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Background: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) and pompholyx are chronic diseases characterized by pustules and vesicles on the palms and soles. These disorders often have similar clinicopathological features, which lead to diagnostic difficulties. We aimed to investigate the expression patterns of keratins and involucrin in PPP and pompholyx using immunohistochemical staining., Methods: Skin biopsies from patients with PPP (n = 40) and pompholyx (n = 22) were immunohistochemically analyzed for Keratin 5, 9, 14, and involucrin expression., Results: K5 expression was higher in PPP than in pompholyx, with diffusely positive expression in the basal, spinous, and granular layers. K14 expression did not differ between groups. K9 expression was observed near the pompholyx vesicle (P = 0.014) and stratum spinosum (P < 0.001) but was almost absent around PPP pustules. Involucrin expression was diffused around the PPP pustules and partially around the pompholyx vesicles, but without statistical significance (P = 0.123). Involucrin expression was elevated in the basal layer of the PPP compared with that in the pompholyx (P = 0.023)., Conclusion: PPP and pompholyx exhibited distinctive differentiation in the expression of K5, K9, and involucrin., (© 2024 the International Society of Dermatology.)

Introduction: Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune bullous disease characterized by subepidermal separation. We encountered cases of bullous pemphigoid confirmed by direct immunofluorescence study but demonstrating spongiotic dermatitis without subepidermal clefting. Many of them occurred in volar sites, mimicking dyshidrotic dermatitis., Methods: We retrospectively collected patients who were pathologically and/or immunopathologically diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid from 2002 to 2017. Patients who presented with prominent spongiosis without subepidermal clefting were included and compared with patients who were diagnosed with dyshidrotic dermatitis., Results: A total of nine cases of spongiform pemphigoid out of 385 bullous pemphigoid patients (2.3%) were identified and compared with 15 patients with dyshidrotic dermatitis. Average age of spongiform pemphigoid patients (76 years) was much older than that of the control group (34 years). Microvesicles in the mid- to lower epidermis (P < 0.001), eosinophils exocytosis (P < 0.001), and eosinophils microabscess (P < 0.001) in both the epidermis and papillary dermis were more common in spongiform pemphigoid., Conclusion: Spongiform pemphigoid mimics spongiotic dermatitis may result in a pathological diagnostic pitfall. The presence of eosinophil microabscess and exocytosis in the epidermis and papillary dermis were important clues. Immunofluorescence studies should be conducted to confirm the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) and pompholyx are both chronic and relapsing diseases occurring on the palms and soles. Although these two diseases have been considered completely different from each other, it is sometimes very difficult even for dermatologists to differentiate them from each other because of their similarities in clinical presentation. In this study, we aimed to analyze the histopathological features of PPP and pompholyx and find out "clues" to differentiate between PPP and pompholyx by their histopathological features. The histopathology of 11 PPP and six pompholyx patients, who were diagnosed with typical clinical history and histopathology, were carefully observed. PPP cases were divided into three phases (vesicle, pustulovesicule and pustule) and pompholyx cases were divided into two phases (vesicle and pustule), and histopathological findings and a 4-point checklist to distinguish between PPP and pompholyx were preliminarily established. To confirm whether the checklist establishes the clues for diagnosis, biopsy samples from 43 patients (32 PPP and 11 pompholyx) who had been already diagnosed at five hospitals were examined according to our checklist without any additional clinical information. According to our 4-point checklist, 31 of 32 PPP patients and all 11 pompholyx patients were diagnosed histopathologically consistent with their clinical diagnosis. In conclusion, histopathological findings of "vesicles without spongiosis" and "microabscess on the edges of vesicles" would be impact points for the differential diagnosis between PPP and pompholyx. The 4-point checklist was trustworthy to distinguish between PPP and pompholyx., (© 2019 