Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema)

[Member957064]

Does anyone have any experience of Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema)?

I have had it for a few months and have been keeping it at bay with Diprobase. It's now started to blister on the soles of my feet (TMI pic attached!), and I can't get a doctor's appointment until a week tomorrow.

It's very uncomfortable to walk on and is soooo itchy! I am tempted to pop the blisters so I could at least walk more comfortably, but know this probably not a good idea!!

Any advice?

Yes, I'm taking antihistamines and they are taking the edge off the itching at least!

Are you sure that's not pp psoriasis?

No, I'm not sure - I've never had eczema or psoriasis before so am just going by what Dr Google says, and waiting for an appointment! I thought it was the pomphlyx because it's on my feet only, and it's blistering.
Do you think it looks more like psoriasis?

Hard to tell from photos, but I have always needed steroids for pompholyx, sometimes with antibiotic if infected. You can get Eumovate (moderately potent steroid) over the counter, and I am sure that a pharmacist would be happy to advise until you can get to a GP (though would they do a telephone appointment sooner?)

Also, I find that moisture makes it worse, so keeping feet dry/cotton or bamboo socks is best. E45 do an itch relief cream with urea in. And popping risks infection, and the relief is usually only temporary as the fluid builds up again.

Thanks for the advice.

I did pop it this afternoon as one blister had grown so large that I couldn't put weight on my foot and I needed to walk to collect DD from school.

I asked in Boots this afternoon and they gave me some Hydrocortisone, so hopefully that's the right thing and will tide me over!

I get pompholyx on my hands and it doesn't look like that. Those blisters are massive. Have you had them before?

I get pomphlox as well, very similar to yours its like a series of small blisters form to make 1 big super blister.
I call it my stigmata,it can get so bad at times.
I was prescribed steroid cream for it and told try to get as much air on it as possible. I was also told not to pop the blisters but sometimes that is easier said than done.
The itching is worse if you pop the blisters, unfortunately I also don't know what to do about that.

I haven't had them before, and yes, it is a super-blister!

I didn't get to speak to a pharmacist today, just someone behind the pharmacy counter. I might try calling the doctor's again tomorrow and try to get a phone appointment.

Hopefully it'll be a little better in the morning (crosses fingers!).

I've had pompholyx for about 20 years, it's not so bad these days but I always soak in organic Apple Cider Vinegar diluted in water, I prefer ice cold water but some like it as hot as they can bare. This will help ease the itch and acts as an anti fungal and anti bacterial. There's a really good group on Facebook where you can get lots of good advice, the one called 'I suffer from pompholyx am I alone?' Is the best group I think.

Good tip, thanks witchy.

Ach, you poor thing - so sore :(

DS had very very similar on his hands (so similar I will attach a photo if I can find one) and though the GP initially suspected Pompholyx and tried to treat with steroids (he is prone to bad eczema) it turned out to be a staph infection that needed strong antibiotics to clear. It was so sore for him and must be worse on feet 😢

Not a great shot tbh

Wow, nightfall, that looks really similar

It is really painful on the feet - the big blister that I popped hasn't come back too badly so I'm off to work this afternoon, and trying to stay off my feet as much as possible!

I had pompholyx a few years ago at the same time as a friend of mine (we had both not long had babies??). It was awful - I used to wake up scratching my feet like mad and had so many blisters between my toes, on the soles of my feet, everywhere! I had to pop the blisters as they drove me mad. I got something from the GP - steriod cream I think - but it didn't really help and it went on an on for more than a year. Eventually after trying numerous things my friend's husband bought some Lamisil which is for athlete's foot and jock itch (!) and she recommended it to me. I was really sceptical as I had tried all sorts but it really did work. My pompholyx cleared up completely and if ever I get a tiny flare up I use this and it goes away. For a few pounds it's definitely worth a try.

Ooh, I think DH has some Lamisil, will try it, thanks doineed!

