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Suggest Treatment For Watery Boils On Soles Of Feet, Toes And Fingers
Question: hi, i'm male, 39 yrs old. have a condition since about 10-12 years where i have periodic (every 50-60 days) outbursts of watery boils/ bumps on the soles of my feet, toes and fingers, with mild to moderate itching, lasting for about a week. Bursting them causes a clear, watery discharge. After about a week, it is followed by wilting/ moulting of skin for about a week, then appearance of fresh looking skin.
Brief Answer:
Possibility of pompholyx/dyshidrotic eczema
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I will keep a possibility of dyshidrotic eczema/pompholyx, which presents as itchy fluid filled blisters/vesicles along the sides of the fingers and toes, palms and soles. You can upload a photograph for better evaluation.
It can be a temporary condition, or in some cases, is more persistent.
The lesions of pompholyx can develop as an allergy to metal salts such as nickel, cobalt, chromium. Nickel is usually present in ornaments or ingested in food. Exposure to other salts may be occupational.
Other possible allergens include certain topical antibiotics e.g neomycin, allergens Or chemicals such as perfumes and irritants such as detergents etc.
Those individuals who are allergic have a higher chances of developing pompholyx and it is believed to be a type of allergic reaction.
Treatment includes topical application of a potent topical steroid + antibiotic cream twice daily for 2 weeks.
An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine would help in providing symptomatic relief from itching.
I would suggest that you consult a dermatologist. Your treating dermatologist might choose to give you a short course of oral steroids for a week.
regards
Possibility of pompholyx/dyshidrotic eczema
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I will keep a possibility of dyshidrotic eczema/pompholyx, which presents as itchy fluid filled blisters/vesicles along the sides of the fingers and toes, palms and soles. You can upload a photograph for better evaluation.
It can be a temporary condition, or in some cases, is more persistent.
The lesions of pompholyx can develop as an allergy to metal salts such as nickel, cobalt, chromium. Nickel is usually present in ornaments or ingested in food. Exposure to other salts may be occupational.
Other possible allergens include certain topical antibiotics e.g neomycin, allergens Or chemicals such as perfumes and irritants such as detergents etc.
Those individuals who are allergic have a higher chances of developing pompholyx and it is believed to be a type of allergic reaction.
Treatment includes topical application of a potent topical steroid + antibiotic cream twice daily for 2 weeks.
An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine would help in providing symptomatic relief from itching.
I would suggest that you consult a dermatologist. Your treating dermatologist might choose to give you a short course of oral steroids for a week.
regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your prompt response.
In case the treatment includes topical application of a potent topical steroid + antibiotic cream twice daily for 2 weeks and a short course of oral steroids for a week, are there any medications - creams/ oral steroids you can recommend? Are these OTC drugs?
Also would these boils be related to a small reddish rash i have on my chin just below my lower lip and on my chest (only over my sternum) ..? The rash is often accompanied by small pustules which are not painful or itchy...
If not what can this rash be indicative of ? i try to maintain proper hygiene .. yet i feel these are hygiene related or sweat related ( im an active sportsman)...
Will be grateful for any guidance on the matter.
Thank you for your prompt response.
In case the treatment includes topical application of a potent topical steroid + antibiotic cream twice daily for 2 weeks and a short course of oral steroids for a week, are there any medications - creams/ oral steroids you can recommend? Are these OTC drugs?
Also would these boils be related to a small reddish rash i have on my chin just below my lower lip and on my chest (only over my sternum) ..? The rash is often accompanied by small pustules which are not painful or itchy...
If not what can this rash be indicative of ? i try to maintain proper hygiene .. yet i feel these are hygiene related or sweat related ( im an active sportsman)...
Will be grateful for any guidance on the matter.
Brief Answer:
Face & chest rash is likely seborrheic dermatitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
The Potent Topical Steroid + Antibiotic combination creams and Oral Steroids are prescription products.
The reddish rash on your chin and sternum is most likely a part of seborrheic dermatitis, judging from the distribution of the rash. A picture would have been useful in confirming it. Seborrheic dermatitis is different from pompholyx, that I had discussed earlier.
Seborrheic dermatitis may affect the scalp as well as face (eyebrows, glabella, sides of nose, chin etc) and chest with faintly red, scaly rash. Itching is subjective in individuals.
A moderately potent topical steroid e.g fluticasone propionate 0.05%, twice daily can be used for 2 weeks for seborrheic dermatitis. Again it is a prescription product.
I would suggest that visit a dermatologist in your region. Your dermatologist will tell you more about these conditions (pompholyx and seborrheic dermatitis) and prescribe accordingly.
Regards
Face & chest rash is likely seborrheic dermatitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
The Potent Topical Steroid + Antibiotic combination creams and Oral Steroids are prescription products.
The reddish rash on your chin and sternum is most likely a part of seborrheic dermatitis, judging from the distribution of the rash. A picture would have been useful in confirming it. Seborrheic dermatitis is different from pompholyx, that I had discussed earlier.
Seborrheic dermatitis may affect the scalp as well as face (eyebrows, glabella, sides of nose, chin etc) and chest with faintly red, scaly rash. Itching is subjective in individuals.
A moderately potent topical steroid e.g fluticasone propionate 0.05%, twice daily can be used for 2 weeks for seborrheic dermatitis. Again it is a prescription product.
I would suggest that visit a dermatologist in your region. Your dermatologist will tell you more about these conditions (pompholyx and seborrheic dermatitis) and prescribe accordingly.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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