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Dyshidrotic eczema, also known as dyshidrotic dermatitis or pompholyx, is characterized by pruritic, small tense vesicles mainly on the palmoplantar region and lateral and ventral surfaces of the fingers. While its etiology appears to be related to sweating, as dyshidrotic eczema often occurs in an individual with hyperhidrosis, and the spring allergy season, histologic examination shows an eczematous reaction around the sweat ducts which is not associated with abnormalities of the sweat ducts. More recently, the nomenclature of 'acute and recurrent vesicular hand dermatitis' has been proposed to reflect clinical features of dyshidrotic eczema. Although the exact etiology of dyshidrotic eczema remains unknown, given the presence of metal allergy in patients with dyshidrotic eczema and the improvement of the symptoms by removing metal allergen, metal allergy is regarded as one of the important potential etiologic factors for dyshidrotic eczema., (© 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Mechanic's hands are a well-known symptom often associated with dermatomyositis and are similar to hand eczema clinically. Histopathology of them usually shows hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, psoriasiform acanthosis, basal vacuolar changes and necrotic keratinocytes in the epidermis and upper dermal mucin deposition. However, there have been few comparative histopathologic evaluations of mechanic's hands and palmoplantar eczema., Methods: We evaluated the histopathology of mechanic's hands in 6 patients with dermatomyositis who visited our hospital between 2006 and 2014 comparing with histopathology of 27 patients with palmoplantar eczema, retrospectively., Results: As previously reported, hyperkeratosis, basal vacuolar change and necrotic keratinocytes were seen in all cases of mechanic's hands. Basal vacuolar change was not observed in any cases of palmoplantar eczema. Three cases of mechanic's hands demonstrated a characteristic finding, a pseudocheckerboard pattern, in the hyperkeratotic horny layer; there were areas of alternating parakeratosis and orthokeratosis in a vertical arrangement and these areas alternated with the completely orthokeratotic areas in a horizontal arrangement. This pattern has not been focused in mechanic's hands so far. Same pattern was also observed in four patients with palmoplantar eczema., Conclusion: 'Pseudocheckerboard pattern' was not specific but may be a possible diagnostic clue for mechanic's hands., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pompholyx is an inflammatory vesiculobullous skin disease of the hands and feet belonging to the spectrum of eczema., Objective: To report a severe case of pompholyx, its clinical presentation, and its management., Methods: A medical chart review was conducted on a patient with this condition., Results: The patient was patch tested according to the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) Standard Screening Series, and results were negative. In the past, she was treated with corticosteroid creams as well as narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB), and Psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapies, and none were beneficial. When the frequency of the episodes increased, methotrexate was introduced but failed to control the condition. Next, mycophenolate mofetil was started and gradually increased to 3.5 g daily along with a separate trial of radiotherapy with marked success., Conclusion: Pompholyx can be challenging to manage, and treatment can involve an assortment of therapies over a prolonged period of time., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Background: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic and intensely inflammatory skin disease with pustules, erythema and scaling localized to the palms and soles. Pompholyx is characterized by recurrent crops of vesicles on the lateral aspects of the fingers and the palms and soles. Because both PPP and pompholyx share similar clinical and histological features, it is difficult to differentiate between these two diseases even for dermatologists., Objective: To compare the histological features of PPP and pompholyx and to analyse their clinical characteristics., Methods: The clinical history from 45 patients with PPP and 42 with pompholyx was evaluated. Among these patients, the punch biopsies from acute lesions of 40 PPP patients and 35 pompholyx ones were analysed, blind to the clinical diagnosis., Results: There was no sexual predilection in either