I am a 54-year-old woman and sometimes the skin on my fingers cracks. They come out like bubbles of water, they itch, burn, and it turns red… Maybe it’s allergy. I’ve tried Diprogenta and Lexxema but I don’t notice improvement. How can it be treated?
The image and the picture he explains correspond to dyshidrotic eczema or dyshidrosis. The characteristics of this disease are as follows: initially small vesicles usually appear on the sides of the fingers (and sometimes toes) that cause itching and later, scaling and hyperkeratosis (scratchy scabs). The patient typically explains that “first I get some bubbles or pimples on my fingers and after a few days the skin peels”.
Dyshidrosis is a disorder of unknown cause, it is more common in young or middle-aged women and usually occurs in times of seasonal change periodically. Although its origin is unknown, it is known that inflammation of the sweat glands in the area occurs, which may or may not be accompanied by excessive sweating.
It is not uncommon for hand dyshidrosis to be associated with asymptomatic tinea pedis (athlete’s foot or foot fungus), so it is always recommended that the patient’s examination also observe the feet. If this is the case, it is necessary to treat athlete’s foot to resolve the skin condition of the hands.
In dyshidrosis, it is exceptional that there is an underlying hypersensitivity (allergy) problem, although if suspected, epicutaneous tests can be ordered to rule it out.
As for the treatment of dyshidrosis, there are several therapies. It is generally recommended to use local anti-inflammatory preparations with keratolytic substances (which remove the superficial part of the skin gently) to resolve the condition. These active ingredients can be combined to measure through a master formula -to increase their effectiveness and ease of application-, which is usually more effective than the isolated use of corticosteroids (such as those mentioned in your question). In cases associated with ringworm of the foot, it is mandatory to treat the infection, which will produce the complete resolution of the condition in the vast majority of cases.
After treatment of the flare-up, a gentle keratolytic moisturiser is usually recommended, which will reduce or prevent flare-ups of eczema.