Pompholyx.co.uk

Here are some of the treatments that you have either tried or read about; some successful and others not, some using conventional medicine and others through following alternative routes.

Many pompholyx suffers have found solutions which work for them through trial and error but these won't work for everyone, so check with your doctor or dermatologist first.

I have had pompholyx on the inside of my fingers for two years now and it only appears on the left hand. Oddly, it has only occurred since having heart attacks and being diagnosed with a blocked LAD. It seems a strange coincidence that it only appears on my left hand and my left anterior descending is seriously diseased. Could it be a problem with circulation? When I had a bypass the symptoms vanished for three months which is when the grafted vessels failed - then the disease returned.

I've found the only cream that ever did any good was Elocon. Sadly, it's not available over the counter, why? These days I have to cope with it as best I can: cold water, bandages, Germoline and a heck of a lot of Vitamin C to help the skin damage recover, and a proper night's sleep.

The only thing that I have found effective is avoiding all contact with chemicals! The upshot of this is that our house is now a little greener! This year I had no outbreak on my hands but have had an outbreak on my feet for the first time. A little bit more difficult to deal with but I am finding ways. The gel packs that you can put in the freezer offer instant relief from the constant itching / burning sensation. It only seems to really start once I take my shoes off at the end of the day after being in the office.

... It got so bad that I contemplated having botox injected under the arm to paralyse the sweat glands in the hand, a treatment which is used for hyper hydrosis (excessive sweating) and have heard positive results from suffers of pompholyx.

Other than moving to a colder climate, I've found the following regimen works for each of the symptoms:

• Blisters: dry them out in weak potassium permanganate or vinegar and water solution;
• Itching: apply a flannel soaked in really hot water. This relieves itching without needing to scratch;
• Dry skin: use an emollient. I've found pure shea butter brilliant, better than the Vaseline-type prescriptions I've been given.

Don't sweat the small stuff - it will go away of its own volition eventually.

A list of many of the treatments and medications available for pompholyx can be found on our treatment page although this is by no means a definitive list of available products.

I have recently just gone into remission from a bad case of pompholyx. The outbreak started just after my return from the Philippines. I was using a hand wash with triclosan in it. When the outbreak was at its worst and the itching was too unbearable I would put my hands under a scalding hot tap. This would stop the itching and replace it with the feeling of euphoria.

I had my first serious outbreak about four or five years ago, huge blisters on my hands and feet such that I couldn't walk for the pain. I was prescribed oral steroids and the blisters went away, but other forms of excema persisted, along with more mild outbreaks of pompholyx. Eventually I sought the help of a Chinese herbalist, with results little short of miraculous! It took almost a year, but my skin went from looking like a Halloween costume to soft and smooth thanks to herbal teas and cream.

I find that it flares up in October and lasts for about six months. I find that Betnovate and E45 or Doublebase are the best treatments although the steroid cream needs to be used for only short periods.  I have bought some of those moisturising socks and pile on the moisturising cream and wear them in bed overnight and that helps.

I have tried numerous steroid creams and topical immunosuppressant creams without success. The only think I can find that helps with the itching is keeping my feet cold. During a flare up I sleep with my feet uncovered and if it is warm direct a fan at my feet, once they are cold the itching improves.

I take L-Lysine 1000mg when I feel the itch of a impending cold sore and found that whilst I was taking 2000mg of L-Lysine not only did the redness of the skin under the pompholyx pustules appear to now be back to what I would now call "normal skin" colour, but the pustules themselves dried up completely and flaked off within two days leaving behind albeit pinky (but now not red swollen and sore) skin behind. L-Lysine can be bought from most herbal shops and costs very little.

I have pompholyx which started about four months ago and is driving me mad with constant flare-ups. I have been sensible, using cotton gloves etc and avoiding handcreams. However, a friend brought a tiny tube of PSORA ointment back from India. This worked a dream! Read more about this case study on our Eastern Promise page.

I have had pompholyx for 30 years and have tried everything to get rid of it. It is on my hands and feet. Someone suggested I use emu oil when I was in Australia. This reduced the blistering events but my skin became rough and scaly. When I returned to the UK I realised that using emu oil was unsustainable so I tried using olive oil from the kitchen. I have been daily rubbing a teaspoon of olive oil onto the affected areas for six months. I just leave it on for a minute and wipe it off with a paper towel, leaving the residue. My hands and feet have never been in such good condition. Cheap as chips and no medication!

... I dropped drinking instant coffee these past few weeks and the interesting thing is my pompholyx has entirely disappeared to an extent not seen in four years. My hands are entirely free.

A specialist finally got it right and gave me Ectosone cream.1% with Betamethasone Valerate.1%. If this is applied at the first sign of redness it seems to get it. If the pompholyx gets out of hand I have found a soak in white vinegar diluted 4 to 1 in water for 10-20 minutes seems to disinfect and draw down the irritation. I have also used a weak saline solution with similar results. It is important to only soak the bottoms of your hands with salt as drying makes skin vulnerable. Apply an intense hydration creme right away while the hands are still moist (I use Spectro Eczema Care; it's great).

I've suffered (from pompholyx) for about 40 years. I've read your articles and the best thing I've found to get rid of them is 'sea water'! It dries the blisters up and they disappear over a couple of days. They do reappear after a time, but they've not been too bothersome all the time I can paddle/wash hands/feet in the sea water. Unfortunately salt in the bath does not work - don't know why. Hope this is of use to some of your readers ... good luck everyone.

I wholeheartedly recommend Oilatum bath formula. I use it at least twice a day and after every prolonged contact with water (washing dishes, bathing and so on). Instead of diluting it in bath water I apply it in small doses to my hands directly and then gently rub it in. So far it seems to have cleared all the eruptions.

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.

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