group, and 65.5% of PPP patients had smoking history. About half of the patients had concomitant palmoplantar lesions in PPP and pompholyx respectively. In histological evaluation, loss of granular layer, suprapapillary plates thinning, eosinophils in the pustules or vesicles, tortuous capillaries, capillaries touching the undersurface of epidermis and extravasated erythrocytes were statistically significant features of PPP. Confluent parakeratosis, psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia, clubbing and anastomosing of the rete ridges favoured PPP. Meanwhile, multiple foci of parakeratosis, irregular epidermal hyperplasia and thinning of rete ridges were more often observed in pompholyx. However, dyskeratotic cells, papillary dermal oedema, dilated capillaries and acrosyringium were not significantly different between the two diseases., Conclusions: Several histological features could serve as useful 'clues' to differentiate between PPP and pompholyx., (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2012 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: It is unclear whether the respiratory tract is involved in eliciting or aggravating eczematous lesions in patients with vesicular hand eczema. Objectives. To investigate the effect of inhalation of house dust mite (HDM) on vesicular hand eczema., Methods: Eighteen patients with vesicular hand eczema and HDM allergy received inhalation challenges with four concentrations of HDM in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Early asthmatic reactions and late asthmatic reactions were defined as a placebo-corrected fall of 15% or more from baseline of forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Hand eczema was scored according to the Dyshidrotic Eczema Area and Severity Index (DASI) at baseline, and 1, 6, 24 and 48 hr., Results: The median DASI increased significantly as compared with baseline at 6 and 48 hr after HDM inhalation. This increase was significantly different between the provocations at 6 hr. The median vesicles score increased significantly from baseline at 24 and 48 hr. Patients with a placebo-corrected increase in the number of vesicles at 24 hr and 48 hr had significantly more often late asthmatic reactions than those without an increase in the number of vesicles. Patients with a placebo-corrected increase of the DASI score at 24 hours had as a group a higher mean total IgE level than those without an increase of the DASI score., Conclusion: Hand eczema increased significantly more after HDM provocation than after placebo provocation. An increase in the number of vesicles was preceded by late asthmatic reactions. The group patients with an increase of hand eczema tended to have a higher mean total IgE level., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Background: Numerous studies have confirmed the short-term effectiveness of 8-methoxypsoralen bath PUVA therapy in patients with chronic palmoplantar dermatoses; however, little is known about long-term results., Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study we examined the long-term results in 79 patients (mean age: 48 years) with chronic palmoplantar dermatoses who were treated with bath PUVA three times a week over an 8-year period. A good clinical response (a reduction of more than 50% of the skin lesions) occurred after a mean of 23 treatments and a mean cumulative UVA dose of 39 J/cm(2) in 51 patients (65%). In 2007 a questionnaire was sent to these 51 patients to assess the long-term outcome., Results: With bath PUVA treatment, the best results were found in patients with hyperkeratotic eczema (17/22; 77% good clinical response) followed by patients with palmoplantar psoriasis (26/41; 63%) and patients with dyshidrotic eczema (8/16; 50%). Thirty-four patients (67%) answered the questionnaire after a mean follow-up interval of 4.3 years (10-87 months). Among these patients, 36% reported an improved course of disease after PUVA therapy with reduced frequency and/or intensity of the skin rash, and 29% of patients reported continued complete clearance. 79% of our patients reported a long-term reduction in the use of topical corticosteroids during the follow-up period (mean: 4.3 years). In addition, 67% of patients reported a lasting improvement in quality of life., Conclusions: These data show that bath PUVA may have a long-term, beneficial influence on the course of disease in a majority of patients with recalcitrant chronic palmoplantar dermatoses., (© The Authors • Journal compilation © Blackwell Verlag GmbH, Berlin • JDDG • 1610-0379/2012.)

