Wrap your inflamed skin with the cold compress for at least 15 minutes, two to three times daily or as needed. To make the cold compress last a little longer, place crushed ice in a small plastic bag and wrap it with a soft cloth before applying to your skin. Avoid soaking your inflamed hands or feet in ice — it may give relief initially, but it can cause shock to your blood vessels and lead to frostbite.
Aloe Vera contains polysaccharides (complex sugars) that help to hydrate the skin and keep it moisturized. It can also trigger the production of collagen, which gives skin its elasticity. If you have an aloe plant in your garden, break off a leaf and apply the thick inner gel/juice directly to your irritated skin. Alternatively, buy a bottle of pure aloe gel from a pharmacy. For best effects, place the gel in the refrigerator and apply it after it becomes cool.
As an alternative, buy finely ground oatmeal (sold as colloidal oatmeal in health food stores and pharmacies) and mix it with cool water in a small basin or foot bath and soak your hands or feet for 15-20 minutes on a daily basis. As a money-saving idea, make your own finely ground oatmeal by pulverizing a handful of instant or slow-cooking oatmeal in a blender until it has a smooth, fine consistency. You’ll find that the finely ground oatmeal mixes with water much better.
If the eczema is particularly itchy and irritating, consider applying some hydrocortisone cream. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (less than 1%) is helpful for quickly reducing pain and swelling. Take the time to massage the cream or ointment into the crevices between your toes and/or fingers, as those are the areas often affected by dyshidrotic eczema.
Reducing the amount of circulating histamine tends to minimize the expansion (dilation) of small blood vessels beneath the skin, which reduces redness and itchiness sensation in the skin. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision and confusion — so don’t drive or operate heavy machinery while on histamines.
An Epsom salt bath is usually not recommended for eczema (despite its antiseptic benefits) because it draws water out of the skin. Buy a shower nozzle filter that filters out chemicals that can irritate the skin, such as chlorine and nitrites.
In fact, some detergents, household chemicals and compounds found in soaps, shampoos, cosmetic products, and perfumes are known to trigger dyshidrotic eczema — similar to triggering an allergic reaction. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source You don’t need to apply soap all over your body (like when showering), just in the places where the skin is dirty (like your armpits, under your breasts, and your groin). Scrubbing soap all over your body can lead to unnecessary irritation and flare-ups. [9] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
Be sure to keep your nails cut short to avoid breaking blisters if you unconsciously scratch yourself. Consider wearing thin cotton gloves and/or socks to prevent from scratching the skin in those locations.
Change the bandages daily (or immediately if they get accidentally wet and dirty), but remove them carefully so as to minimize skin irritation. When the blisters do break open, apply an antibiotic ointment to the area and cover loosely with another clean bandage. Your doctor may also consider other potential causes of your skin condition. Other skin conditions that can mimic dyshidrotic eczema include fungal infection, bacterial infection, scabies, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and chickenpox. [12] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source
Wrapping the treated area in plastic wrap can improve absorption of corticosteroid cream and help blisters disappear quicker. [14] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If your eczema is severe enough, your doctor may recommend oral steroid therapy (pills) for several days in order to combat the inflammation and discomfort. Long-term side effects of corticosteroid therapy include thinning of the skin, edema (water retention) and compromised immune response.
Immunosuppressant creams and ointments are not appropriate for children and pregnant women. Suppressing your immune system can make you more susceptible to infectious diseases, such as the common cold and flu.
For treating skin conditions, narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) light is the most common type of phototherapy. Broadband UVB phototherapy, PUVA (Psoralen and UVA) and UVA1 are other forms of phototherapy that are sometimes used for treating eczema. Phototherapy avoids the UVA portion of sunlight, which is very damaging to the skin and can accelerate aging and increase the risk of skin cancers.
