Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Hand and Foot Rashes
Introduction
- The most common etiologies of hand and foot rashes are irritant and dyshidrotic eczema
- Hand and foot rashes look very different, thus a careful examination is required to make a differential
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
- Possible dermatology referral
History and Symptoms
- Chronic exposure to harmful chemicals or irritants
- Family history (allergy / atopy, psoriasis)
- Presence of small, clear blisters
- Nail examination
- Examine joints
Laboratory Findings
- Culture of pustules
- Scale scrap (KOH prep)
- Fungal culture of nail
Other Diagnostic Studies
- Patch test
- Punch biopsy
Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Hand and foot rashes
Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Hand and foot rashes
- Dyshidrotic Eczcema
- Erythema multiforme
- Irritant or allergic hand Eczema
- Keratoderma
- Pityriasis rubra pilaris
- Psoriasis
- Reiter’s Disease
- Scabies
- Secondary Syphilis
- Tinea manus (hand)
- Tinea pedis (foot)
- Varicella
- Meningococcemia [1]
Treatment
Treatment
- Avoid wet-work, harsh soaps, offending agents (irritants)
- Bland heavy emollients
- Topical or systemic phototherapy with psoralen with ultraviolet A phototherapy (PUVA)
Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacotherapy
Acute Pharmacotherapies
- Topical steroid ointments
- Topical antifungal agents
- Oral antifungals (for onychomycosis)
- Systemic methotrexate
- Cyclosporine
References
References
- ↑ Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by
List of contributors:
Suggested Reading and Key General References
Suggested Reading and Key General References
Suggested Links and Web Resources
Suggested Links and Web Resources
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]