Q: I am 31 years old. I have dyshidrotic eczema. I see small red coloured bumps on my palms and soles. These are itchy at the onset. I apply a steroid cream on these affected areas when they appear (lidex ointment). The bumps subside in a few days and then I start shedding skin in these areas. The doctors said that there is no permanent cure for this disease and I have to use this ointment on a need basis. I am suffering from this problem for almost a year now. The shedding of the skin doesn't stop. It looks bad. How can I recover from this problem? I do not have a family history of this kind.

A:In dyshidrotic eczema, steroid creams are the mainstay. You can try an injection called Histaglobulin, which has to be given subcutaneously once a week for three injections. It gives a fairly good response in the sense that no relapses are seen in about 70% cases.