It’s National Eczema Awareness week (14-22 September 2019) so I had lots of skin and eczema related posts planned for you, as well as an update of my TSW journey. These may be a little delayed as I’ve just been diagnosed with shingles yesterday, which has knocked me for six. So I might give you some insight into the joys and lows of that!
Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema) – liquid filled blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet
But I wanted to talk about these little tiny liquid filled perfectly circular blisters which have been forming on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet this year. It would appear to be a side effect of coming off topical steroids, but can also be triggered by stress, allergies or contact dermatitis.
I shared some photos on my Instagram feed to see if others got similar itchy lumps and so many of you commented. I didn’t know what they were called but thanks to my insta community I now know these itchy little bumps are called Pompholyx or Dishydrotic eczema. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences of how they coped and treated theirs.
Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema) is a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to develop across the fingers, palms of the hands and sometimes the soles of the feet. It can affect people of any age, but it’s most often seen in adults under 40. Ref: Google search
Suggested treatment…
Sadly the recommended first line of treatment for this skin condition seems to be coricosteroids or oral steroids. In view of my recent withdrawal from using steroids I’m obviously going to suggest you avoid any such treatment and go for something natural instead.
You guys suggested lots of other ways to deal with them. Here’s a few suggestions:
- The best way I found was to burst and drain the blisters and drain them of liquid with tweezers, then they were not so itchy and painful. They seem to heal fairly quickly once I’d done this. Do this carefully and gently to do the least damage to skin as you can.
- Try not to tear at them and scratch them as they can get really sore, and are very hard to protect and look after as you need to constantly be using your hands.
- Bathing in bicarb of soda paste/water may soothe the itch.
- Leave them alone – they will eventually get better on their own
- Wear some silk, bamboo or tencel fingerless gloves so you can protect the blisters and perhaps avoid itching them so much. Check out these from the Eczema Company – Zinc and Tencel gloves.
- Gently tickle or stroke the blisters – I’ve found that sometimes doing this can soothe them and avoid me itching them. Go in circular motions and gently massage your palm.
- Keep a Food, Symptoms and Mood diary to see if you can pinpoint a culprit for causing these itchy blisters. If you are allergic to something you’ll need to work out what it is. That is often quite hard to do when you think about all the different foods you eat every day.
- Oatmeal poultice or bathing – oats can be really soothing and help to reduce the itch
- If it gets infected, try some natural aloe vera, witch hazel or tea tree, dilute and dab on with cotton wool or a tissue then cover.
- Calendula can really help. I use Lyonsleaf Zinc and Calendula cream and it’s really soothing and healing. Visit my Discounts page for a promo code to get 20% off.
- Stress and anxiety can be known to trigger itching so work on that too, if you think you are really anxious, look into ways of managing that stress and anxiety. Everyone is different but I find yoga helps me and anything that helps my heart rate to reduce such as deep breathing, meditation, walking in nature. If your anxiety is causing you a lot of unhappiness please do look into therapy.
You may also be interested in:
- Itchy Palms and Soles of Feet – is it an allergy? – an old blog that has lots of interesting comments.
- 22 Types of Eczema
- Anxiety and itching
- Mindful Scratching – can it help eczema?
Does anyone else get these? How do you treat yours?
I get them on my hands and feet sporadically. I’ve found Tropic’s Tamanu balm helpful and, simply, just continually using hand creams, My daughter also gets them (I’m way over 40, sadly, BTW!). Avoiding anti-bacterial soap is a must, in my case, or rinsing my hands really well when there’s no alternative – I don’t know what’s in the anti-bacterial formula but my skin doesn’t like it, at all!
You might also be interested to know that my teenage Son’s acute eczema, which didn’t respond to steroid creams has responded really well to a cream and lotion containing CBD oli which I bought from Holland and Barrett. Not totally cleared up but so much better than it was.
Hi Sue, thanks so much for sharing. Yes keeping hands moisturised definitely helps me. I’m interested in your son’s story. I’d love to hear more. Would he be interested in doing a guest blog about this?
