Dyshidrosis causes blisters on the skin, especially on the side area of the fingers. The Voice of Health | istock
Spring and summer are the periods of the greatest epidemics of this dermatological disease which resembles dermatitis
Jul 23, 2022 . Updated at 08:18
The dyshidrosis It is an unknown disease. Characterized by the appearance of blisters small filled with liquid Manosespecially on the lateral sides fingersis a picture so similar to that of an irritative eczema, that in many cases, people who suffer from it can confuse the two pathologies, believing, for example, that the rash from which they suffer is caused by certain irritant in the form of a hydroalcoholic gel that they applied to the skin.
But the truth is that dyshidrosis has its own name and surname. It is a disease that many doctors regard as a form of atopic dermatitis. It is an inflammatory process whose substrate is the sweat glands, so it usually appears in areas of the body where there is a greater concentration of these.
Dyshidrosis and pandemic
“Dyshidrosis is a type of exception very common, very common. Most patients who suffer from it suffer from outbreaks both at times of the year such as spring, when it usually gets worse, and at other times, “says the dermatologist Ramon Grimaltprofessor at the International University of Catalonia (UIC), denying the idea that cases of dyshidrosis have increased due to the pandemic.
“It is true that, as in many dermatological diseases, stress is a trigger, as in psoriasis. So, if the virus or the pandemic has made us nervous, upset or a little more worried than usual, certain skin diseases have been aggravated by this emotional situation”, specifies the expert.
Symptoms
Dyshidrosis produces blisters on the skin, located specifically in the hands, especially on the sides of the fingers and palms. Sometimes the soles of the feet can be affected. These are small blisters that appear in groups and cause intense itching. The blisters that cause dyshidrosis usually disappear after about three weeks. As the lesions progress, the blisters rupture and scales and cracks may form. There is also a dry form of this eczema in which only scales and cracks appear, without the presence of blisters.
Do you have small bubbles (vesicles) of water between the fingers of your hands that itch like hell?
Do they appear every year in the spring and disappear with the chipping?
you could be suffering from #dyshidrosis oh #pomfolix a type of eczema that is very easy to treat
Consult your dermatologist. pic.twitter.com/U0dNFvGfAa— Dr. Ramon Grimalt (@DrRamonGrimalt) July 19, 2021
“The breakouts aren’t painful, but they’re very irritating. The little water blisters are very irritating and when they burst, they form little scabs that aren’t painful, but annoying,” says Grimalt. When the blisters burst, the itching sensation may change and sting a little.
Outbreaks usually occur in the spring and summer, as heat is a major trigger for the disease. However, other factors such as stress they are closely related to its appearance and in some patients the blisters may persist through the colder months.
causes
Although the exact causes of the disease are unknown, which are neither contagious nor related to any infectious process, it is known that stress plays a very important role in the appearance of its outbreaks. “It’s hereditary, if one parent has it there’s a higher chance that the child will have it. And in fact dyshidrosis, for many doctors, is a variety of atopic dermatitis. Many patients have emotional triggers, others have climatic triggers. And most patients have both,” says Grimalt.
Treatments
The treatment for dyshidrosis will vary depending on the intensity of the symptoms. Generally, two types of drugs are used. “Oral antihistamines and topical corticosteroids are the standard treatment,” says Grimalt. “It can be treated properly. Each person learns, when he has epidemics, which treatment is best for him. Anti-inflammatory creams, certain steroid derivatives and barrier creams can help a little,” he adds.
There are different treatments for dyshidrosis. The most common are:
- Topical corticosteroids. Creams can help speed up the disappearance of blisters. Wrapping the treated area with plastic wrap improves drug absorption. Wet compresses can also be applied after the corticosteroid to improve drug absorption. In severe cases, the doctor may also prescribe oral corticosteroidslike prednisone, always short-term.
- Phototherapy. When other treatments don’t work, a special type of phototherapy can be used that combines exposure to ultraviolet light with medications that help make the skin more receptive to the effects of ultraviolet light.
- Ointments with immunosuppressive agents. They can be useful for people who want to limit their exposure to steroids. A side effect of these drugs is an increased risk of skin infections.
- antihistamines Over-the-counter medications, such as diphenhydramine or loratadine, can help relieve itching.
- Botulinum toxin injections. In some cases, botulinum toxin injections may be given to treat severe cases.
- At the domestic level, creams or tonics of witch Hazel help relieve symptoms.
Preventing flare-ups is also a way to treat dyshidrosis. To achieve this, it is essential take care of the skin, since patients suffering from this disease usually have very sensitive skin. Using gentle, fragrance-free cleansers, drying well after washing, and keeping the skin on your hands moisturized all contribute to healthier skin. However, it should be clarified that dyshidrosis is not caused by any skin irritation that the products can cause. In these cases, we would speak of dermatitis. “Dyshidrosis can be confused with irritating hand eczema. We have seen many more, not because of the pandemic itself, but because of the increasingly used hydroalcoholic gels. Many patients with hand problems who do not have dyshidrosis may have irritative dermatitis or irritative hand eczema. It is much more common among healthcare workers, among people who disinfect their hands several times a day. It happens because of the chemicals, not like dyshidrosis,” says Grimalt.
In this sense, although hydroalcoholic gels are not the cause of the problem, avoiding them is a good idea if it is a question of keeping the skin free from irritations. “If I have dyshidrosis and I apply a hydroalcoholic gel on it, the dyshidrosis can get worse, so you might think that’s the cause of the problem, but it would be like if I was doing the dishes and I had a disease in my hands. I will get worse, but it was not the dish soap that caused my disease, it was an additional factor. People who have a subtle form of the disease sometimes only notice when they irritate the skin with an external chemical and it confuses them that the disease is from the product they touched, but that is not the cause,” concludes Grimalt.