Dyshidrotic Eczema or vesicular dermatitis is a mild form of dermatitis that causes blisters to appear on the fingers, palms, and soles of the feet. It can cause severe pain and itching, but it usually goes away on its own within 2-3 weeks and may recur. It mostly affects people under the age of 40 and is more common in women than men. It is caused by many factors, such as allergies and stress.
Symptoms of vesicular dermatitis
Symptoms start as a red rash, then small blisters develop in groups on the palms of the hands and sides of the fingers. It can also occur on the soles of the feet, but less often. The affected area may also feel itchy, burning, and painful. Sometimes the nails may darken or the surrounding area sweats more. In severe cases, large blisters may develop and spread to the backs of the hands, feet, arms, and legs, or pus may form inside the blisters if they become infected. As the blisters dry out, the skin may crack or become red.
Dyshidrotic Eczema usually occurs in people aged 20-40 years and is twice as likely to occur in women as in men. Patients can usually heal on their own within 4 weeks. However, if the symptoms do not go away within that time frame, you should see a doctor for treatment.
Causes of vesicular dermatitis
The cause of Dyshidrotic Eczema is not known, but there are several possible factors that may contribute to its development:
- Various illnesses such as atopic eczema, allergies ,and hay fever, etc.
- Hyperhidrosis
- Sensitive skin or skin that has come into contact with irritants and allergens such as perfumes, cleaning agents, cement, cobalt, nickel, chromium, etc.
- Fungal skin infections, which may occur in the affected area or spread from other parts of the body.
- Prolonged exposure to water or damp areas
- HIV infection or a weakened immune system
- stress
Diagnosis of bullous dermatitis
A doctor can diagnose dyshidrotic eczema by asking about your medical history and examining the affected skin area. In some cases, if a person is at risk for a fungal skin infection or psoriasis, a skin biopsy may be needed. If a person has allergies, further testing may be needed.
Treatment of vesicular dermatitis
Dyshidrotic Eczema usually goes away on its own within 2-4 weeks. If the disease is not severe, you can take care of yourself at home by applying a cool compress to the affected area to reduce itching and using a cream or moisturizer that is free of alcohol, dyes, and fragrances to add moisture to the skin. Also, do not scratch or pick at the affected area, as this may cause scarring.
If symptoms do not improve or become more severe, patients may need to be treated at the hospital. The doctor will analyze the symptoms and consider the following treatment methods:
- Corticosteroids are applied topically in the form of creams or ointments to help reduce inflammation. If symptoms are severe, your doctor may inject the medication directly into your body or prescribe oral medication instead. However, long-term use of steroids can cause dangerous side effects.
- Use of immunosuppressive drugs. Drugs that help reduce blistering and irritation, such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, are an option for those who do not want to use steroids for treatment. However, caution should be exercised regarding side effects, as they may increase the risk of skin infections.
- Use of antihistamines to reduce itching and allergic reactions, such as loratadine, diphenhydramine, etc.
- Light therapy involves shining a UV light on the affected area. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help your skin respond better to the light therapy.
- Botulinumtoxin injections to reduce the amount of sweat produced through the skin and allow the wound to dry out are often used in cases of severe rashes.
- Draining If the blister has pus or fluid inside, the doctor will aspirate or drain the fluid. However, patients should not do this on their own, as it can make the symptoms worse and increase the risk of infection.
- Dietary changes: Choose foods that contain vitamin A and avoid using metal utensils, which can contain cobalt or nickel.
Complications of bullous dermatitis
Most patients often have problems with burning and itching because it makes it difficult to live their lives, including making it difficult to work with the hands and feet, such as having difficulty picking up objects or walking. In cases where the symptoms are severe, patients may experience burning and itching to the point where they cannot sleep, or it may cause wounds to become infected.
Prevention of vesicular dermatitis
Since the exact cause of Dyshidrotic Eczema is still unknown, the following risk factors can be avoided:
- Apply cream or moisturizer regularly to help keep your skin moist.
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly every time, but do not wash your hands too frequently.
- Avoid touching chemicals in the home with bare hands, such as dishwashing liquid, toilet cleaner,perfume, etc., but you may wear gloves or protective equipment before coming into direct contact with such substances.
- In case of allergies, avoid contact with things that may trigger an allergic reaction, including metal particles such as cobalt and nickel.
- Learn to relax and control stress from becoming too much.
