say I have been making progress since working closely with a naturopath to address the root cause. I wish you the absolute best as you continue to heal, thank you again for sharing your story! xo
Hi Madi and all pompholyx sufferers.
I came across this website about two months ago searching to see if anyone had a real answer in dealing with this particular eczema.
I was affected with pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema) back in 1992. I got it bad. I was treated with injection Diprospan, a steroid, for a year or so. The eczema went away until 7 years ago, 2014, that it returned as a result of facing a sudden huge amount of stress. Both hands broke out with pompholyx. My whole palms and fingers were covered with it. It was so bad that I could not use my hands without feeling some pain.
Knowing steroid is a bad thing (I had cataract, bruising and skin thinning issues after the first time I was treated with it), I turned to all sorts of creams for the hands. Some creams provided a week or so of relieve from itch and suffering. Nothing really worked until about 3 weeks ago; a friend gave me a bottle of handmade cream made of herbs and natural minerals – an ancient Asian recipe.
I cannot say anything else except that the cream works wonder. Because I was here on your site, I decided to come back to let you know about the cream. Just go: https://www.euzema.com/ and check it out for yourself.
Richard Gan
Hi Richard, thank you so much for taking the time to come back to share your experience! Really appreciate you leaving the link to the cream, it’s so awesome that these comments are full of such great suggestions! Wishing you the absolute best on your continued healing journey!
I do a search every few years to see if any treatments has been discovered for this, and found this article this time! I had it since i was small, and it tool may years visiting doctors to even understand what it is.
Mine is not connected to the product i use, as I only use natural and organic products around the house & lots of essential oils. I had about 4 bad flare up on my hands/feet over the years that lasted about 2 years & then disappeared for years. And I see that it was always triggered by some kind of STRESS for me. Even my last one that i still have on my toes now. I tried as well all the possible creams, natural solutions…The only thing that is helping me is my doTerra essential oils like tea tree, frankincense, and others. They do not heal completely, but remove itchiness by drying the bubbles out. Sometimes drying too much that it cracks, then have to use something moisturising.
Also use a lot of essential oils for stress, as i’m convinced mine is related to stress. And I noticed this slowed down appearing of the new bubbles.
It’s not a quick fix, but helps to manage it in some ways. xx
Hi Helena, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. I too believe stress is a huge component in this type of eczema. The naturopath I’m currently working with has told me the same thing. Managing stress is often easier said than done haha, but I really love essential oils too! Sending you lots of healing & relief! xo
I came across your post while looking up pictures of dyshidrosis for a friend of mine, and I’m glad someone’s posting about it! I’ve suffered from it for about seven years since diagnosis and Benadryl has been my favourite method of relieving the itching and burning when I do have flare-ups. It goes into remission for 6-8 months at a time now, and sticks around only for about a month at full flare, then dies off over the course of about a week and into the next remission period. Preventing flare-ups requires gloves while doing dishes, no scented soaps, detergents, perfumes, hand creams, or super hot water for washing hands. Showering less often also helps but that depends on your comfort level.
Hi Heather – really appreciate you sharing what has worked for you!! I’m glad you’ve been able to periodically put yours into remission! Sending lots of continued healing your way! xo
Thank you for sharing your story. I have been dealing with this exact thing with my 10 year old daughter. She just has it on her hands as well. Her dermatologist recommended “Mickey Mouse therapy”. Ointment and white gloves at night. I’m glad we have some relief but the discomfort I’ve seen her go through makes me thankful for stories that she isn’t the only one going thru it. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jordyn, I’m so sorry to hear your daughter is going through the same thing. She’s definitely not alone. Sending lots of healing & relief her way! xo
I had it in my hands and it took several doctors and finally my Nurse Practioner to figure it out. None of the creams worked but finally she had me try Eucrisa and let me tell you it heals it and I only apply it morning and night if I get a flair. It feels like a petroleum jelly but it works.
Hi Valerie, so sorry that you too have dealt with this. I’m glad it sounds like you found something to provide you with a bit of relief. I wish you continued healing! xo
Thank you for sharing your story. I am curious to know if you have been tested for mold? I have been going through a huge eczema flare and developed dyshidrotic eczema on my hands out of no where. Found out I was living in mold and had tested for mold toxicity. I am now on a detox protocol.
Hi Mary! Thanks so much for stopping by! Mold is no joke. Would you mind sharing how you went about getting tested? I have not been tested for mold, but have experienced great improvements with my eczema after working with a naturopath on my root cause.
