Pompholyx - anyone else suffer from this?

[IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast]

I've had it for a couple of years now but it's just getting worse and worse. Tried hydrocortisone, eumovate and betnovate to no effect. I'm thinking of asking for a dermatology referral but not sure what else they can do

So itchy and my feet are constantly blistered and peeling.

There are stronger steroid creams than the ones you have tried. Might be worth seeing a dermatologist and getting specialist advice, if your GP has been treating this for 2 years without improvement then resonable for you to ask for a referral IMO.

Thanks. To be honest I think I'm probably looking at oral steroids because it's really bad but I'm really reluctant to go down that route. I think I'll have to go and see the doc again, won't I? [much dread emoticon]

Ive had this for 10+ years. I get outbreaks in warm/hot weather. I have an outbreak atm.

The way I deal with it is not to touch it, no matter how itchy it gets, I just leave the vesicles to dry up which avoids the raw peeling.

I gave up using creams years ago becuase they never worked for me.

Thanks Elenor. I know I make it worse by scratching but how on earth do you stop yourself? I've been known to shed a tear at 3am because the itching's so intense I can't sleep. It only seems relieved by pain if that makes sense?

[hits eBay in search of a manacle]

poor you - it is very annoying. Sounds like a trip back to your Gp for the next step is in order.... I wouldn't expect them to try oral steroids at this stage and they may think a dermatology review could be helpful. You won't know until you ask...

In the meantime. Have you tried this....

1. frequent moisturising - try emulsifying ointment from the chemist - very cheap, very gentle and excellent - helps the skin heal and the steroid creams to work better. Use at least 3 x a day.

2. before bed, put the steroid cream on, lather your feet in the moisturiser (eg emulsifyign ointment or vaseline - it will be greasy but it is supposed to be) then cover with cotton socks. Do every night - should have some improvement after about a week.

It is a horrible condition but it does get better. As a child it was very bad, mainly on my hands. Now I get a few few patches on one finger every few years that go completely with a weeks moisturiser/gloves/low dose steroid cream combination.

good luck

IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast wrote: "It only seems relieved by pain if that makes sense?"

Yeah I know what you mean I think...
in the past the only relief from the itching I could get was by scratching until it was red raw, the pain of that was preferable to the itching.
Now I dont know how or when things changed, Ive had this condition so long. But now I prefer to leave it well alone unless the vesicles are unbearable big which happens occasionally, then I erm (TIM!) I drain them in a controlled manner.

I think I found in the past the more I itched them the more it spread (I get the worst outbreaks on my feet) so the pain of one patch became outweighed by having difficultly walking due to a very large area of my foot being red raw.

Sorry I can't be anymore help. I hope you get some relief, as others have said it does get better with time erm or maybe you just learn to live with it!

Elenor that's exactly how it is - you scratch until you're raw because it beats being so itchy you think you'll explode!

Thanks for the advice re moisturisers. I used to find witch hazel gel great for the itching but not I'm at a stage where it's cracking and raw so it stings like hell. Back to the E45 drawing board I think!

Thanks again