Dyshidrotic Eczema: Overview, Causes, Treatment

Dyshidrotic eczema is a common form of a chronic dermatological disease. The symptoms affect the general physical state of the patient and cause aesthetic problems. What causes this type of eczema, and how can you treat the disease?

What is dyshidrotic eczema?

A dysfunction of the sweat glands was considered to be the main cause of dyshidrotic eczema. Later on, this relation wasn’t proved. No scientifically proven explanation of dyshidrotic eczema’s origin has been found yet.

The triggering factors

Possible reasons for the development of the disease include:

• stress, nervous disorders;
• fungal infections;
• metabolic disease;
• side effect of drugs and medicines;
• neurological diseases;
• trauma to the skin;
• genetic predisposition;
• mutation of the gene of the phyllargin;
• immune system disorders;
• allergies;
• weather conditions (excessive humidity, dryness, etc.).

Dyshidrotic eczema is not a contagious disease and isn’t dangerous to people who have been in contact with a sick person.

What are the symptoms?

The most common one is a skin rash. It causes discomfort and negatively affects the patient’s physical state. Usually, the rash is localized on the hands and legs.

Dyshidrotic eczema fluid-filled blisters cause itching, scratching, and cracks. During healing, wounds from blisters form crusts of yellow or a brownish color with further hyperpigmentation.

The period of remission takes up to a month. After a certain period, there is a chance of relapse causing severe changes in the structure of the skin. The aggravation is normally not related to the original reason of the disease.

The manifestations include:

• hyperemia;
• lichenification when skin gets right and thick;
• cracks;
• flaking.

If wounds get infected, there is a risk of developing pyoderma (purulent inflammation). In this case, the health condition worsens:

• temperature increase;
• fatigue;
• decreased appetite;
• enlargement of lymph nodes, etc.

How to recognize dyshidrotic eczema

The disease can easily be confused with other pathologies, for example, fungal infection, dermatitis, psoriasis and other dermatological diseases. It is impossible to determine the exact diagnosis by yourself. It is necessary to see a specialist to avoid serious complications.

The laboratory research, examination, and collected data will help to find out the cause of the disease. Additional studies like sampling the scraping from the damaged area might be needed to determine the secondary infection and sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to antibacterial drugs.

The treatment

Treatment of dyshidrotic eczema includes general and local therapy.

This approach helps to significantly speed up and prolong the period of remission.

General treatment includes:

• sedatives for normalizing sleep;
• antihistamines to neutralize the effects of the allergic component;
• vitamin therapy is necessary to strengthen immunity;
• antimicrobial drugs to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms;
• antipyretic drugs in case of fever.

Local treatment drugs such as ointments, lotions, or creams are applied directly on the lesion.

Topical medications have the following properties:

• antihistamine;
• anti-inflammatory;
• sedative;
• antibacterial;
• can contain hormones.

The local methods of treatment include physiotherapy. Especially effective is the use of UVB lamps. The lamp allows to speed up the period of recovery and reduce the frequency of relapses. Lamps have the following properties:

• improve regenerative functions;
• regulate microcirculation;
• prevent the occurrence of secondary infection;
• improve the quality of the skin.

Self-treatment is dangerous and ineffective, so a specialist’s consultation should be the number one step.

Prevention

Prevention is an important part of the treatment. It helps to solve the problem of frequent relapses.

Patients suffering from dyshidrotic eczema are recommended the following preventive measures:

• a well-balanced diet, with the exclusion of a particular product in case of an allergy;
• avoiding direct contact with the allergen causing skin disease (cosmetics, household chemicals, synthetic
• fabrics, contaminated water, etc.);
• exclusion of drugs that can cause allergic reactions
• sanitation of the area of infection;
• use of UVB lamps with the first signs of disease;
• spa treatment.

Following the doctor’s recommendations will help to avoid discomfort and unpleasant sensations.