I have dealt with dyshidrosis for over 20 years. Suffering day in and and day out I finally said I am going to find a cure for this nightmare. I think I have finally figured it out. I wanted to share with as many people as possible and want to know what results you have with it. I tried creams, detox, ACV with not a hint of results. My dermatologist and doctors said dyshidrosis is not fungal…well I beg to differ. After only 2 months of using Athletes Foot Ultra 1% Butenafine Hydrochloride fungal cream, my blisters are gone. I am at 95% or better and can’t believe my hands don’t look like they went through a meat grinder. I started on my right hand to see if it made a difference and it was almost a week in and I saw results. Then started using on both every other day. 20+ years of hiding my hands, not shaking hands, people staring and wondering what is wrong…20+ years of pain and itching GONE. Please share with any and all dealing with this and let me know if this helps you.
Hi Keith – thank you so much for sharing what has worked for you! I am so sorry that you’ve been dealing with this for so long! Wishing you nothing but continued relief & healing!
Thank you for this information and being so open. I now know what I may be dealing with and am making a point to get my hands looked at. I was searching for answers when I found your site and I’m so very grateful I did. I have had 2 incidents so far that have been on the same spot on the same finger. I also get the same patch of blisters on the sides of my feet and my toe. I was amazed to read what triggers the flare up can be stress related as well as what you stated about it validating something is off internally. I’m at a time in my life where I am fighting for my freedom from DV as well as chronic pain, terrible eating habits and so much more. Just thank you because I feel better about knowing what next steps I should take.
Hi Yolanda – I’m sending you so much healing & strength. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience. I know you will also start to find answers. I’ll link my Part 2 here in case it can be helpful for you too! Take care! xo
Hey,
I’m dealing with dyshidrosis for about 3 years.
What I found most helpful for itching is Flexitol non-itching smoothing cream- it’s like a magic to my hands.
Also, I guess you’ve done allergy tests- but if not, I highly recommend you to do the patch allergy tests. I found out I have an allergy for a specific type of chemical in several shampoos, body soaps and etc. When I don’t get exposed to this chemical I have a major regression.
Wish you all the best
Hey Morgan, thank you so much for taking the time to read & leave a comment. Are you referring to Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS)? That can definitely be an eczema trigger. I’m very familiar with clean products & ingredients, so that wasn’t the cause of mine, but it’s a wonderful suggestion for others who are reading – thanks for sharing! Wishing you all the best as well!
Despite being male, my hands look convincingly like yours in everyway – I could fool a stranger that they’re my hands, including the eczema (I have my mother’s genetics, so my hands are very feminine).
Even the way your eczema behaves in the photos are exact – how it initially appears on top of perfectly fine skin, how it spreads or flares up; and how it looks when its ‘dormant’ and dry.
I’ve been managing it all my life and had several ‘gap years’ free from it due to diligent maintenance. However over the past 2 years, I let myself slip and now dealing with it again… It’s so much easier to deal with if they just stay dormant… one flare up and I’m back to zero…
My eczema consistently returns during summer… all it takes for me is to have any form of irritation on the skin, lack of sleep (poor body resistance), a hot stuffy blanket and finally allergies to trigger the process.
Even though it may not apply to you, I could potentially share how I got my gap years.
Anyway, all the best!
Hi Hugh – thanks so much for taking the time to read & comment! I can so relate, my eczema also flares during the summer, currently experiencing one of my worst flares yet. It’s encouraging to hear that you’ve experienced some gap years – feel free to share what you did in the comments to potentially help someone else too! Sending lots of healing your way!
I have been struggling with this same type of eczema for the past couple years! It took me over a year to finally discover it was in fact eczema. And like you, I’ve tried every remedy I can think of to get it to go away. Lately its gotten horribly bad. Oozing blisters, red, painfully inflamed patches, and broken cracked skin. As of today, I finally found a combination that works for me! Maybe it will help (not a doctor, everyone is different). Last night, I took an antihistamine (benedryl), kept my fingers super dry (don’t let them get sweaty), and applied a LIGHT layer of hydrocortisone cream. In the morning, I used a lotion (actually a face cream) with hyaluronic acid (Neutrogena Hydro Boost–actually provided the most relief through the journey, dries quickly but provides deep moisture very fast). Tonight, my fingers feel so much better, like they could almost be…dare I say it…better! The skin still needs to heal from the flaking and cracking though. It was the Benedryl that did the trick (the only thing I hadnt tried yet). It broke the itch cycle.
