What is Eczema?

With summer just around the corner, you’ll want to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. But if you’re constantly worried about your eczema flare-ups, it can be hard to fully embrace the sunshine. Dyshidrotic eczema, a common form of eczema, tends to be more prevalent in the spring.

If You See These Painful Red Bumps, You May Have Dyshidrotic Eczema

If you’re experiencing small, itchy blisters on your body, you may be dealing with this condition. While eczema isn’t curable yet, it can definitely be managed. The first step to feeling better is to understand what’s happening to your body and take steps to heal it.

Close up dermatitis on man hand, allergic rash dermatitis eczema skin of a patient. Atopic dermatitis symptom skin detail texture, Fungus of skin. The concept of dermatology.

Eczema is a group of skin diseases that cause inflammation. It’s also known as dermatitis. Eczema affects many people in the United States, with an estimated 35 million Americans experiencing it. Most cases start in children under 5 years of age.

During an eczema flare-up, the skin becomes red, itchy, and swollen, with fluid-filled bumps that can sometimes ooze and crust. Eczema is often caused by allergies and is not contagious. While it’s not curable, flare-ups can be successfully managed with treatment [1]. Dyshidrotic eczema is one of the most common types of eczema and affects the body in a distinct way.

Read: What Are Those Little White Bumps on Your Skin, and What to Do About Them

Close-up photo of a hand suffering from eczema.

Dyshidrotic eczema is a common type of eczema that causes small, intensely itchy blisters to form on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet. It’s associated with seasonal allergies, so these blisters are more likely to erupt in the spring. They can be quite painful and may take weeks to disappear [2].

If you haven’t heard of this type of eczema before, don’t fret. It also goes by other names, including [3]:

Detailed views of a young woman with dry and stressed red dyshidrotic eczema-covered hands.

Pedopompholyx (affects the feet)
Cheiropompholyx (affects the hands)
Vesicular palmoplantar eczema
Dyshidrosis
Foot-and-hand eczema
Dyshidrotic dermatitis
Vesicular eczema
Pompholyx

Symptoms of Dyshidrotic Eczema

Dyshidrotic eczema (pompholux) of the sole.

Each type of eczema may present itself slightly differently, and therefore treatment may vary. To effectively treat your dyshidrotic eczema, it’s important to recognize the symptoms.

Dry cracked skin macro closeup of index finger of female young woman's hand showing eczema medical condition called dyshidrotic pompholyx or vesicular dyshidrosis.

Deep-set blisters on hands and feet (specifically on the edges of the fingers, toes, palms, and soles of the feet)
Itching
Redness
Flaking
Scaly, cracked skin
Pain

Detailed views of a young woman with dry and stressed red dyshidrotic eczema-covered hands.

Dyshidrotic eczema is more common in women than in men. While it can occur at any age, it tends to be most common in adults aged 20-40. People with contact dermatitis, atopic eczema, or hay fever have a higher risk of developing dyshidrotic eczema. It can also run in families, so if you have a close relative with dyshidrotic eczema, your chances of getting it increase [3]. Dyshidrotic eczema can also become infected, which further delays the healing process [3]. If you suspect an infection, it’s important to seek advanced treatment from your healthcare provider.

Read: Family is sharing their story of tragic loss to raise awareness about allergies

Hand with interdigital dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema on hand close up.

While there’s no cure for dyshidrotic eczema, it can often be managed with treatment. While you can’t entirely prevent flare-ups from occurring, having a good skincare routine can help strengthen your skin against inflammation.

Conventional Treatment

A dermatologist wearing gloves examines the skin of a sick patient. Examination and diagnosis of skin diseases-allergies, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis.

Most cases of dyshidrotic eczema can be addressed with less invasive, natural treatments. However, severe cases may require treatment with a corticosteroid cream or ointment, prescribed injections, or oral medications.

Other treatments include [4]:

Applying an emollient to dry flaky skin as in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, and other dry skin conditions.

UV light treatments
Draining large blisters
Antihistamines
Various anti-itch creams
Immune-suppressing ointments, such as Protopic and Elidel

Read: Woman Left With Orange Skin After Giving Herself A Turmeric Facial

Natural Treatments for Eczema

The problem with many people - eczema on hand. White background. Man itchind skin.

For those who prefer natural solutions, healthcare professionals often recommend a more holistic approach. Keeping your skin clean and moisturized is generally the best way to manage eczema. The type and frequency of treatment will vary depending on your symptoms, but taking an at-home, natural approach allows you to make choices you can feel confident about.

1. Cold Compresses

Close up of a woman applying a cold compress to her painful wrist.

Applying cold compresses to the affected area, or soaking your skin in cool water, helps reduce inflammation. Repeat this process two to four times a day for 15 minutes at a time. Afterward, apply a moisturizer to maximize the effect. (The short video above will demonstrate how to apply cold compresses at home to relieve your eczema pain!)

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera treatment for blisters caused by a fire.

Aloe vera is known for its soothing properties and its ability to speed up the healing process. To harness its power, break off a piece of the plant and apply the thick gel to your inflamed skin. Alternatively, you can purchase a bottle of natural aloe vera lotion at your local pharmacy.

3. Oatmeal

Handmade oatmeal face mask and ingredient on white background, top view.

Oatmeal is often used to relieve skin conditions due to its proven anti-inflammatory properties [5]. Applying oatmeal directly to your irritated skin can help reduce your eczema symptoms and leave your skin feeling healthy and happy again.

Multi-ethnic woman scratches her reddened hand due to itching. Allergy symptom, healthcare concept. Itchy skin can be caused by dermatitis, eczema, dry skin, burns, allergy, insect bites.

When dealing with eczema, it’s important to know which type you have so that you can better address it. You deserve to enjoy the sunshine this summer and be free from the pain and embarrassment caused by eczema flare-ups. By understanding what’s happening inside your body, you can effectively manage your eczema symptoms and get back to enjoying life.