Dyshidrotic Eczema: Itchy Hand Blisters and What Helps
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 31 October 2026
Dyshidrotic eczema causes itchy blisters on the fingers and palms. Triggers, how long it lasts, what helps, Spanish prescriptions and when to see a doctor.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
Dyshidrotic eczema is a type of eczema that causes small, very itchy blisters on the palms, the sides of the fingers and sometimes the soles of the feet. It is not contagious. Flares usually last 2 to 3 weeks and often come back. Moisturisers, avoiding triggers and a steroid cream from a doctor help most people.
- Look for tiny, deep blisters on the fingers and palms that itch or burn. They can look like tapioca.
- Common triggers are stress, heat and sweat, wet hands, harsh soaps, and metals such as nickel and cobalt.
- The NHS says each episode usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks. It often comes back.
- Moisturise every day, use a soap substitute and wear cotton-lined gloves. Do not burst the blisters.
- In Spain the steroid creams usually used need a prescription. Pus, crusts or fever mean infection: see a doctor today.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What is dyshidrotic eczema?
It is a form of eczema that affects the hands and feet. MedlinePlus says the name pompholyx comes from the Greek word for bubble. The names change by country:
- UK: pompholyx, the name the NHS uses.
- US: dyshidrotic eczema or dyshidrosis.
- Spain: eccema dishidrótico or dishidrosis. You may see either on a Spanish report.
The cause is not fully known. It is more common in people who already have eczema or allergies such as hay fever. MedlinePlus notes that women seem more prone to it than men.
What does dyshidrotic eczema look like?
It often starts with itching, burning or prickling skin. Then the blisters appear. The NHS and Mayo Clinic describe:
- Small blisters filled with clear fluid, in clusters, mainly on the sides of the fingers and the palms.
- Sometimes blisters on the toes and the soles of the feet.
- Strong itching. The blisters can also hurt and leak fluid.
- In bad flares, small blisters join into larger ones.
- After the blisters go, dry, cracked and sore skin that may bleed.
On brown or black skin, Mayo Clinic says the skin may stay darker for a while after healing. This usually fades without treatment.
What triggers dyshidrotic eczema?
Flares often have a trigger. The NHS, Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus list:
- Stress.
- Heat and sweat. Many people notice it more in warm months, which matters in a Spanish summer.
- Hands that are often wet, as in hairdressing or cleaning.
- Soaps, cleaning products and detergents.
- Metals such as nickel and cobalt. MedlinePlus also lists chromium, for example in cement work.
If a metal or product seems to set it off, a dermatologist can arrange patch tests.
Is dyshidrotic eczema contagious?
No. Mayo Clinic is clear that it is not contagious. Shaking hands or sharing a towel is safe.
What helps dyshidrotic eczema?
Daily skin care is the base of treatment, during and between flares:
- Moisturise often. Use a plain emollient with no perfume. MedlinePlus advises putting it on damp skin.
- Swap soap for a soap substitute and wash in lukewarm water, not hot or cold.
- Dry your hands well, also between the fingers.
- Wear gloves for wet jobs. Cotton gloves under waterproof ones protect from water and cleaning products.
- Choose cotton or silk socks and leather shoes over nylon, plastic or rubber.
- Do not burst the blisters.
If itching keeps you awake, a pharmacist can suggest an antihistamine to take at night. The NHS mentions the sleepy kind for this.
Itchy blisters on your hands that keep coming back?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He looks at your hands on camera, asks about your triggers and agrees a skin care and treatment plan with you.
What treatment can a doctor give?
When skin care is not enough, a doctor may suggest:
- A steroid cream or ointment for a few weeks at a time, to calm the itch and soreness.
- Soaks to dry weeping blisters. The NHS mentions potassium permanganate soaks.
- Antibiotics, only if the blisters become infected.
- A dermatologist referral for severe or stubborn cases. Options there include steroid tablets, light therapy (phototherapy) and other medicines, such as alitretinoin.
MedlinePlus also lists non-steroid creams that calm the immune response (topical immunomodulators). Tacrolimus (Protopic) is one of these.
Do I need a prescription in Spain?
For most of the treatment, yes. The steroid creams usually used for hand eczema, such as mometasone (Elocom) and methylprednisolone aceponate (Lexxema), need a prescription in Spain. So does tacrolimus (Protopic). Moisturisers, soap substitutes and cotton gloves are sold freely in any farmacia.
In the UK, a GP prescribes these creams after an assessment. In Spain, your GP (médico de cabecera) does the same and refers you to a dermatologist (dermatólogo) if needed.
Could it be something else?
Yes. The NHS points out that psoriasis, ringworm and athlete's foot can also cause itchy patches or blisters on the hands and feet. MedlinePlus adds that a doctor may need a skin sample to rule out a fungal infection or psoriasis. This matters, because a steroid cream can make a fungal infection worse. Do not guess: ask a doctor to look.
How long does it last, and will it come back?
The NHS says each episode usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Mayo Clinic adds that it often comes back, sometimes for months or years.
When should you see a doctor?
Book a visit if:
- You think you have it for the first time and want it confirmed.
- The rash is severe, does not clear with home care, or spreads beyond your hands and feet.
- The pain or itch stops you working or sleeping.
See a doctor today if the blisters become very painful, leak yellow or green pus, or form a yellow-brown crust. These are signs of infection. The same applies if the skin turns red, warm and tender, or you get a fever.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Look closely at your hands and feet on camera. Clear photos taken in daylight help.
- Ask about your work, products you use and other skin problems.
- Agree a skin care plan, tell you whether treatment is suitable and whether you need a dermatologist or patch tests.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Is dyshidrotic eczema contagious?
No. It cannot spread to other people or to other parts of your body by touch. Mayo Clinic states plainly that it is not contagious.
How long does a dyshidrotic eczema flare last?
The NHS says an episode usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks. The blisters then dry and peel, and the skin can stay dry and cracked for a while. Flares often come back.
Should I pop the blisters?
No. The NHS advises not to burst them. Broken skin lets germs in, and infection is the most common problem.
Is pompholyx the same as dyshidrotic eczema?
Yes. Pompholyx is the usual UK name. Dyshidrotic eczema and dyshidrosis are the usual US names. In Spain you will hear eccema dishidrótico or dishidrosis.
Do I need a prescription for a steroid cream in Spain?
The steroid creams usually used for hand eczema, such as mometasone (Elocom) and methylprednisolone aceponate (Lexxema), need a prescription in Spain. Moisturisers and soap substitutes do not.
Can stress cause dyshidrotic eczema?
Stress does not cause it on its own, but the NHS, Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus all list stress as a common trigger for flares.
Sources
- NHS: Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema)
- Mayo Clinic: Dyshidrosis, symptoms and causes
- MedlinePlus: Pompholyx eczema
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
