Is this eczema? Psoriasis? What?

[allthelittlelights]

Hello all, does anyone have a clue what could be this on my foot.
I saw dermatologist, they say eczema but nothing helps. Steroid (hydrocortisone 2 percent I think) doesn't help, it itches more.
Fungal treatment makes no difference. It's not bacterial, tried that too. I wash with unperfumed stuff and use Aquaphor daily but nothing helps.
It is in one part of my right foot, on the side above the big toe in a patch about 5cm by 3 cm. Sometimes it itches further up but mostly in this one area. It started about 15 years ago and no changes help, not socks, shoes,washing powder.
The itch is INSANE. I sometimes give in and just scrape it HARD to stop the itch. It bubbles and blisters (big ones which itch worst) weeps and flakes. I can't even bear the area to be touched now, even in bed.
What can it be? What helps? Does anyone know? It's been so long and I'm desperate.

No idea on that one sorry @allthelittlelights.

Hopefully this will bump for you.

Athlete's foot?

I had a similar itchy patch in that area. I think it was eczema. Just reading your post reminds me that I haven’t suffered from it in a while. I’ve been using Flexitol heel balm which does a really good job of keeping the foot moisturised, so might be worth a punt?

Google tinea. My son had one under his baby toe and took massive doses of anti fungal (prescription not over the counter) to get it under control and kill it. It sounds very similar

Does it look like this? www.nhs.uk/conditions/pompholyx/

If so, congratulations on your pompholyx (aka dyshidrotic eczema), and I'm really sorry! I have it too and it's bloody horrible. Mine is mostly on my feet, occasionally on my palms or fingers, it's stress or heat related and it's hard to deal with. If that's what you have, try very hard not to scratch, because although it feels better when the blisters break, it might get infected.

I have tried:

• V strong steroid cream - helped briefly but not long term.
• Dousing in apple cider vinegar - did not work plus I stank.
• Hydrocolloid plasters over it - didn't heal quicker but did feel less irritated and painful.

Unlike my 'normal' eczema, moisturising doesn't seem to make a great difference, but it also can't help. Good luck and let me know if you find something that helps!

Balls, meant to say 'moisturising doesn't seem to make a great difference but it also can't hurt'.

I just noticed you posted this a few days ago @allthelittlelights - hope you're feeling a bit better.

@noodlezoodle yes, it does indeed look like that. Urgh. It's awful isn't it? Nothing really helps.

Ugh, sorry! Yes it's really horrible, but on the plus side, now you know there are lots of us out there trying not to scratch our feet 😂

I would definitely try keeping your feet cool and maybe try putting a hydrocolloid plaster over it? Boots have them as 'healing faster' plasters, but they might be cheaper elsewhere - I bought some giant ones on Amazon.

As I was replying to this post I googled to check my spelling, and found a potential treatment I've never heard of, so I'll give that a go and let you know if it helps! It's this: patient.info/skin-conditions/atopic-eczema/pompholyx#nav-5

Sounds like it might dye all my towels a weird colour but whatever, anything is worth a try!

Thanks! I will try the hydrocolloid things as well. Anything is worth a try. Do socks make yours worse?

Also interesting about the nickel in food - never knew it could be in food and I am VERY allergic to the stuff 😯

Try cutting gluten , sugar including alcohol, nightshades and see if it helps

I don't know if it's socks so much as it is heat - anything that makes my feet hot makes it worse. But it is definitely also stress related.

I also didn't know about nickel in food - how alarming!