Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffDyshidrosis, also known as dyshidrotic eczema or pompholyx, is a skin condition in which small, fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) occur on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, or both.
The blisters that occur in dyshidrosis generally last around three weeks and cause intense itching. Once the blisters of dyshidrosis dry, cracks and grooves (fissures) form, which can be painful.
Treatment for dyshidrosis most often includes topical creams, wet compresses and ultraviolet light therapy to improve appearance and ease symptoms.
- Weston WL, et al. Overview of dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Habif TP. Pompholyx. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier. 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..X0001-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniq=207915498#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00012-2--s0390%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3541-9%3Btype%3DbookPage. Accessed July 1, 2010.
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- Wolff K, et al. Dyshidrotic eczematous dermatitis. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies. 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5190831&searchStr=eczema%2c+dyshidrotic. Accessed July 1, 2010.
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- Berger TG. Pompholyx; vesiculobullous hand eczema (formerly known as dyshidrosis, dyshidrotic hand eczema). In: McPhee SJ, et al. CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies. 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=1209&searchStr=eczema%2c+dyshidrotic. Accessed July 1, 2010.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 6, 2010.


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