Skin dyshidrosis is a disease characterized by the appearance on the epidermis of painful blisters filled with fluid. Most often, the problem occurs between the fingers, on the palms or feet. This pathology does not belong to the category of life-threatening and extremely dangerous, however, ignoring the need for its treatment, there is a risk of the transition of dyshidrosis into a chronic form.
Why does a skin ailment occur?
Dyshidrotic eczema is another no less popular name for the disease in question. Most often, it develops against the background of psychoemotional disorders, stress, prolonged experiences. An ideal background for the development of skin dyshidrosis is a weakening of the immune system, which often leads to pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and fungal infections. To achieve a positive result in the treatment of this disease, the use of drugs alone will not be enough. The patient will have to make drastic changes in his lifestyle - then he will be able to achieve success in treatment.
How is pathology manifested at the very beginning?
The main manifestations of skin dyshidrosis are dense vesicles, inside of which an exudative translucent fluid is visible. Blisters may occur on the arms or legs. At first, dyshidrosis does not particularly bother the patient, but as the disease progresses, the clinical picture becomes more pronounced. Bubbles on the skin increase in volume, sometimes reaching the size of a pea.
Dyshidrosis of the hands and feet occurs in people of different ages. The greatest discomfort that this disease brings is associated with severe itching. Bubble rashes cause burning, swelling, inflammation. Over time, the skin areas on which the blisters appear begin to coarsen, become tougher and thicker.
Other symptoms
The cycle of this disease averages 10-14 days. After this period, the vesicles begin to connect, merging together, which provokes the formation of more extensive lesions. Against the background of the growth of the inflammatory process, painful ulcers appear on the skin. As soon as the ulceration begins to burst, the patient will feel severe pain. It is extremely important to prevent injury to the vesicles, otherwise this place will heal for a very long time, accompanied by the appearance of painful cracks. If the affected area is damaged, for example, with intensive combing, edema is formed, an inflammatory process is observed. If the contents of the vial change color, most likely there has been a secondary infection.
Lamellar dyshidrosis
Wounds that have arisen at the site of bursting bubbles dry quickly. In place of the blisters, dry scaly crusts appear. But sometimes the disease develops asymptomatically. In addition, watery vesicles on the palms may be completely absent. Instead, flat ring-shaped peeling is found on the epidermis. This form is called lamellar and, in contrast to the "classical" dyshidrosis, the symptoms of which occur in damp cold weather, manifests itself in a warm and arid season. Feet, as a rule, are not affected by pathology, rashes occur on the hands.
Often the disease proceeds in a chronic form, alternating with periods of exacerbations and remissions. If the patient has strong immunity, the disease may not manifest itself for a long time. Remission will last until the immune system fails, for example, with an infection of the body. Other factors can provoke a relapse of dyshidrosis.
What increases the risk of disease
To date, the exact causes of the pathology are unknown. Why do some people who have, for example, a hereditary predisposition, develop dyshidrosis, while others do not? No doctor can answer this question. Nevertheless, doctors found certain risk factors.
Speaking about the most likely causes of dyshidrosis, it is necessary to divide them into two categories. The first group includes factors contributing to the development of pathology, the second group includes external stimuli, which play the role of a direct trigger in starting the pathological process. The causes of the disease do not depend on each other, but their presence increases the risks of its occurrence. Favorable conditions for dyshidrosis can serve:
- depressed state, prolonged apathy;
- malfunctions of the endocrine system;
- non-infectious skin diseases in the anamnesis of relatives;
- labor activity, involving frequent contact with chemical and toxic substances;
- chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Main reasons
Most often, dyshidrosis is considered as a violation of a polyetiological nature. First of all, the development of pathology is caused by an allergic reaction to household chemicals, cosmetics, food and drugs. In some patients, the disease occurs during the period of active flowering of plants. If dyshidrosis was caused by one of these external factors, then it is likely that the disease will recede itself.
Diagnostics
Confusing palm dyshidrosis with another skin disease is quite difficult. However, to make a diagnosis and start treatment, it is important to conduct a differential diagnosis to exclude other pathologies with similar symptoms (initial stage of psoriasis, mycosis).
A patient who has discovered symptoms of dyshidrosis needs to consult a dermatologist. Despite the fact that specific instrumental and laboratory research methods are not used to confirm this diagnosis, the doctor will be able to conclude about the disease after a detailed study of the clinical picture, questioning about the patient’s lifestyle. To exclude a fungal infection or confirm it, a scraping is prescribed for the presence of pathogenic microflora in the blisters, flaky area. In addition, the specialist may need the opinion of colleagues - an endocrinologist, an allergist, a gastroenterologist, a neuropathologist.
If you suspect the origin of an allergic disease, it is important to determine the irritant. For this, skin tests are carried out, an analysis for immunoglobulins is given. The most informative in this case will be the method of laboratory comparison of patient blood samples with the food panel of allergens.
After a comprehensive examination and clarification of the diagnosis, the dermatologist will be able to prescribe therapy to the patient according to an individual scheme.
