Dyshidrotic eczema is an itchy and sometimes painful skin condition that often affects a person’s hands or feet. Treatments to help manage symptoms and relieve pain include cool compresses, emollients, and medications.

While there is no cure for dyshidrotic eczema, or pompholyx, treatment can help relieve a person’s symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

A healthcare professional can help identify which treatments may work best for each individual and recommend alternatives if necessary.

This article explores different treatment options for dyshidrotic eczema.

A person looking at their hands while rubbing their palms together 1Share on Pinterest
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

Home remedies for dyshidrotic eczema include cool compresses and emollients.

Cool compresses

Experts recommend applying medicated wet dressings or cool packs to affected areas of the skin. A person needs to do this for 15 minutes, two to four times daily.

People may also need to apply a topical medication afterward, such as a prescription corticosteroid cream. Topical medications may help clear blisters and treat inflammation. However, some topical medications may have side effects, so individuals need to consult a healthcare professional before using them.

Emollients

Dyshidrotic eczema may cause a person’s skin to become extremely dry. Dermatologists, or other healthcare professionals, may recommend emollients or other moisturizers on the affected patches of skin.

Emollients help maintainTrusted Source the skin barrier and retain moisture within the skin, which helps improve skin dryness and decrease flare-ups.

It is helpful to apply an emollient to damp skin, such as after washing hands or application of a cool compress. People may also want to try wearing fabric gloves over emollients or medicated creams, to help enhanceTrusted Source their effect.

Doctors may prescribe a range of different medications for eczema, including topical, oral, and injectable medications.

Topical medications

Healthcare professionals often recommend that individuals applyTrusted Source topical medications, which may help reduce inflammation and other immune responses that lead to eczema symptoms:

Side effects

All medications carry the risk of side effects. A person needs to speak with a healthcare professional to learn about the potential effects of these medications before using them.

For example, possible side effects of steroids may include:

Side effects typically resolve after stopping topical steroids. However, in rare cases, people may experience topical steroid withdrawal.

Oral medications

Doctors may prescribe oral medications, including antihistamines and anti-itch medications, to people with dyshidrotic eczema. These medications may help prevent a person from scratching the itchy patch of eczema, which can make it worse.

On rare occasionsTrusted Source, doctors may prescribe immunosuppressants, such as ciclosporin and oral corticosteroids, to treat dyshidrotic eczema. Healthcare professionals less commonly prescribe these treatments because they are more likely to cause severe side effects and may interact with other medications.

Biologics

Biologic drugs are more recentTrusted Source breakthroughs in eczema treatment. Manufacturers make them from living sources, such as human or other animal cells.

A 2020 study involving 15 participants found that one biologic drug, dupilumab (Dupixent), was effective in treating severe dyshidrotic eczema.

According to the National Eczema Association, other biologic drugs a healthcare professional may recommend include:

  • tralokinumab-ldrm (Adbry)
  • lebrikizumab-lbkz (Ebglyss)
  • nemolizumab-ilto (Nemluvio)

Side effects

Biologics also have potential side effects. For example, some dupilumab side effects may include:

A person needs to contact their doctor if symptoms are unexpected, severe, or persistent.

Excess sweating, or hyperhidrosis, near or on dyshidrotic eczema blisters may worsen a person’s symptoms. Excess sweating, in general, may trigger flare-ups.

Dermatologists may recommend a prescription-strength antiperspirant or injections of botulinum toxin, or Botox, into the patches of skin where someone experiences dyshidrotic eczema symptoms.

Botox side effects

Potential side effects for an adult using Botox for excessive sweating include:

Doctors may prescribe UV light treatment, which some people call light therapy, or phototherapy, if they think a stronger dyshidrotic eczema treatment is necessary.

Individuals may need stronger treatment if their symptoms are severe or if flare-ups often occur.

Doctors use a special UV light-emitting machine to give people light therapy. The machine exposes the affected parts of the skin to UV light for up to a few minutesTrusted Source at a time, reducing the inflammatory response in the skin.

People often need two to six light treatments per week for at least 4 weeks. It may take up to 2 to 3 months before a person experiences improvement in their symptoms.

People should not attempt to use a tanning bed or natural sunlight for light treatment. They should only receive light therapy from a healthcare professional at a medical facility following a doctor’s recommendation.

Researchers have shown that light therapy is not a permanent cure for dyshidrotic eczema. However, it may relieve inflammation and itching, which allows the skin to heal.

A person can speak with a healthcare professional about aftercare and potential side effects following UV light treatment.

Side effects

Common side effects of phototherapy may include:

  • sunburn-like symptoms
  • skin tenderness
  • premature skin aging

Less common side effects may include skin cancer, hair follicle infections, and cataracts.

Dyshidrotic eczema causes small, itchy blisters on a person’s feet or hands. Some people may experience flare-ups of symptoms that come and go. Healthcare professionals may recommend a range of treatments to help ease dyshidrotic eczema symptoms.

A person needs to speak with a doctor about their symptoms and any potential side effects of dyshidrotic eczema treatments. People may find certain treatments work better for them than others.