Hey, you're suffering, eczema is the worst and on the bottoms of your feet too, I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must be :(

A couple years ago I tried to get an appointment with Dr Aron, but he's not taking any more bookings. I went for a hunt to find someone who uses the same or similar method (I'd heard good things about the Aron method) and there is a retired GP in Reading, UK called Dr James Pimm that uses the same method (blending low dose steroid, anti-bacterial and natural oils into a prescription cream) he's really good (well at least I think so) AND he is giving a free consultation at the moment. It might be a good idea to check him out... I mean, you've got nothing to lose with a free consultation. I find his articles are really useful too, he explores why people might have eczema etc. This is the link: drpimm.com/consulting-fees/
I hope you find something to help- eczema is so sucky and his creams have been a godsend for me! Good luck!!

I am currently being driven crazy by this 😭😭😭 I need something to get rid of the itch!

This is exactly what I’m dealing with right now!! Did you find anything to help?

I had this on my hand for about a year - a small patch but it drove me crackers. Hydrocortisone would clear it for a week or so then it’d be back. Eventually it got so messy and cracked I could barely move my fingers. Eumovate as mentioned upthread cleated it in the end. No amount of E45, Sudocrem, diprobase etc touched it. I also have huge tub of a very heavy emollient which I use at night to ward away dryness.

I get it on my hands and I've got a horrible outbreak at the moment, I've ended up on oral steroids and antibiotics as the topical ones just weren't working enough.

I have used pottasium permanganate soaks in the past and paste bandages which help. I've got a dermatologist appointment in a couple of weeks but I'm not holding my breath.

I do pop my blisters sometimes especially if they are big ones. I'm lucky that I don't get it on my feet.

I get pomphylox on the sides of my fingers and sides of my feet. Mine are more a series of pinhead sized blisters and red scaly rash which is bloody itchy then disappear eventually. I use hydrocortisone cream on mine as advised by the GP. Yours are huge compared to my blisters, also mine are filled with clear fluid rather than creamy white like yours (unless that's the photo).
Have had yours looked at and possibly swabbed? Especially as you are in so much pain. You poor bugger, I hope it resolves soon.

How is it going op? Have you managed to clears your up? I’m suffering a flare up of mine, have had mine for about 20 years (on and off) but the last 3 years i’ve Been plagued with an almost constant flare up, never have a clear patch of skin on either of my feet or my hands/wrists...i’m feeling very low because of it, especially as i’m doing a Macmillan home at the weekend and dread to think what this will do for my feet. Potassium permanganate is good to stop infections as you seem to have had big blisters which can lead to cellulitis ☹️ So if it’s recurring, make sure you ask your gp for it. Though i’ve Tried everything, think will give lamisil as try ( think I might even have some somewhere) good luck with it, it’s horrible thing to have

I've had it on and off for twenty years, not as bad as these pictures. It flares up in hot weather. The cycle seems to be blisters - infection - dryness, and each stage needs a different approach. For the blisters and itchiness I've been using Eumovate steroid cream but it seems to spread the blisters perhaps I am spreading the cream on too widely. I am interested in a much lower does steroid cream (0.0025%) as I read somewhere this can help but not been back to the doctors yet. I recommend keeping a food diary and seeing if blisters worsens with wheat, dairy etc. Mine is especially worse on dairy, small amounts of are okay. I find rubbing my hands in honey (a natural antiseptic, very sticky but washes off) helps calm the itches. If the itchy is awful, I sometimes rub epsom salts over the honey (feels amazing, my theory is that it helps circulation which helps prevent infection), then rinse and have a little epsom salt soak. If its very itchy doing the above then simply using virgin olive oil helps calm it down. I also mix 50% Diprobase and 50% Epaderm, rub over then pat the area. I have also used Hydromol Intensive (must be intensive one, 10% urea) - very greasy and quite expensive but good for extreme dryness and skin healing. Today I discovered that massaging a couple of drops of essential lavender oil (a natural antiseptic) with grapeseed oil (grapes are a histamine blocker, not sure if that's relevant) has calmed an outbreak right back - right now it looks the best it's been in ages and I feel like I can see an end in sight?! I also put cotton gloves on under washing up gloves for dishes, hair etc.