Bad Summer - kind to your hands
The Summer is coming to an end here in the UK and by common agreement it has been miserable. The weather has been cool - rarely getting above 20c for more than the odd day. It's been wet. So for anyone wanting to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, or people with families or farmers - or just about anyone really, the weather has put a dampener on the Summer. But, there seems to have been an upside for me. I've had very few problems with dyshidrotic eczema (pompholyx or hand eczema) this Summer.
Normally as the weather warms up my pompholyx flares up too. I don't suffer badly compared to some people who have written in to us - but I do get blisters on my fingers and on my palms at the base of my thumb. Some years they are pretty persistent and can be quite lumpy.
I admit I cannot always resist popping them - they itch so badly. I'm not sure if it's the heat or sweating which causes the hand eczema to flare up - like some sufferers it seems to be worst where I am using the mouse on my computer and where my hands are often in contact with my desk. But I do know that there is a correlation between the state of my hands and the temperature.
I've had just one minor flare up this Summer. A persistent but small cluster on the index finger on my right hand. During August they got slightly worse but once popped they cleared and have not recurred.
Is it the weather?
Is this reduced incidence of pompholyx just down to the weather? Perhaps not directly, but indirectly. I've been inside more, I've spent less time in the garden and been walking/at the beach less than I would have hoped. As a family we've eaten outside less and have generally not been out as often as we would normally expect to be between May and September. I play cricket - and much of that has been affected by the weather too.
Perhaps some of the reason I suffer is because of coming into contact with plants and the outdoors - who knows. The fact is that the weather has been cool and damp - and that has meant spending less time outdoors. So who knows?
We've had a comment on pompholyx and the seasons from ME in Poland. "My observations with weather affecting my hands are totally different. It feels better when it's warm and even better when hot. Most problems I've had with my pompholyx always started in late autumn and persisted during the winter. Anyway, who knows what it really is!" So it could be the seasons that affect Pompholyx but it may not be heat. ME also has some tips on "Living With Pompholyx" he shares with us.
Amy J's pompholyx is worse in the Summer. She wrote in to tell us about her experiences. Amy hasn’t found a cure yet and suffers badly, but she does have a unique "sock-based" solution for easing the pain.
"I have suffered with pompholyx for around 4-5 years and it affects both my feet and hands but my feet are most affected and have become particularly bad in recent months. They have cracked and bled badly, making it uncomfortable to walk. I use Betnovate and Doublebase cream and find wearing a pair of "The Sanctuary" cotton socks and whacking lots of the Doublebase cream has helped, although not cured, my problem. I agree, I have found that summer months aggravate the little blisters that appear sporadically on my hand. I notice a lot more in warm months, but no difference to my feet - they remain sore and cracked all year round.
Perhaps some of the reason I suffer is because of coming into contact with plants and the outdoors - who knows. The fact is that the weather has been cool and damp - and that has meant spending less time outdoors. So who knows?
We've had a comment on pompholyx and the seasons from ME in Poland. "My observations with weather affecting my hands are totally different. It feels better when it's warm and even better when hot. Most problems I've had with my pompholyx always started in late autumn and persisted during the winter. Anyway, who knows what it really is!" So it could be the seasons that affect Pompholyx but it may not be heat. ME also has some tips on "Living With Pompholyx" he shares with us.
Amy J's pompholyx is worse in the Summer. She wrote in to tell us about her experiences. Amy hasn’t found a cure yet and suffers badly, but she does have a unique "sock-based" solution for easing the pain.
"I have suffered with pompholyx for around 4-5 years and it affects both my feet and hands but my feet are most affected and have become particularly bad in recent months. They have cracked and bled badly, making it uncomfortable to walk. I use Betnovate and Doublebase cream and find wearing a pair of "The Sanctuary" cotton socks and whacking lots of the Doublebase cream has helped, although not cured, my problem. I agree, I have found that summer months aggravate the little blisters that appear sporadically on my hand. I notice a lot more in warm months, but no difference to my feet - they remain sore and cracked all year round.
How about you?
I'd be really interested to hear if anyone else has been suffering less this Summer. If you're not in the UK have you noticed anything similar? Please get in touch using the contact form and I'll publish your experiences for other sufferers to read.
Find out more
This site provides you with some basic information about Pompholyx and the issues that arise from living with the ailment. If you want to do more research or if you want to know about treatments for Pompholyx and eczema we recommend searchig on Google.
2010