We report a case of adult-onset acquired zinc deficiency after bariatric surgery. Zinc deficiency may be inherited in the form of acrodermatitis enteropathica or acquired by low nutritional intake, malabsorption, excessive loss of zinc, or a combination of these factors.

A 16-year-old young man presented with intensely itchy erythematous dermatitis on the body for 1 week and vesicular lesions on the palms and soles for 4 to 5 days. Lesions on the palms and soles were accompanied by severe burning and itching. The patient gave a history of sore throat and fever, 1 week prior to the onset of lesions. A general physical examination was normal, and cutaneous examination revealed multiple, well-defined erythematous scaly plaques with collaret scaling on the trunk and extremities (Figure 1). Vesicular lesions were seen on the palms and soles (Figure 2). The differential diagnoses we considered were pityriasis rosea and secondary syphilis. The possibility of dermatophytid, vesicular pityriasis rosea, and pompholyx was limited to the palms and sole lesions. Complete blood cell count was within normal limits. Results from antistreptolysin O titer, potassium hydroxide mount, and venereal disease research laboratory were negative. Skin biopsies were taken from the back and left palm. The biopsy specimen from the back revealed focal spongiosis, lymphocyte exocytosis, vacuolar changes in the basal layer, and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis (Figure 3). The biopsy obtained from the vesicular lesion on the left palm revealed an intraepidermal vesicle with no evidence of acantolytic process (Figure 4). A diagnosis of pityriasis rosea was made and the patient was started on clarithromycin 500 mg once a day for 7 days, along with antihistamines and emollients. The lesions faded dramatically in a very short period, and there was significant involution of almost all of the lesions after 7 days of clarithromycin. During the 6 months of follow-up, no recurrence was observed.

Dyshidrosiform Bullous pemphigoid is a well-known entity, but dyshidrosiform pemphigus vulgaris has rarely been described. Our patient, a 36-year-old female, with a known case of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) for the last 6 years, presented with a 3 month history of a dyshidrosiform eruption of the soles. On the basis of histopathological and direct immunofluorence (DIF) findings, the new eruption was diagnosed as PV. We report our case as dyshidrosiform pemphigus vulgaris.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive type of leukemia/lymphoma associated with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I). We describe an adult male patient clinically and pathologically diagnosed as mycosis fungoides and treated with chemotherapy after which complete involution of the lesions occurred. The disease relapsed with confluent dyshidrosis-like vesicles on the palmoplantar regions, followed by disseminated vesiculopapules and associated lymphocytosis. A serological test performed at this time revealed HTLV-I infection, and a diagnosis of chronic ATL was made. Monoclonal integration of HTLV-I was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by inverse long polymerase chain reaction. A skin biopsy revealed spongiosis, Pautrier abscesses, and intraepidermal vesicles with atypical lymphocytes and an infiltration of small and atypical CD4 lymphocytes in the superficial dermis. Proliferative index (Ki-67) was 70%. This is the first reported vesicular cutaneous ATL with confirmation of HTLV-I proviral integration. The delay that occurred in diagnosing ATL was due to the fact that mycosis fungoides and ATL may present the same clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features.

Hand dermatitis is common, with lymphoedema of the hand and forearm a rare complication. The mechanism of lymphoedema in such cases is poorly understood, hence management can be challenging. To investigate the underlying mechanism of lymphoedema associated with hand dermatitis and outline recommendations for management, we identified all patients with lymphoedema associated with hand dermatitis referred to our lymphoedema service, a tertiary referral centre. Treatment outcome was assessed by telephone interview and through correspondence with primary physicians and therapists. In total, nine patients, six with bilateral and three with unilateral lymphoedema associated with hand dermatitis, attended our service over a 4-year period. Most had long-standing bilateral pompholyx eczema. Three patients reported no signs of infection prior to the onset of swelling. All patients had recurrent episodes of infection after the onset of swelling. Lymphoscintigraphy, when used, revealed a failure of small initial lymphatics of the hand to absorb and drain lymph to regional nodes. Prophylactic antibiotics together with aggressive management of the dermatitis, often with systemic therapy, were required to reduce swelling. Possible mechanisms for lymphoedema associated with hand dermatitis include obliterative lymphangitis from infection, an inflammatory effect of the dermatitis on local lymphatics or a constitutive weakness of lymph drainage exposed to chronic inflammation, or any combination of the three. Treatment is only successful once both infection and inflammation from the dermatitis are controlled.

Pompholyx is a rather common disorder characterized by recurrent crops of vesicles or bullae on the lateral aspects of the fingers, as well as the palms and soles with non-erythematous skin. Until now, very few large families have been reported, so no gene or locus has been identified. Here, we performed a genome-wide search in a large Chinese family to map the chromosome location of the responsible gene. We identified a locus at chromosome 18q22.1-18q22.3 with a maximum two-point LOD score of 3.61 at marker D18S1131 (theta = 0.00). Haplotype analyses indicated that the disease gene is located within 12.07 cM region between markers D18S465 and D18S1362, which corresponds to 8.0 Mb. This is the first locus identified for pompholyx. It will aid future identification of the responsible gene, which will be useful for the understanding of the molecular mechanism of pompholyx.