General principles of therapy
With hand skin dyshidrosis, treatment is the use of a complex of drugs. If a skin ailment is not complicated by an infection, the patient is prescribed desensitizing, anti-inflammatory, sedative and immunostimulating drugs. Otherwise, the list of drugs is supplemented with antibacterial or antimycotic agents.
If the disease proceeds with complications, therapy begins with the use of local glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory drugs. It is impossible to be independently treated with such means: the choice of a hormonal ointment, the establishment of the frequency and duration of its use is the prerogative of a specialist. With the illiterate use of corticosteroids, addiction to the body quickly develops, side effects appear.
In chronic dyshidrosis, patients are advised to use water-soluble emollients, which have a moisturizing effect, relieve itching and burning, promote the active restoration of damaged areas of the epidermis and strengthen local immunity. The use of liquid external preparations is necessary not only for exacerbation of the disease, but also in the period of remission. Some emollients in their composition contain antibacterial components, which prevents the propagation of pathogenic flora in the affected areas and contributes to the adequate nutrition of dry skin.
In addition to drugs for external use, physiotherapeutic procedures are effective in treating dyshidrosis:
- exposure to liquid nitrogen;
- phonophoresis;
- application of diadynamic currents;
- laser therapy;
- endonasal electrophoresis.
Patients are advised to pay enough attention to personal hygiene issues and eat right. To speed up the processes of restoration of skin tissues, it is important to replenish the diet with a sufficient amount of dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits, citrus fruits (in the absence of an allergic reaction of the body). On the contrary, it is recommended to refuse fast carbohydrates. Under the strictest ban, alcohol falls, even in minimal quantities. The use of salty, spicy and smoked dishes can adversely affect, canned and pickled products will also not be beneficial. Extremely careful approach to the use of allergens (eggs, strawberries, chocolate, honey, nuts, seafood).
In order to cure dyshidrosis and prevent its transition to a chronic form, it is important to follow all the doctor’s instructions. For recovery, full rest is also important, on which the state of the nervous system directly depends. Stress and overwork should be avoided not only during the period of exacerbation, but also in order to prevent relapse.
Dyshidrosis Pills
You will have to disappoint those who hope to see here the names of universal pills for this disease. It will be necessary to be treated comprehensively. Depending on the alleged cause of the pathology, the patient is prescribed medications for systemic use:
- antihistamines that reduce the degree of desensitization in the body ("Zodak", "Fenistil", "Suprastin", "Erius", "Zirtek");
- sedative homeopathic remedies that help stabilize the psychoemotional background, restore the nervous system (Sedaten, Novo-Passit, Persen);
- enterosorbents necessary for removing toxic substances from the body (activated carbon, Enterosgel, Atoxil).
When confirming diseases of the digestive system, the patient may be prescribed additional treatment.
Preparations for external use
To relieve severe inflammation on the affected skin, the patient is prescribed hormonal ointments “Fluorocort”, “Triderm”, “Polcortolon”, “Elocom”, “Laticort”. The course of treatment with steroid external agents usually does not exceed a week, after which the patient is transferred to non-hormonal formulations. If an infection has joined the lesion site, the treatment is supplemented with an ointment for hands with an antibiotic (tetracycline ointment, Levomekol). On the legs, dyshidrosis is often complicated by a fungus, therefore, together with anti-inflammatory compounds, the patient is prescribed antimycotic drugs (Lamicon, Amiklon, Exoderil).
Zinc Based Ointments
One of the common remedies that are used in the treatment of skin diseases is zinc ointment. From what this tool helps is difficult to list. The fact is that this hypoallergenic agent has a drying, adsorbing, astringent and disinfecting effect, reduces exudation and weeping, and relieves local manifestations of inflammation. Here's what zinc ointment helps in addition to dyshidrosis:
- diaper rash;
- prickly heat;
- skin ulcers;
- dermatitis;
- herpes;
- streptoderma;
- burns;
- pressure sores.
Zinc-based external preparations such as Valiskin, Desitin, Sudokrem, Tsindol, Zinc Paste are sold in the pharmacy. Similar properties also have funds based on ichthyol, birch tar, salicylic acid.
Antiseptics
Before applying therapeutic ointments to the affected surface, it is treated with antiseptic solutions of fucorcin or resorcinol. In the initial stages of the disease, doctors often advise folk remedies for dyshidrosis (for example, baths with decoction of oak bark, soda, sea salt).
Skin disease in children
Skin dyshidrosis in a child responds well to treatment. Most often, the disease is diagnosed at an early age, up to three years. If you start treatment in a timely manner and adhere to all medical recommendations, the disease will recede. But to guarantee that the disease does not return at an older age, not a single doctor can.
In children, the cause of the disease in most cases is an allergic reaction, therefore, when symptoms of the disease appear, a comprehensive examination by a dermatologist and an allergist is mandatory. Drugs for the treatment of dyshidrosis are selected depending on the age of the child and the severity of the disease.