Hi Ruth
Do u still use protopic ?
Hi Nadine, No I don’t. I cut out steroids and Protopic in January this year and started taking Methotrexate. Funnily, or not so funnily. i’ve just had to stop taking Methotrexate as I now have shingles. Not sure what my next move will be but if you search for my TSW blogs you’ll find out more. For me, my skin is so much better and I’m not putting anything on it at all apart from emollients.
i certainly do have these on the palm of my hands but have been on steroids for four yeas now as i also have nodular prurigo ,, interested to know what these ones are called but only put topical steroid cream on them occasionally as i hate steroids and the effect they have on me ,,but thankyou for sharing
Hi Ann. I too used to get nodular prurigo. i don’t seem to get it any more since cutting out all topical steroids and protopic creams. I think processed food triggered my nodular prurigo. Have you tried tea tree oil?
Recently these have began to occur for me but only on my left hand. On the top of the middle finger and top of hand I have currently 5 blisters that were water filled and so itchy. (Those were larger than the palm of hand which is similar to the photo above.) On my palm they get soooo itchy, especially immediately after popping but I too have opted for popping then as they heal much quicker. I am 35 and struggled for relief. Recently I found a tube of “Polysporin Exema” cream at Dollarama and that combined with “St. Ives Soothing Shea Butter & Oatmeal” lotion gives much relief! I have tried medicated prescription creams with no success. So glad I found those two items at the local Dollarama!!
WOW that sounds amazing. Thanks so much for sharing what works for you. These are so darn itchy, they drive me insane. I’ve still not worked out what causes mine. They seem so random. I think the Dollorama cream has topical steroids and I’m a little wary of them. But the St Ives Soothing Shea butter sounds fab. I will check that out. -it does contain soya for anyone who is allergic to that.
I have them on my hands they are due to my systematic nickel allergy.. This allergy is from eating nickel not touching it. I have burst them, I’ve also used steroids and topical creams. The best treatment for me chelation to remove the nickel from my body.
Hi Corinne, thanks for sharing, you are the second person to say nickel is the cause of this. I must investigate as I too am allergic to the metal nickel. I’ve written about nickel in food before but perhaps I need to revisit that research and see if I can pinpoint what causes this.
Nickel is the cause of the bumps, my daughter started getting that when she was 3 years oldā¦ A doctor told me it was probably allergies, but I manage to figure it out and started focusing completely on what my daughter ate and also wear. I noticed it would come in the belly area close to the belly button, and I said it might be the nickel . So I stopped dressing her with anything that had nickel on her clothes. And bought her plastic button pants and yes thatās what it was the nickel the eczema and the bumps started drying up on their ownā¦. It stop for years until she got pregnant and it started coming back because of the nickel she wear on her pants
WOW that’s some good detective work. It’s such an aggressive allergy isn’t it? I can’t believe how bad my skin gets within a very short time of being in contact with nickel. I think hormones can really change things too so it makes sense that her pregnancy might have changed her sensitivity to nickel. Thanks so much for sharing this. It might help someone pinpoint how to fathom their strange eczema symptoms too.
Hello, I’m so sorry that you have been afflicted with this problem! I had dyshidrotic eczema for over 20 years, but through much research, I figured out how to completely get rid of it. I’m not selling anything and I can’t give you any kind of products that will help. I was systemically allergic to nickel of all things. I have a blog that can tell you more and I will be happy to help you any way I can. Even though it has been over 3 years since I had the terrible stuff, I remember sooo well how terrible it is. Just visit my page on FB Reverse Your Eczema. The blog is in the Notes section and I look forward to helping you, just as I have over 300 people just like yourself! I’m so glad I saw your story! Good luck!
Thank you so much for your comment Rhonda. You are not the first here to comment on nickel allergy in food. Something I’ve written about before and not that easy to avoid as it’s found in so many random foods. I am so glad you have got rid of it. It is very itchy. I will check out your website. Thank you!