Hi Jess – thank you for sharing! So glad you were able to find some relief – trust me when I say I know how brutal the itching can be! Sending lots of healing your way! xo
I just came across your blog and thought I would share my family’s experience with dyshidrotic eczema. In Dec 2016 I met my husband & we started dating. He was so embarrassed about his hands. They were covered with dyshidrotic eczema as well as his feet. He would wake up in the middle of the night itching like crazy. He had lost layers of skin it was so bad and at one point it was coming up his ankles too. It was debilitating. He had been to his medical doctor numerous times. They thought at one point it maybe was a fungal infection. Dermatologist gave all sorts of creams that helped a little, but nothing really helped significantly. I had a theory. My daughter at the time was 3, but when she was a month old, she had eczema all over her face from a milk allergy. We had to put her on the hypoallergenic formula. That whole experience really had me convinced that when your skin is breaking out, it’s your body’s way of yelling at you to get your attention because you are either ingesting something or putting something on it that it doesn’t like. It took me 3 months to talk my husband into not only cutting out all dairy at home, but to just stop eating out because restaurants put butter in everything. He just couldn’t conceive that a small amount of butter could cause his breakout. 6 weeks later he was completely clear. Our theory is that he overexposed himself to dairy taking all the whey protein while bodybuilding. He was doing whey in Kiefer twice a day. Funny thing, it happened to his son too, but he’s also allergic to almonds & they break him out too. Fast forward to 2019, I have always been allergic to milk & chocolate, but not to the point that it bothered me. I didn’t ever eat a lot of either, but would have cheese on things & eat chocolate routinely. But when I was getting body beautiful for our wedding I was eating 2-3 Rx protein Bars a day and I started breaking out on my left hand. Hind sight 20/20 it probably takes a LOT of chocolate to make fig taste like chocolate. I think I got allergy overload & now I can’t do milk or chocolate without a breakout. If I eat out & get dosed with dairy, it takes 2 weeks to clear up. I break out on my face too. I highly recommend a skin allergy test or to do an elimination diet. My husband also breaks out with oats. It may take 2 months to see if you clear up. I hope this helps some of you. 3 in my family have it & stay mostly clear now. Benadryl cream us my friend when I get dosed. God speed!
Hi Jennifer, thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment! I really appreciate it! I did do an allergy test last summer & although it didn’t completely clear my eczema, eliminating new foods definitely helped (I’m already strictly gluten free & dairy free). I wrote more about it in my Part 2 Post Thank you again – wishing you all the best! xo
I have problem on the underside of my fingers for years and years and it is worse in the fall to springtime. Doctors can’t help. I get hardened skin that becomes red and then turns into hard bumps which pulls the surrounding skin. Eventually it scales and peels. And it is even worse when it happens in creases because they open up, bleed and I can’t bend my fingers. Have to wear band-aids. Never itched. One doctor said I had contact dermatitis. Over the years this condition just spread except to the last 2 fingers on the hands, and even in the finger webs so they become hardened.
I wish there was a cure for this and a proper name. It certainly looks like a chronic condition.
Forgot to say, that my hands are never sweaty or clammy. More normal to dry.
Hi Dubrina, I’m so sorry that you are dealing with this. I just posted about my experience doing my first Medical Medium cleanse, which helped my hand significantly, maybe it can help you too! You can find the post here! Sending lots of healing your way! xo
I have had this type of Eczema my entire life, it is important you understand what triggers it. In my experience, I have dairy and pork as the main culprits along with stressors.
Also, keeping your hands moisturized with a good eczema cream (preferably with Colloidal Oatmeal) will reduce symptoms and calm down the itchiness.
Any type of irritant substance will cause a “flare-up”. Avoid hot baths/showers and chemicals such as bleach ~I know someone mentioned bleach was a “cure”, but this is contrary to everything any medical advice I heard firsthand, and contrary to my experience, please do not use bleach, is toxic. Bleach reacts to the oils in your skin, in a process called saponification, just don’t.
I have had this type of Eczema since I have memory! My journey has led me to these findings, I hope are helpful:
1. It is important you understand what triggers it. In my experience, I have dairy and pork as the main culprits along with stressors.
2. Keep your hands/feet moisturized with a good eczema cream (preferably with Colloidal Oatmeal) will reduce symptoms and calm down the itchiness. Yes, that’s more than once a day.
3. Avoid irritant substances it will make your eczema “flare-up”. and chemicals such as bleach ~I know someone mentioned bleach was a “cure”, but this is contrary to everything any medical advice I heard firsthand, and contrary to my experience, please do not use bleach, is toxic. Bleach reacts to the oils in your skin, in a process called saponification, just don’t.
