A Guide to Pompholyx and My Treatment

Pompholyx, AKA dyshidrotic eczema, is a common type of eczema that appears on the hands and feet (pedi-pompholyx). I learned about this condition when I first got it on the soles of my feet back in 2004. It started out as tiny blisters with a clear watery filling that appeared deep in the skin. After a while my feet had a burning sensation like my feet were on fire. Then the skin started cracking and peeling. Unfortunately being a woman my chances of getting Pompholyx is a little higher than men.

Everyone of every race can be affected by it and people between the ages of 20 and 40 are most likely to get Pompholyx. I tried many ways of curing it. While I still have it, I have made it possible to live with it. You will want to read this to save yourself some trouble and serious pain.

No one knows what causes pompholyx, although it may be triggered by a few factors. Some of these are hot weather, excessive sweating, stress, grief, allergies to metal and detergents for washing clothes or dishes. In my case, I seem to have a lot of trouble with soy and soy based products, heat, detergents, dyes and perfumes. Switching to dye-free, perfume-free detergents made a difference with my Pompholyx.

The Symptoms of Pompholyx

When I was working in a nursing home, I noticed that tiny blisters started to appear on my feet. Soon after, these blisters would break open and the skin would peel off. After that, my feet would have areas of hardened skin... like someone had turned my skin into armour. I have read everywhere that after two weeks it will clear up. Excuse me for a moment while clean the coffee off my screen that I just shot out my nose from laughter. While it may go away for a little bit at times, it will come back very quickly and with unrelenting revenge.

How Can It Be Diagnosed?

Because of it's distinct symptoms, Pompholyx can be diagnosed by a doctor or dermatologist.

What Treatments Are Available for Pompholyx?

So far, my doctor gave me a steroid cream to rub on the soles of my feet. It was so horrible. Not only did it not help, it actually made it worst. My skin became so thin that it was cracking and bleeding. Then I tried tea tree oil which made the steroid cream look like a godsend. It got so bad that I couldn't walk. I tried other treatments but the best thing I found was something I came across by accident.

St Ives Apricot facial scrub is an exfoliating scrub that helps get all the dead skin off your face. One day while showering, I got some on the sole of my left foot. I thought that my foot couldn't get any worst and so I scrubbed it gently with the St Ives facial scrub. When I got out and dried off, my foot looked so much better that I gently scrubbed my other foot with it too. I had bought St Ive's Vitamin E body lotion a week before and drenched my feet in it then put light airy socks on and propped my feet up on a cushion and read a magazine. Usually lotions didn't help because they are so greasy they hold the heat to my foot and make it worst. But this lotion isn't greasy and while it is pricey, it was well worth it. About an hour later, you couldn't tell I had Pompholyx at all!

Within a couple hours my feet were drying out again. I found that if I kept a schedule of putting lotion my feet every two to three hours, that my pompholyx is manageable and isn't a major issue.