I also get them tiny blisters on my hands and feet. They seem to hurt more on my feet than my hands. I seem to get thicker cracked, and peeling on my feet. I have to put lots of lotion on them with socks when I sleep. Ointment works the best. I get a lot of pain during the day . When I use ointment and a bandage they feel better for a while. What else could I do ? Thanks Deb
I do bandage too. I also have some fingerless glovees that really help to avoid contact and irritation. I use Balmonds skin Salvation when mine is really bad. Also Lyonsleaf is a lovely soothing ointment. Trying to pinpoint the cause may help. Can you keep a food, mood and symptoms diary? Might show something. Look up the itchy dozen, a list of foods that can cause itchiness and experiment with avoiding these too. Includes things like eggs, avocado…
A few years ago, for no apparent reason tiny white blisters appeared around the bases of my fingernails and toenails. they popped and then the outer layer of skin around the nails came off, then peeled off my hands and feet. It was not itchy just a bit painful when certain rough surfaces were touched. After a month or so the top layers of skin grew back and I have had no problem since. I worked in hospital theatres at the time and none of the doctors had ever seen this before, and nor had my GP.
Hi Chas, thanks for sharing. I wonder what caused that? You obviously got used to whatever it was. Mine comes and goes and for me, seems to be to do with cutting out topical steroids. But who knows!
I have also these tiny blisters they are very itchy ,can we get rid from this
Hi, thanks for all your comments. I get these horrible itchy patches on my palms, it starts of itchy then my whole palm kind of ‘peels’, I think it is psoriasis and my GP has given me Dermovate which does help, but not a cure
Oh they are horrible. I urge caution with all topical steroids. If you can avoid using them or becoming dependent I would do so. I am going through topical steroid withdrawal at the moment and it’s not pleasant. I am bad with mine, they are mild at the moment but I often scratch them. Best to avoid breaking the skin and using some gentle ointment. I use Balmonds or Lyonsleaf on mine. Very frustrating I know. I do find wearing some cotton fingers less gloves can help too to try to avoid contact. Bandaging also good but not always ever so practical and i only really do this at night.
I feel like ice packs are the only thing that help at night. I have never broken the skin by popping them, even when they get darker pink when inflamed. After a few weeks they go away. I have not heard of nickel association or diet until your post so thank you for sharing and I’m glad I’m not the only one dealing with this frustrating situation. Dermatologist appointments are booked so far out that they have never been able to culture it in time so I’ve been given a range of steroids, antibiotics, and even herpes medication. Nothing helps.
I’ve been getting these blisters on my hand since as early as 5 years old so about 20 years. My doctor’s were never able to tell me what it was but your suggestions give me hope. Like you I’ve been popping the blisters and putting ointment on my hands because otherwise the itchiness becomes a ridiculous distractions and the blisters just multiply the more I itch. I think mine is mostly triggered by anxiety. I suffer from PTSD & BPD2.
Oh no bless you… they are horrible. For me also processed food helps. And stress. I don’t know what BPD2 is I’m sorry, I’ll have to google that. Hope you can get a handle on them. Strangely I am blister free at the moment! Very mysterious.
Hi, Ruth. My go-to treatment is to gently wash the area with soap or other nonirritating cleanser (I use Cera Vee) and a wash cloth to try to open blisters naturally with the friction. Then apply Alocane Burn Gel (and cotton gloves if necessary), and take diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg twice a day. Alocane has has lidocaine and aloe vera so it gently calms the itchiness topically and the diphenhydramine slows the itch systemically. And, as always, use Cera Vee cream.
