Clinical and anamnestic features of dyshidrotic eczema: A cross-sectional study

Introduction. Dyshidrotic eczema (DE) is a common type of eczema characterized by vesicular or bullous rashes on the skin of hands and (or) feet, prone to chronic and recurrent course, refractoriness to therapy and development of complications.

Aim. To analyze the clinical and anamnestic features of dyshidrotic eczema. Describe clinical cases of DE and experience with external therapy.

Materials and methods. The study included 132 patients (55 men and 77 women) with DE aged 19 to 78 years, the average age was 33.7 ± 10.3 years. To assess the severity of the course of DE, The Dyshidrotic Eczema Area and Severity Index (DASI) was used, and a visual analog scale, The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), was used to assess itching.

Results. Aggravated allergic anamnesis was revealed in 40.1% of patients, atopic anamnesis – in 18.2% of patients. Hyperhidrosis of hands and feet was diagnosed in 3.8% of patients. The mean DASI index score was 12.6 regardless of gender (p = 0.096). The clinical course of DE was characterized by predominance of mild (68.2%) and moderate severity (31.0%) with localization of the pathological process mainly on the skin of hands in 73.5% of cases. Cutaneous itching accompanied the rashes in 54.5% of cases. External therapy with cream containing betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%, gentamicin sulfate 0.1% and clotrimazole 1% showed high efficacy in the treatment of acute and subacute course of DE of hands and feet complicated by secondary infection. The drug demonstrated achievement of the clinical effect of “clear skin” in 82.1% of patients with DE.

Conclusions. The study of anamnestic and clinical features of DE is important for optimization of systemic and external therapy of the disease, analysis of risk factors that allow to control the course of the disease and develop individual schemes for prevention of exacerbations.

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