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Original poster

pompholyx eczema

66 replies

ShakeYourTicTacs · 13/12/2017 18:55

Does anyone have any experience with this please?

I have never had eczema at all before this episode. It started on one finger and has gradually spread.

I went to my GP as it got infected. Was told it is most likely brought on by stress. Was given a moisturising cream to use for hand washing, instead of using soap.
I was also given a steroid cream to apply twice a day.

2.5 weeks later I went back to my GP as it had not improved and had spread further. Was given a stronger steroid ointment and told to apply it twice a day.

That was a fortnight ago and there is a slight improvement, but not much.

I cannot take anymore time off work so requested a telephone consultation with my GP. Who then said there was nothing they could do without physically seeing me.

How the heck do I get rid of it? It is driving me bonkers!

It’s itchy and sore and weeps. I’ve resorted to covering my hands after applying ointment or cream as much as possible so I don’t catch it and in hopes it soaks I’m better.

I don’t know what else to try. I’m in my probationary period at work so cannot really go back to my GP for a while.

Any advice please?

OP posts:
Bairnsmum05 · 13/12/2017 22:58

the only thing i use for the itching is Witch hazel-it’s amazing at calming it down. Mine has been in a flare up for about 6 months now and struggling to get it under control even with steroids.

Gingaaarghpussy · 14/12/2017 04:12

I would use witch hazel, but he smell makes me heaveSmile

Gingaaarghpussy · 14/12/2017 04:13

*the not he

Original poster
ShakeYourTicTacs · 14/12/2017 05:22

Thank you so much for all your replies.

Dependant on the weather, I’ll pop to Boots on my lunch hour. So many recommendations though that I don’t know what to try first!

Is it common to only get it on hands then? I do not have it anywhere else at all.

OP posts:
twinone · 14/12/2017 05:41

I was always prescribed various useless steroid creams, none of which worked.
When I moved and changed GP, I mentioned it and she prescribed potassium permangernate tablets.
I soak my feet in a solution as and when required.
Ah, the relief! Only have to do it for a couple of days when at the itchy phase.

PragmaticWench · 14/12/2017 05:52

It's usually limited to hands and feet only. I had it over both hands at a very stressful time in my twenties and it covered all of my fingers and the entire palm on each hand. My god the pain and itching!!

Do NOT burst the bubbles as that spreads the fluid and makes it all worse.

You really do need a stronger steroid to get on top of this although GPs are generally cautious about prescribing them. I've seen various consultant dermatologists who have all said it's better to use a stronger steroid for less time than keep going for longer with a weaker one. Steroids also don't thin the skin permanently, only in the short term.

OwtFerNowt · 14/12/2017 06:20

Is it definitely definitely eczema? Sometimes fungal infections can be misdiagnosed and treated with steroids, which just makes them worse because it is suppressing the immune response.

ProseccoandPizza · 14/12/2017 06:32

Suffered with this since 16 so half my life now. It was definitely triggered by cleaning products. I take multiple anti histamines daily to keep the itchiness at bay. I don’t get on with the epaderm ointment as too greasy and it aggrevates my skin. I find diprobase and double base much better. Mometasone cream for daily usage and Fucibet when signs of infection.

RichardHendricksGirlfriend · 14/12/2017 06:40

Had this for 10 years now on my hands, at its worst covers all my fingers and palms. (I cannot imagine getting it on your feet, that would be unbearable!). Antihistamines definitely bring down the worst flare-ups, you can take several a day, not just onefor quicker relief. Otherwise dermovate and Aveeno hand cream are my friends. Interested to see about hot water triggering, I do love a hot bath :-(. I find it's stress and also the cold weather bring it on. Just got back from Last Vegas and the dryness in the air out there has brought on an awful bout. Wish there was a cure, but once you've had a flare-up it seems you're stuck with it Sad. (The sporner in me does love popping the blisters, but that is bad folks...).

LelouchviBritanniacommandsyou · 14/12/2017 06:57

I first got this while at uni (so probably stress related) and it got so bad I had large weeping sores on my fingers. It was also insanely itchy and I didn't do a particularly good job ignoring the urge to scratch Blush They eventually healed up by using steroid cream and an antibacterial cream instead of hand washing.

I was actually meaning to google pompholyx eczema again today as I noticed the juice from the kiwi fruit I was cutting up was irritating my fingers. They seem to have flared up again recently, which may be due to the gloveless washing up I've been doing.

