Dyshidrotic Eczema

[Dyshidrotic Eczema]

Twenty-two years ago, I started getting these blister fluid filled bumps on my hands and feet. They would itch and then once they popped they became scaly. I went to the doctor and dermatologist, but no one could tell me what they were. I tried some creams that they'd prescribed, but none of them helped, so I just learned to live with it. I would always hide my feet during a breakout because the sores looked so horrible.

Several weeks ago, I went to the doctor because I was feeling tired all the time. I have this "fog" in my head. It's like... my vision's a little clouded (even though nothing's wrong with my eyes; I've had that checked) and it's hard to concentrate on day to day activities. When it's really bad, I feel like I can't even carry on a conversation. Plus, I was having diarrhea almost everyday.  The doctor ordered routine bloodwork and when looking in my records noticed that I'd frequently had a post nasal drip when I'd gone in for evaluations. All of my bloodwork was normal.

I was ready to give up again when my primary doctor called me to schedule my routine physical. He wanted fasting labs done. Which I did and they were also normal. I decided to go gluten-free after I saw these results online, because when my daughter was going through her issues (that's a whole different story) I went gluten-free with her and the "fog" in my head actually cleared! I was about 2 weeks gluten-free when I saw my doctor and the fatigue, fog and diarrhea had subsided. The only remaining concern was the blister fluid filled bump on my foot. He took a look at it and said he thought he knew what it was!

Dyshidrotic Eczema...He prescribed the strongest topical steroid and said to put it on whenever I feel an episode coming on. That's the thing, I can tell when I'm going to get it. I feel like I'm retaining water the day before... my skin feels tight.

Since the diagnosis, I've been researching Dyshidrotic Eczema and it seems it's linked to allergies. I've seen a lot about nickel related allergies, but I've also seen a lot of people who've experience it posting about celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. I don't think I can even be tested accurately now that I've gone gluten-free. Does anyone have advice on how I should proceed? Has anyone experienced similar things?

[GFinDC]

Hi, and welcome! 

Please read up on (DH) dermatitis herpetiformis.  There is a lot of info on DH in the DH section of the forum.  It could be you have DH instead.

[Jane87]

On 17/12/2017 at 6:37 AM, Dyshidrotic Eczema said:

Twenty-two years ago, I started getting these blister fluid filled bumps on my hands and feet. They would itch and then once they popped they became scaly. I went to the doctor and dermatologist, but no one could tell me what they were. I tried some creams that they'd prescribed, but none of them helped, so I just learned to live with it. I would always hide my feet during a breakout because the sores looked so horrible.

Several weeks ago, I went to the doctor because I was feeling tired all the time. I have this "fog" in my head. It's like... my vision's a little clouded (even though nothing's wrong with my eyes; I've had that checked) and it's hard to concentrate on day to day activities. When it's really bad, I feel like I can't even carry on a conversation. Plus, I was having diarrhea almost everyday.  The doctor ordered routine bloodwork and when looking in my records noticed that I'd frequently had a post nasal drip when I'd gone in for evaluations. All of my bloodwork was normal.

I was ready to give up again when my primary doctor called me to schedule my routine physical. He wanted fasting labs done. Which I did and they were also normal. I decided to go gluten-free after I saw these results online, because when my daughter was going through her issues (that's a whole different story) I went gluten-free with her and the "fog" in my head actually cleared! I was about 2 weeks gluten-free when I saw my doctor and the fatigue, fog and diarrhea had subsided. The only remaining concern was the blister fluid filled bump on my foot. He took a look at it and said he thought he knew what it was!

Dyshidrotic Eczema...He prescribed the strongest topical steroid and said to put it on whenever I feel an episode coming on. That's the thing, I can tell when I'm going to get it. I feel like I'm retaining water the day before... my skin feels tight.

Since the diagnosis, I've been researching Dyshidrotic Eczema and it seems it's linked to allergies. I've seen a lot about nickel related allergies, but I've also seen a lot of people who've experience it posting about celiac disease or a gluten intolerance. I don't think I can even be tested accurately now that I've gone gluten-free. Does anyone have advice on how I should proceed? Has anyone experienced similar things?

Hi! Please check out the Dermatitis Herpetiformis forum on this website.  I'm currently in the early stages of being tested/diagnosed. DH is skin presentation of coeliac and some people's can resemble dishydrotic eczema but is often very itchy, bilateral and sometimes painful. I'm not an expert at all so you best head to the DH forum https://www.celiac.com/forums/forum/26-dermatitis-herpetiformis/