Dyshidrotic eczema generally affects the hands and the feet, and it is usually chronic and recurring. You will usually find that when you do suffer from an episode of this condition, you will have small, transparent bubble type vesicles, which are usually formed in symmetrical patterns.

The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are usually the most likely affected areas, though the vesicles do also occasionally appear on the fingers and toes. The most common area to be affected is the hands, followed closely by the feet, and in the rest of the cases, the condition appears in both the hands and the feet.

Who is more likely to develop the condition and what causes it?

This condition affects both males and females equally, though it usually appears more in middle aged people. Where you live may affect your likeliness of developing the condition. This is because people who live in warmer climates have been known to develop the condition more than others.

It is unknown as to what exactly is the cause of the condition, though it does not seem to be down to the sweat glands like a lot of people think that it is. Some contributing factors may include people with a history of atopic eczema or allergies such as hayfever.

If you have a fungal or bacterial infection it could also be a contributor. Also, one of the most surprising contributors could costume jewelry, as nickel and other compounds are often found in them and they have been known to trigger some dyshidrotic eczema conditions in the past.

Finally, another contributor is thought to be extreme emotional stress. So what treats the condition and can it ever be eliminated completely from your life?

The treatments available

Usually dyshidrotic eczema clears up by itself spontaneously over a period of around two to three weeks. However, as the condition is usually so itchy, sufferers often end up with a secondary infection.

The best thing you can do in order to treat your dyshidrotic eczema is to leave it alone! This is hard to do because the condition is so itchy, but it does usually clear up by itself if it is left and that can save a fortune on creams and lotions!

However, if you do need to, you can use moisturizer and strong topical steroids if the condition is particularly severe, in order to sooth the itching. Doctors are able to prescribe the strongest treatments so if you feel you have got a particularly strong case of the condition; it may be worth visiting your local one and seeing what they say.

They will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and the best treatment for you. Often dyshidrotic eczema can be identified purely by its appearance, but other times the doctor may need to give you a skin biopsy which is quite a simple treatment which can be done quickly and easily.

Everybody is different and so what works for one person, will not always work for you. Your symptoms will also be different and it is possible for you to develop a secondary skin infection due to the condition if it is not treated properly.

Overall, it is better to go to the doctor and get the eczema checked out just to make sure that it is in fact dyshidrotic eczema and not anything else. From there, they will be able to tell you what treatments you need to opt for and what is better for you.

You may have to combine certain treatments in order for the condition to be cleared affectively, but usually if you leave it alone, it will disappear in its own time.