Healing Hand Eczema: Pompholyx and Dyshidrotic Eczema Treatment with TCM

Dyshidrotic eczema or pompholyx eczema refers to a distinct form of eczema effecting the hands and sometimes the feet. It is characterized by an eruption of itchy, and often painful, vehicles on the palms of the hands, fingers, or soles of the feet. The hands are most commonly effected with 80% of reported cases only effecting the hands. These eruptions progress through a cycle of vesicular eruption followed by a drying out phase where the vesicles rupture and the skin seems to calm a bit and becomes more dry and often peels. Shortly after this dry phase, the cycle starts again with new eruptions. The lesions can be unbelievably itching, the vesicles can weep fluid and form crusts, and they can also cause pain especially if there is cracking of the skin, which is a common feature of this form of eczema. In severe cases the eczema can spread from the hands up the arms and trigger more widespread eczema and generalized eczema.

Recurrence is quite common and often a person will experience an endless cycle of eruptions followed by a dry phase and again a new eruption. The initial trigger for dyshidrotic eczema can often be due to contact with detergents or chemicals without proper hand protection, though an exceedingly common trigger is simply due to overwashing of hands with any kind of soap and especially with harsher soaps and detergents. Additionally it is quite common to see these eruptions following periods of excessive stress, intense periods of emotional upset, frustration or grief in predisposed people, and even may be triggered by hot weather or a combination of these things.

The good news is that Traditional Chinese Medicine is exceptional at treating pompholyx eczema in the acute and chronic phases! Customized herbal medicines prescribed internally and topically can reduce the eruptions in acute phases and stop the cycle of eruptions completely.

Herbal treatment typically takes 3-4 months to completely resolve pompholyx eczema, though improvement is seen within days of starting treatment.

If you’re having symptoms, don’t wait to seek treatment! We will assess your condition and begin treatment immediately. If you are not local to our office herbal prescriptions will be shipped directly from the pharmacy to your home. Dealing with hand eczema and need support? Reach out!