That sounds like a very lovely way to treat them! I tend to just scratch them and that makes them so itchy and sore. I’ll try to be more kind next time to my poor skin though thankfully I haven’t had them now for some time. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi , can anyone help? Iāve had eczema on my hands, particularly my palms for quite a few years. It was diagnosed by my GP as pompholyx , however it didnāt itch that much and I can see tiny pin head size vesicles beneath the skin on my palms. I was taking an SSRI and when I stopped taking them, my eczema dramatically improved. Yet, I can still see these tiny blisters which never erupt and my hands are incredibly dry and thickened. I use loads of emollients and particularly petroleum jelly but it just goes on and on. Never itches now. Does anyone have any advice please?
Hi Graham, is this on the palms of your hands? I wonder if you could try some more natural emollients and cut out the petroleum jelly. Is it itchy? mine was super itchy but it comes and goes and I’ve no idea what causes it, although there seems to be some link to processed foods for me, though I don’t know why or which ingredient. Can you try cutting out the processed foods for a few weeks to see if it helps? I also have a free download available if you want it, of a food, mood and symptoms diary that you are welcome to try. Could it be caused by a certain food?
Hi good day
I’ve also blisters in may palm and its so itchy
I don’t know how to treat it please any suggenstions, thank you
I try to leave it alone and it will go with time. Scratching it will often make it much more painful so if you can avoid scratching and breaking off the blisters that will help. I put on a little bit of Balmonds skin salvation balm to soothe it. I find it really helps. And they should go away in a few days. If you want to try Balmonds visit https://balmonds.co.uk/ use my Promo code WHATALLERGY for 20% off
Hi I too believe i have the same skin problem this began after having carpal tunnel release on my right hand. at first i though it was the sweating from wearing bandages in warm months but 6 months later im still suffering. it also took a lot longer for my skin to heal after stitches than usual
i 0occasionally get them on my left hand but no way near as much as my right.. my skin is starting to look very crepey and shiny and gets rather sore and purple in appearance.. i have tried keeping my hands moisturised but cant really identify what causes it.. my allergies have increased over the years it used to be just hayfaver but now i find myself allergic to my own pets š i also think i may have an allergy or intolerance to lactose maybe they are related.
Gosh this sounds really annoying. Could it have been triggered by your surgery? I have been collecting allergies too. Not what we want really is it? I’m working on boosting my own immune system, so hopefully this might make me less allergic to everything. Weirdly my right hand is always worse too. Who knew that was a thing! Hope it starts to heal. I don’t know what to suggest really.
Hey Ruth,
Thanks for the great tips. I have suffered with this on my palms for months a few years ago. I think it was stress related, and used to get unbearably itchy, hot and red. I just wanted to share a couple of tips that helped me in case anyone else is suffering and at their wits end with it like I was. I found putting any type of creams on it to be bad, almost suffocating to the blisters. Lavender oil is both soothing and antibacterial, so a few drops in a bowl of warm water (or cold if you prefer) was helpful. I also had a plum blossom stick, which is an acupuncturist tool but so so useful, you just tap it lightly and it pricks the skin very gently, allowing the heat out. Also if it got so bad that I was scratching constantly one of the only things that I found soothing was to hold something frozen through a tea towel. It almost numbed it and stung a little, which took the mind off the itch. I hope thatās helpful for someone š Also in general I have found Aveeno very good for my eczema, one of the only remedies not to sting the broken skin and quite soothing, sometimes I mix in some lavender oil to this too!
Thank you so much for this comment. I reminded me of all things I should have been doing on my cruise holiday last week. Both my sister and I were struggling with the old itchy palms, she worse than me actually. Your comment has reminded me that I need to deploy some simple remedies fast rather than leaping to scratch, which feels so good but leaves palms so sore and the sting on washing is ferocious. I do have lavender oil so I’ll try this. I use Zinc and calendula cream from Lyonsleaf on mine and it works a treat. Thanks again for your lovely comment.
I had these on my hands, feet. I found that submerging in ice and cold water until the water got to room temperature got rid of them, they got smaller until they disappeared over two days. I hope this helps someone.
Thanks so much for this comment Michelle, that’s so helpful. What a simple solution. I know icing mine helps so perhaps similar, cooling down the heat.