4. Avoid hot baths/showers
5. Try not to scratch… that’s hard, moisturize instead. Yes, I mention moisturizing twice, yes that’s right.
Hi Carolina! Thank you for taking the time to share what has worked for you! Sending you continued healing! xo
Omg! I’m so glad i ran into this post.. i first got this in 2020 october as well! i was pregnant so i thought it had to do something w that but it’s 2022 now and i still get it. I went to the doctor and got prescribed medicine for scabies too but that didn’t work and my parents tried telling me it was athletes foot and i took for medicine for that it never worked nothing i have used has worked. i kinda just try to avoid scratching even thought it’s really hard. still trying out different things when it comes back i usually get it whenever the weather changes in texas. when we start getting closer to november december i thought that’s why i was getting it bc of the weather i didn’t think maybe it could be what i eat. i’m gonna continue trying different things and hopefully it helps.. i’m also going to try cold water for some relief! I have always done hot water to try to burn it off or something idk. lol.
Hi Alexis, I’m so sorry you too are struggling with this, but I’m so glad you found my blog because you are definitely not alone! In the past 6 months, I was finally able to put my eczema into remission after a daily struggle of over 2 years. Definitely check out my Dyshidrotic Eczema Part 2 & my Medical Medium Cleanse post, the cleanse significantly helped my eczema after trying countless other things with little to no relief. Sending you lots & lots of healing your way! xo
I came across this and was baffled. My experience is IDENTICAL to yours. Started on my ring finger left hand, and I ALSO thought it was ring worm! It has now spread in the same areas shown in your pictures. I was prescribed a topical steroid and realized after I lost it, that it was actually making it so much worse. Whenever I used the topical, it would come back with a vengeance. Hot, and swollen and insanely itchy. It would wake me up from a dead sleep.
I am becoming so incredibly frustrated at how impossible it seems to get rid of this. I now wear gloves anytime I wash my face or hair, or even just take a shower.
I have used the aveeno eczema therapy which provides minor relief, and I use vanicream daily which actually seems to help the itching quite well, but no matter what I do, it just never goes away. I’ve never had eczema until now and it has been an ongoing flare up for about a year and a half now I would say.
When it becomes super itchy, I too run it under cold water until it becomes numb, or I hold a bag of frozen veggies to it until it’s numb.
My skin hasn’t really been dry either and it never cracks, so I feel like the blisters just harden and the skin just thickens and rarely comes off.
I’m miserable, but your post brought me solace in knowing I’m not alone, especially because of just how similar your story is to mine.
Hoping you find something that really helps!
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Lauryn, I’m so sorry you too are struggling with this, but I’m so glad you found my blog because you are definitely not alone! In the past 6 months, I was finally able to put my eczema into remission after a daily struggle of over 2 years. Definitely check out my Dyshidrotic Eczema Part 2 & my Medical Medium Cleanse post, the cleanse significantly helped my eczema after trying countless other things with little to no relief. Stay strong, I’m sending you lots & lots of healing! xo
I’ve been dealing with this for the past 6+ months and it looks exactly the same as yours! I don’t use any topical or oral steroids after having gone through Topical Steroid Withdrawal in 2014, so I tried *everything* I could think of. Nothing worked! Finally, I found a new derm and she convinced me to try Eucrisa. It’s been 4 days and I see a HUGE improvement.
Have you tried it? I’m using it very very sparingly, only AM/PM in a thin layer. Hopefully you can get some healing, too!
Hi Beth! I’m so sorry that you too have struggled with this!! But I’m glad to hear you’ve experienced some relief using Eucrisa! I was able to achieve immense healing after completing the Medical Medium 369 Advanced Cleanse last September, it was a game changer for me! You can read about my cleanse experience here! Wishing you all the best in your healing journey! xo
Thank you Madi,
I was looking at Google Images of Hand Eczema and the edge of your outbreak looked like mine – my case does not cover as much area, both hands, same fingers and in between.
Very helpful information – you are doing a great service. And then for you to find the Medical Medium books. I have done lemon juice fasts with intestinal cleanser (used to be called Perfect 7) for 50 years – I am 71. These fasts have made a huge difference and the Detox Regime you describe is a kind of fast – it works on inflammation and removing toxins.
Have you ever tried Hyaluronic Acid Creme? – Now Solutions make a AM and PM Creme. I happened on a give-away bottle – the pump was broken-I found a way to get it out and it helps to calm down the burning and itching and makes the rash look better. It does not cure it.
I am going to look into the Detox – I just bought Anthony William’s Liver Rescue a few days ago – someone is trying to tell me something 😉
All the best to you
Hi Bob! Thank you so much for stopping by & reading about my journey! Sorry to hear that you too are familiar with the struggles of eczema. Wishing you all the best – excited for you to check out the Liver Rescue book!