A Japanese woman had bullous eruptions on her palms and soles for two months, histopathologic examination, immunofluorescence microscopy, and ELISA for BP180 antigen led to the definitive diagnosis of dyshidrosiform pemphigoid (DP). This paper also includes a study of 15 other cases of DP.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been used to treat a variety of immune mediated disorders. Cutaneous reactions to IVIG are rare and have only been anecdotally described. We describe three cases with dyshidrotic-like biopsy proven spongiotic dermatitis after administration of IVIG. These three cases may highlight an uncommon and rarely reported side effect of IVIG.

Background: Dyshidrotic palmoplantar eczema is a frequent disease often running a chronic relapsing course. Topical glucocorticosteroids form the mainstay of therapy, and alternatives are urgently warranted., Objective: This study was performed to compare the efficacy of tacrolimus (FK506) 0.1% ointment and mometasone furoate 0.1% ointment in the treatment of dyshidrotic palmoplantar eczema., Methods: Sixteen patients were included in the study after a randomized, observer-blind, intrapersonal comparison protocol. After a 2-week washout period, the active treatment phase amounted to 4 weeks with twice-daily topical application of test substances and additional use of emollients at will. Thereafter, patients were monitored at weekly intervals up to 8 weeks., Results: The dyshidrotic area and severity index showed a more than 50% reduction of baseline values after 2 weeks of active treatment both for FK506 (P =.003) and mometasone furoate (P =.022) in palmar areas. After active treatment, a nonsignificant increase in the dyshidrotic area and severity index was seen with FK506 treated areas. Fourteen of 16 patients had recurring symptoms requiring further therapy within 3 weeks after the active treatment phase., Conclusion: Treatment with FK506 offers the possibility for rotational therapy with mometasone furoate in long-standing cases of chronic dyshidrotic palmar eczema.

Background: Dyshidrotic eczema of the palms and soles is a common condition, which can be rather resistant to treatment. Therapy studies and their comparability are of clinical importance., Objective: As standardized assessment methods for the severity of this particular form of eczema are lacking, we developed a severity index for dyshidrotic eczema., Methods: The Dyshidrotic Eczema Area and Severity Index (DASI) is based on the severity grade of single items - number of vesicles per square centimetre (V), erythema (E), desquamation (S) and itch (I) - and the extension of the affected area (A) and is calculated with defined score points (p) as: DASI = (pv + pE = pS + pI) x pA., Results: In two treatment studies on dyshidrotic hand eczema, the DASI was found to be a simple and useful tool to assess the severity of dyshidrotic eczema and the effect of therapy., Conclusion: The DASI needs to be further validated in larger cohorts.

Investigations of dyshidrotic eruptions of various causes were done by conventional and electron microscopy. In all cases, the histological patterns were identical. The dyshidrotic vesicle is an intraepidermal, spongiotic lesion. The intraepidermal part of the eccrine sweat duct (acrosyringium) is not altered even by spongiosis. As the acrosyringium does not take part in formation of a dyshidrotic vesicle, the term "dyshidrosis" has to be regarded as a misnomer. Dyshidrosis is nothing but spongiotic dermatitis modified by the distinctive characteristics of palmar and plantar skin.

The common manifestation of pompholyx is easily recognized by the clinician. Morphologic variants are known in which the predominant lesions are pustules or desquamation with or without erythema. A patient is described herein whose eruption was composed mainly of arciform, annular, and target-like vesicles. Pompholyx (bubble) is a preferred term because "dyshidrosis" denotes a dysfunction of sweating, which does not occur in this condition. The causes of this eruption have not been determined, but it is likely that a certain genetic predisposition and multiple environmental factors are responsible. Pompholyx should be considered in the differential diagnosis of eruptions with annular pattern.

A case of localized pemphigoid simulating dyshidrosis is described. Only direct immunofluorescence permitted a correct diagnosis.