Pompholyx

[Mifford]

As mentioned in another thread I have incredibly bad pompholyx on the sole of my left foot this year - photos do not do justice to how itchy it can be! These pics are as it started to clear up and don’t really show how red raw the skin was after i’d scratched it off itching - it went on to be dry and flaking and peeling off after this. Betnovate didn’t stop it this time and neither did hydrocortisone but they did dry it up to shorten the attack. They’ve left me with really dry peeling and unsightly skin though - I’ve tried doublebase before along with various other thick creams etc with no joy. I have some borage cream that I’ve picked up while I’m away which has helped quite a bit with moisturising it.

Anyone else have any other tips?

[Serser]

Hi Mifford,

I have this too on my hands and feet! Horrible isn’t it?!

I’ve tried hydrocortisone cream on them and antihistamine but It’s hard to figure out if it helps of it it just naturally dies down on its own??

I’ve recently started taking vitamin e for my skin and I have bought a load of cosmetics and bathing products from Holland and Barrett that don’t have any nasties in them. I think that has helped a little. The lumps still come but they don’t seem as angry as in the past and they seem to die down before they cause too much trouble. In the past the lumps have been so large and itchy I had to pop them-I know-gross!

Take care

[Mifford in reply to Serser]

I get individual ones on my hands and do pop those even though I know I shouldn’t. This patch was quite extensive on my foot though and as one patch died down another one flared up unfortunately. It’s worse at night as well so wakes me up. This latest flare up has calmed down now but like you I’m not sure if the steroid creams help or it’s just it’s mormal course. Antihistamines I take massive doses every day so I know they don’t work for me. If I find a solution I’ll let you know! 😊

[Serser in reply to Mifford]

Thank you, that would be good to know!

It does make me wonder what happens in my body on the occasions that it dies down?? And then what on earth goes wrong when it flares again? That’s the key to figuring it out, but I guess it’s probably a different trigger for each and everyone one of us that has it!

[Hidden]

Terbinafine Hydrochloride cream (athletes foot) and a short course of antibiotics sorted mine miraculously twice over a few years.

I had it just like yours about 10 years ago and by complete chance we had the most perfect guests in our holiday cottage rental at the time. The man was a world famous eczema specialist dermatologist - and a friend of my late mum. He looked at me rushing about showing them where things were - scraping my sole on any sharp surface I could find, and asked to take a look. He was horrified by what he found and declared this to be extremely infected pompholyx. He poo poohed the GP and his hydrocortisone (which was making it worse he said!) and told me I needed this combination as pompholyx of this kind should be treated as fungal infection.

My GP was really put out and sceptical about his note saying “please prescribe this immediately for my landlady!” But he couldn’t really say no to one of the world’s top eczema consultants so he gave me a prescription and boy it worked like a miracle! When it recurred a few years later I insisted on same treatment - never had it on soles again since 🤞🏽🤞🏽

Hope this helps.x

[Mifford in reply to Hidden]

I’ve been wondering about treating it like athletes foot too now it’s clearing as it wouldn’t hurt. I’ve ordered some lamisol once for when I get back so will see what happens and if t comes back again will try and persuade the doctor to do a similar prescription thanks.

Heat doesn’t help with it but it does seem to be a flare sign for me - as soon as it comes up I get a wipeout a few days later. I’ve nw started to recognise it and slow down and rest more as soon as it starts. This heat isn’t helping though!

[Hidden]

Yes, E45 Itch Relief Cream. You can buy it over the counter in most pharmacies. I also get this {more so when my feet are hot}, so I feel your discomfort bless you. Hope this helps you out. Good luck...

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Mifford ,

I don't know if you've seen our article about coping with itchy rashes, but it may be worth looking in case any of the tips in it help you. lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-...

[Mifford]

Thanks Paul. I treated it with an athletes foot treatment and it seems to have cleared up the last stubborn bit so I’m guessing it had got infected. Will bear all in mind for next time though 😊