Pruritic vesicles or bullae on the palms, sides of the fingers, or soles are characteristic of this disorder. Scaling, redness, and oozing often follow vesiculation. Symptoms are intermittent and attacks typically last several weeks but are shorter if treated.

Pompholyx is a severe form with bullae. The cause is unknown, but fungal infection, contact dermatitis, and dermatophytid (id) reactions to tinea pedis can cause a similar clinical appearance and should be ruled out. Treatment includes potent topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus or pimecrolimus, oral antibiotics (if secondarily infected), and ultraviolet light. Wet compresses with potassium permanganate or aluminum acetate can help relieve symptoms.

Painless patchy peeling of the palms, soles, or both is characteristic of this disorder. The cause is unknown; treatment is unnecessary because the condition is self-resolving.

Thick yellow-brown plaques on the palms and sometimes soles are characteristic of this disorder. Scaling can occur. The cause is unknown. Treatment is with topical corticosteroids and keratolytics, oral psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), and retinoids.

The appearance of vesicles usually on the sides of the fingers or on the palms or soles in response to active dermatitis elsewhere is characteristic of this disorder. The cause may be an allergic reaction (see Dermatophytid Reaction). The reaction takes multiple forms and may manifest as vesicles, papules, erysipelas-like plaques, erythema nodosum, erythema annulare centrifugum, or urticaria.

This irritant contact dermatitis affects people whose hands are frequently immersed in water. It is worsened by washing dishes, clothes, and babies because repeated exposure to even mild detergents and water or prolonged sweating under rubber gloves may irritate dermatitic skin or cause an irritant contact dermatitis.

This disorder (also called acral erythema or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) represents cutaneous toxicity caused by certain systemic chemotherapies (eg, capecitabine, cytarabine, fluorouracil, idarubicin, doxorubicin, taxanes, methotrexate, cisplatin, tegafur). Manifestations include pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, redness, and sometimes flaking or blistering of the palms or soles. Treatment is with oral or topical corticosteroids, topical dimethylsulfoxide, oral vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine), OTC analgesics (eg, acetaminophen, ibuprofen), and supportive measures (eg, cool compresses, minimizing manual tasks).