Dyshidrotic Eczema: A Common Cause of Palmar Dermatitis

Abstract

Dyshidrotic eczema (DE) or acute palmoplantar eczema is a common cause of hand and foot dermatitis in adults. It is a recurrent vesicular eruption affecting the soles, palms, or both. It is very pruriginous and generally appears suddenly. It creates vesicles that, on physical examination, can look similar to "tapioca pudding", which is the characteristic clinical feature of this disorder. It is more common in young adults and affects men and women equally. In this report, we present the case of a 56-year-old man with no relevant past medical history who presented to the hospital with vesicular lesions in his hands and maculopapular lesions in his arms and legs. The patient had characteristic lesions in his right hand consistent with DE and negative workup for bullous pemphigoid, scabies, and bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.

Keywords: acute palmoplantar eczema; dyshidrotic eczema; pompholyx.