So sorry, not a lot of advice but thank you for starting this thread as it's got some useful suggestions Smile I hope you get it under control soon!

Original poster
ShakeYourTicTacs · 14/12/2017 07:34

I too am bad at not scratching or peeling the skin when it flakes. Yesterday I managed to not touch it all day at work and then ruined it once home!

It’s bugging me because it itches and hurts all day so I can’t just forget about it.

I’m using the steroid cream and the moisturiser but it just isn’t shifting.

I now have it on the tip of half of my fingers. But that one finger is so sore.

OP posts:
ClementineWardrobe · 14/12/2017 08:08

@PragmaticWitch thank you, that's good to know about the skin thinning, I've always been concerned about permanent effects.

Pompholyx is properly called Dishydrotic Eczema; even the eczema association appreciate it's a horrible type of the disease and particularly hard to shift.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 14/12/2017 08:20

Out of interest, anyone else on this thread have other autoimmune conditions? I'm a Crohns/colitis sufferer, with the beginnings of rheumatoid arthritis too.

I knew someone would come on and tell us it's called dyshidrotic eczema.

RichardHendricksGirlfriend · 14/12/2017 08:40

Not that I'm aware of. I don't jump it's an immune thing though, I have also found the eczema improves when I take probiotics and drink kefir, and I suspect if I reduced sugar intake and stopped drinking alcohol it would improve further, but I'm not very good at sticking to things like that...

RichardHendricksGirlfriend · 14/12/2017 08:41

Jump? Doubt!

Cocolepew · 14/12/2017 09:47

Yes Bobbin, I have Lupus.

Gingaaarghpussy · 14/12/2017 13:26

Stress can't be got rid of with creams, obviously. I wish it could. I've found having it on my feet is worse than my hands, although, for me it only itches like fuck until the blisters appear, then I'm oblivious to it until the dead skin annoys me.

ClementineWardrobe · 14/12/2017 15:44

bobbin is that not correct? Are they two different types?

BobbinThreadbare123 · 14/12/2017 20:39

It's correct. It's just that every thread on this has someone popping up to say that. My GP called it pompholyx.

DameFanny · 14/12/2017 20:51

I've had it in every summer for 5 years until this one, when I realise I didn't get it. I went gluten free in the spring, which I guess may have helped?

And yes to other auto immune - thyroid and APS.

I've only had it on my hands though, and not too badly - just rode it out with lots of oil.

Loopy9 · 14/12/2017 21:39

I’ve had this since I was 14 but only on my left hand. I stopped using any body washes and shampoos that had SLS in them only this year and it’s made a huge difference to the hand with eczema. I wish I’d done it 30 years ago! I also use aveeno hand cream about 6-8 times a day. I get the occasional flare ups, mostly if I’m stressed, drank too much or used cleaning products or sun cream.

Bellamuerte · 14/12/2017 21:47

I had this on my feet once. I used loads of Vaseline as well as the cream the GP gave me and it went away. The GP also recommended trying meditation as he thought it was stress related.

mulledoverwine · 14/12/2017 21:52

I have had this for 4 rotten years since I had my first baby and was washing my hands constantly. It started on 1 finger for ages and has now spread to 6.

I was prescribed eumovate but it was too strong and made the pain so much worse. I have a milder one now that is much better for me. I'm just over a cracking, splitting of skin and bleeding stage. OMG the pain Sad I too pick the dead skin!

I didn't realise that about stress. My life is full of stress at the moment.

Moisturising religiously helps and dermol for hand washing. Have to use rubber gloves for any dishes as washing up liquid exacerbates it. I don't use shower gel, only soap and should probably get better shampoo and conditioner. Holy hell it sucks.

Heatherbell1978 · 14/12/2017 21:57

I've had it since my daughter was born 9 months ago. Before that I'd get tiny flare ups but now it's full on between and on my fingers. I haven't been back to GP to get anything stronger than hydrocortisone but probably should . I've tried loads of hand creams and Aveeno definitely the best. Mine is certainly stress related and being run down. DD is second child, doesn't sleep well and my diet has gone to shit since she was born.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 14/12/2017 22:07

I find it really hard to avoid scratching. I realised I was scratching in my sleep! At the mo, mine is only my on my thumb joints. It's not too bad. I'd say fingers crossed but that's often painful!

I'm convinced that it goes with other immune conditions. Arthritic conditions and eczema go together so other inflammatory conditions must be linked. Mine only started after I had a bad bout with my IBD and they upped my meds so it suppressed the flare up. I reckon my body needed another way out.