Pompholyx
Treatments for pompholyx
Protecting your skin
You should try to avoid contact with anything that might irritate your skin, including soaps, shampoosand other household chemicals.
Use an emollient as a soap substitute (see below) and wear cotton-lined gloves when you're at risk of contact with other potentially irritating substances, such as when washing your hair or doing housework.
Don't burst the blisters let them heal on their own. If they're particularly big, your GP may be able to drain them.
Treating the symptoms
The main treatments your GP may recommend to treat the symptoms of pompholyx are similar to those used when treating atopic eczema , including:
- emollients (moisturisers) use these all the timeand instead of soapto stop your skin becoming dry
- steroid cream this reduces the inflammation and irritation and helps the skin to heal
Your GP will probably prescribe a strong steroid cream to use for a short period of time, to minimise risk of steroid side effects . You may be advised to wear cotton gloves at night to help the cream sink into the skin.
You can also try:
- soaking your hands in a dilute solution of potassium permanganate (1:10,000) for 10-15 minutesonce or twice a day for up to five days
- antihistamines to relieve the itching and help you sleep ifthe itchiness is keeping you awake at night
These treatments areavailable from pharmacies without a prescription. Your pharmacist can advise you whether they're suitable for you and how you should use them.
Antibiotics may be prescribed if your skin becomes infected.
Specialist treatments
If yourpompholyx keeps returning or is severe and doesn't get better with the above treatments, your GP may refer you to a specialist in treating skin conditions (dermatologist).
A dermatologist mayrecommend one of the following treatments:
- phototherapy controlled exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light
- steroid tablets or very strong steroid cream
- immunosuppressantcreams or ointments , such as pimecrolimusor tacrolimus
- immunosuppressanttablets or capsules ,such as ciclosporin or azathioprine
- alitretinoincapsules medication that helps improve severe eczema affecting the hands when other treatments haven't worked
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about pompholyx, a type of eczema that causes tiny blisters to erupt across the fingers and palms of the hands. Find out what triggers it and how it's treated.
Signs and symptoms of pompholyx
Pompholyx usually starts as intense itching and burning of the skin on thehands and fingers. The palms and sides of the fingers (and sometimes the soles of the feet) then erupt into tiny itchy blister
What causes pompholyx?
It's not clear exactly what causes pompholyx, but it may be triggered or made worse by: afungal skin infection this may be on the hands or at a distant site from the blisters (such as in between t
How long does it last?
In many cases, pompholyxwill clear up on its own within a fewweeks. The treatments below may help relieve your symptoms in the meantime. Sometimespompholyx may just occur once and never come back, bu
Treatments for pompholyx
Protecting your skin You should try to avoid contact with anything that might irritate your skin, including soaps, shampoosand other household chemicals. Use an emollient as a soap substitute (see b
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