Exfoliative Keratolysis

[Okie55]

I have suffered with Exfoliative Keratolysis on my hands and feet for 27 years now.
In fact it was only by going online recently that I finally learned the exact name of this condition. No doctor I saw ever put a name to it other than "It's some type of dematitis or exzema." As like many others, I went through all the standard treatments including topical steroids. The ONLY times it has completely cleared was when I would get a cortizone injection in my bad shoulder as well as the one time I was put on a Prednisone treatment for an eye infection. That's it. I live with it. But I would like to know if anyone has an idea as to what brings it on in the first place. Why, out of the blue, does it appear? I have no allergies nor exposures past or present to chemicals or the like. Any ideas? Any treatments that work?

Thanks!

[ICE06]

It has been more than 10 years since I started having EK. I, like many of you here, diagnosed myself since my 2 dematologists I had visited had given me only 'put some hand cream on' type of solution without anything more for me to go on with. Pretty much the same way they dealt with my eczema, 'put cortisone on' .  I suspected that EK might have some common causes as my eczema. Then good news came 3 years ago when I saw the documentary 'forks over knives'. Skin conditions were not mentioned on the film; it mostly dealt with preventing and in some cases reversing cancers ,heart disease, and diabetes by changing diet to whole-food plant-based diet. That was my AHA moment. I had to give my body a chance to heal itself. I gave the dietary change a try. Guess what, in 3 weeks my 17-year old problem of eczema was just GONE really GONE no more cortisone. Then when summer came that year, the 10-year old skin peeling EK that used to ravage my whole hands, fingers and the palms and all, scaring people, was limited to only the tips of 4-5 fingers! And it didn't peel so deeply, and didn't make the new skin feel too sensitive any more. And it has been getting less severe every year (3 pealing finger tips this year and I'm expecting it to stop there). And I can just go about my day putting shear butter on after washing my hand and nobody really notice the slight peeling unless they look really closely.  The peeling happens only one round and doesn't last more than 2 weeks. This is a huge improvement. I'm not completely 'cured' from EK but I would consider it a 90% improvement and I'm hopeful that soon enough it, too, like my eczema, will be GONE. Check out FORKS OVER KNIVES and Give the WHOLE-FOOD PLANT-BASED DIET a try. It's worth it.

[gannu27]

I am 30,Asian and new to US. I am first time getting Exfoliative keratolysis.. My hands and my feet were bad with blisters and peeling..

Tried Moisturizers like st.Ives on Hand . It didnt work. First i thought this is Acne and applied cortisone cream.. no effect... Waste of Money and time... Googling  helped me to identify the disease.. Later I found Goldbond healing handcream in Walmart and it works like a magic on my hand.. It locks moisture and keeping my hand far better and 95% recovered.

But with feet, no luck.. still peeling , applying moisturizers...  Anyways for Hands, i suggest to try Goldband Healing hand cream-costs just ~4$.

[SRS303]

I make a lotion bar that contains bees wax, coconut oil, coco butter, and almond oil. If I use it multiple times a day--especially after I wash my hands--it helps with the peeling, and seems to help my skin get back to normal faster after an outbreak. Can't say yet whether or not it will help prevent or lessen my outbreaks, because I've only been doing this for a few months, and warmer weather is a trigger. But it smells very nice and is soothing. Just do a search on DIY lotion bars. You can make them yourself for a whole lot less than buying them.

[TexRN]

This EK began for me in Fall 2014. I've gone down many of the same paths you all have kindly shared. If anyone has recommendation for summer gloves, that would be most helpful and appreciated! I never knew how self-conscious one can feel with this until walking the dog in a pair of black gloves in 85-plus weather.
After getting thru winter with lots of greasy and heavy ointments that didn't help, here is my current regimen:
•Urea 40% (prescription name X-Viate in the US) - twice a day.
•Halobetosol- sparingly and with on one-week "steroid breaks."  
•CereVe cream as needed.
•Compound topical containing "PracaSil-Plus," which is somewhat like  Mederma. I find the product soothing and protective of my fingertips. Products with the PracaSil are found through independent compounding pharmacies I have no conflict of interest here, just passing along and hope it helps; caveat: these can be expensive and insurance doesn't usually pay. Ask for a wee sample if you find a friendly pharmacist and a compounding pharmacy.
•Link to find a compounding pharmacy: http://www.pccarx.com/about-pcca
•Link to info about PracaSil: http://beta.pccarx.com/pdf_files/98534_SkinBases_10-12Apoth.pdf
•Of course, avoiding irritants and also water, most challenging as a healthcare professional!
•Gloves, gloves, gloves. Cotton gloves at night, latex-free vinyl for all day-to-day chores, and of course while working in a hospital--I go through a box per shift. And for now winter cotton-knit gloves for driving, walking, shopping.
My perspective on this condition is that it is difficult to be patient, but I tell myself it will pass. I do believe stress aggravates it. And when tissue is injured it takes longer to heal==>more inflammation, more excess skin buildup and more aggravation. Patience and persistence don't come naturally for me when I am the "patient." My heart goes out to all!
As for one of the latest posts regarding magnesium, I can't say personally but there is a lot of literature about magnesium and skin benefits. Many sources cite this journal article or mention the published study: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/4/1068
Here is the PDF: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/4/1068.full.pdf+html
Thank you to whomever started this thread. I found it through Wikipedia, pretty cool.

[skiingrules33]

Has anybody had any issues with EK stemming from fishing? I go down to Florida every year and like clockwork 4-5 days after I first touch a fish my hands break out in the blisters, crack, peel etc.

I know it is not saltwater or tropics (spend plenty of time in those not fishing and as long as I don't touch fish my hands don't peel) or anything else really. 15+ years of process of elimination have it down to fish. I am not going to stop fishing so I am hoping someone has a prevention. I have used the urea creams and they seem to help the healing but thus far nothing I have done PREVENTS it from breaking out.

Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated!

[stressequalsek]

Hello, I have had EK for the past few years and I have had the results with any lotion or cream that has petroleum product in it like what's out there from Vasoline. Also I use vick's 44 which is a petroleum with eucalyptus when the cracking becomes painful. Its not necessary to purchase name brands, either. The cheap ones from the dollar stores work just as well. These creams just take care of the symptoms, but I've had true success when I control my stress levels through acupuncture.