I’ve had this condition in more than 20 years by now along with dry skin in outer ear.
In my case certain soaps, and a contact with certain soapy/foamy antibacterial products can trigger the rash on the hands (antibac or alcohol does not trigger in my case). Doctors has been unable to give any helpful advice.
What I know about keeping the condition away from triggering is taking hot steam sauna for more than 20 minutes per session a few times a week (this is supposed to be hard and one needs to be trained up to do properly). After I started this routine it almost disappeared except for the times I am away from home for more than a week and it reappears.
So my conclusion in my case is that very hot sauna treats this condition and I recommend anyone with this condition to try it out.
Maybe also keeping the hands in quite hot water may help too.
Hi there! Thanks so much for sharing about your experience & what has helped you! Sending you lots of continued healing!
Hi Madi, thanks for sharing your experience with this! I’m going to check out your part 2 link and the other link.
I had eczema as a child on a toe, but the dyshidrotic one I’ve had on my fingers/palms in my adult life has been a lot worse. I believe mine started on the left ringer finger and right index finger for no rhyme or reason. I haven’t been able to find a toothpaste that doesn’t burn/sting (even the SLS-free ones). Right now I try to tilt my head back when brushing my teeth, so that I have less of the paste to wipe off with my hand when I get to the rinsing gargling part.
It is such an exasperating thing to go through -_- Hope that you and everyone who’s commented here is able to find some relief!
Hi Jess, thank you so much for taking the time to read & comment! I’m so sorry that you too are struggling with Dyshidrotic. My favorite clean toothpaste is from Oral Essentials, have you tried that brand? Sending lots of healing & relief your way! xo
Hi Madi.
My symptoms are so similar to what you described in the post. Actually is in my right hand same finger. I haven’t been told is Dyshidrosis yet but it looks really similar. I have an appointment tomorrow to see. The itching is so exhausting. I’ll keep reading your posts to see how has been for you for the last two years. It would give me hope to see you were able to heal.
Best from Australia.
Hi Yeidy! Thank you so much for stopping by, I’m so sorry that you too are dealing with this. It definitely is exhausting. I’ll be posting another update within the next few days! Wishing you the absolute best on your healing journey! xo
Hi Madi !
I was able to find the ROOT CAUSE of my Dyshidrotic Eczema. It turns out, I have an allergy (or sensitivity) to live yeast. That means that anytime I have fresh bread or pizza, an unpasteurized beer, and certain fermented foods (like sauerkraut, soy sauce, Sriracha, etc), my skin flares up in all the typical places on my hands. As long as I avoid these foods, I don’t have any issues and my hands are perfectly clear. If I accidentally consume some then it takes a few weeks for the skin to clear up completely. There are of course a ton of work-arounds to consuming the foods that typicaly contain yeast through heating to kill off the live yeast (pasteurization) or avoiding them like eating soda bread which contains no yeast.
Best of luck to you !!!
– John
Wow John, that’s amazing!! I’m so happy for you!! I was able to heal mine by doing the Medical Medium Cleanses! Our bodies are amazing – sending continued healing your way!
Hi Madi,
Thank you for sharing your journey with DE. The information you provided has been so helpful! I came across your blog while doing some research for my son who has also been searching tirelessly for an answer.
He has been dealing with DE for 8 years, he is now 36. His flare-ups appear to have been related or partially related to certain foods and he has been tested and discovered that he has allot of food intolerances and allergies. He has been avoiding those foods and is on a very limited diet. His flare-ups have become less debilitating but he continues to have them despite his limited diet. It has become very difficult to deal with especially in social settings when he can’t eat freely and enjoy himself. He always has to prepare his own food and eat at home.
Coincidentally he has been reading the Medical Medium book by David William. When I saw your blog I told him that the cleanse worked for you. He is getting ready to start the 3-6-9 cleanse himself. He is hoping he can eventually start gradually reintroducing foods back into his diet (on a limited basis) following the cleanse.
I wanted to ask you how you have been doing when reintroducing your intolerant foods back into your diet since completing the cleanse? Have you had any flare-ups that may be related to your diet since the cleanse?
Hi Carolyn! Thank you so much for reading about my journey & for leaving such a thoughtful comment! I’m sorry to hear that your son has struggled with DE too, it’s truly awful! I hope the cleanse brings him continued healing! Did you see my 369 Review? If not, you can read it here! I have since done the cleanse twice & I have been able to reintroduce all foods in moderation outside of gluten & dairy (due to allergies) & thankfully I haven’t had a flare in over a year. I drink the Medical Medium smoothies (Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie & Liver Rescue) multiple times a week for maintenance too which really seems to help.