Signs & Symptoms of Dyshidrotic Eczema
- Among the most irritating signs and symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema is itchy skin. The itching often occurs before any other signs are visible, which makes it difficult to determine if a breakout of eczema is occurring or if skin is simply itchy. The itching usually occurs where skin stays moist, either from improper drying or sweating. You may notice an irritating itch in the webs of your fingers, toes or underneath jewelry where moisture can be trapped and skin is further irritated by rubbing against the jewelry. The itching eventually develops into a rash, followed by even more visible symptoms. Even when the condition progresses into other symptoms, the itching remains and often becomes more severe. An oral or topical allergy or anti-itch medicine can help to alleviate the skin; anti-fungal cream may help the rash go away. Severe cases may require a steroid cream prescribed by a doctor.
- When skin is about to break out with dyshidrotic eczema, there is usually a burning pain. The burning may accompany the itchy skin or it may develop after the itching starts and a rash develops. The severity of the pain varies with each person and largely depends on the severity of the case of dermatitis. By simply suffering through the burning and itching sensations, it is possible to avoid further, more painful symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema.
- Dyshidrotic eczema is easy to diagnose when tiny fluid-filled blisters, called vesicles, cover areas of the hands and feet. These painful blisters are almost white in color and easily burst open with gentle pressure or scratching. Vesicles most often show up along the sides of fingers and toes; rubbing fingers and toes together can be quite painful during a vesicle break out. The itching symptom of dyshidrotic eczema is much more severe when vesicles are visible, leading many sufferers to want to scratch at the tiny blisters. It is important to avoid scratching at all cost because bursting the vesicles leads to further symptoms and even greater pain.
- When vesicles burst, that area of the skin develops thick, scaly patches or cracked skin. These patches are difficult to heal because the skin flakes away so easily and the itching is so intense at this point that any skin in the process of healing is scratched away. Contact with soap and water causes pain at this stage of eczema; if you wash your hands or get your hands wet, dry them thoroughly with a hand dryer or paper towel. When looking at the scaly patches, someone who has undiagnosed dyshidrotic eczema may turn to a salve or lotion to clear up the dry patches, but this makes matters worse. These products are often oily or greasy and trap moisture into the skin when the blisters and patches actually need air so they can dry out.
