Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCopingFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
FAQs
This article discusses the causes, treatment, and ways to cope with pustular eczema.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Types of Pustular Eczema
Three types of eczema can present with blisters. They include:
Dermatitis Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Pustular Eczema Symptoms
The main symptom of pustular eczema is the appearance of fluid- or pus-filled blisters.
Other symptoms associated with pustular eczema include:
Pustular Eczema and Infection
As with all types of eczema, thecause isn’t well understood. Various factors play into the development of the skin condition, including:
Pustular Eczema Risk FactorsPeople may be more prone to develop pustular eczema if they:Have another type of eczemaExperience high levels of stressHave dehydrated skinHave seasonal allergiesHave excessively sweaty hands or feet
Pustular Eczema Risk Factors
People may be more prone to develop pustular eczema if they:Have another type of eczemaExperience high levels of stressHave dehydrated skinHave seasonal allergiesHave excessively sweaty hands or feet
People may be more prone to develop pustular eczema if they:
Diagnosing pustular eczemarelies heavily on a physical examination, and specific characteristics must be present. The essential features include the following:
Other features used in the diagnostic process include:
The Difference in Pustular Eczema TypesWhile dyshidrotic, nummular, and weeping eczema can all occur with blisters, slight differences exist. Dyshidrotic eczema has clear fluid-filled blisters, whereas weeping eczema has yellow or clear pus. The blisters in nummular eczema may have clear liquid like dyshidrotic eczema. However, the bumps and blisters can develop following an injury and on other areas of the body, such as the limbs.
The Difference in Pustular Eczema Types
While dyshidrotic, nummular, and weeping eczema can all occur with blisters, slight differences exist. Dyshidrotic eczema has clear fluid-filled blisters, whereas weeping eczema has yellow or clear pus. The blisters in nummular eczema may have clear liquid like dyshidrotic eczema. However, the bumps and blisters can develop following an injury and on other areas of the body, such as the limbs.
How Long Does Eczema Last?
The treatment for pustular eczema varies depending on the severity and type.
How Eczema Is Treated
Coping with pustular eczemacan be difficult. However, many people can manage their symptoms effectively with available treatments. By doing so, having the condition is that much easier to deal with.
Tips for coping with the various types of pustular eczema include:
Coping With Eczema
Summary
Pustular eczema is a group of skin conditions that present with pus- or liquid-filled bumps. Three types of eczema—dyshidrotic, nummular, and weeping—all present with the same blister-like lesions.
The symptoms most associated with the condition are intense itchiness, pain and burning sensations, and dry and peeling skin. The cause of pustular eczema isn’t well known, but family and personal health history, genetics, and environmental factors all play a role in its development.
Treating pustular eczema revolves around the severity and type. However, the most common treatment for all types of eczema is topical corticosteroids or topical calcineurin inhibitors. To cope with your eczema, you can find a treatment that works, identify and avoid triggers, and keep your skin healthy through regular moisturizing and avoiding irritating products.
A Word From Verywell
Pustular eczema can be unsightly, uncomfortable, and hard to deal with when you’re in a flare-up. The good news is that, although the condition can be severe, it is more likely to be moderate or mild and easy to treat.
There is no cure for eczema. Still, there are remedies that can help. Speak to your healthcare provider for advice and treatment options if you have pustular eczema and want to improve your symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsTo treat the pus-filled bumps that develop in pustular eczema, you must treat the type you have. While treatment may involve topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors, each case differs depending on the severity. If you have weeping eczema blisters, you may also have to treat an infection using antibiotics or antifungals.Learn MoreThe 7 Types of Eczema: Symptoms and TreatmentPustular eczema may appear similar to other types of contagious conditions. However, it is not passed from one person to another. You cannot give nor contract pustular eczema.Learn MoreEczema: Understanding Why It’s Not ContagiousPeople with pustular eczema may have different triggers. Some common triggers are:Harsh chemicals found in laundry detergent or personal care productsEnvironmental exposureOther allergiesSweaty or wet handsStressLearn MoreEczema Triggers: Identification and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
To treat the pus-filled bumps that develop in pustular eczema, you must treat the type you have. While treatment may involve topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors, each case differs depending on the severity. If you have weeping eczema blisters, you may also have to treat an infection using antibiotics or antifungals.Learn MoreThe 7 Types of Eczema: Symptoms and Treatment
To treat the pus-filled bumps that develop in pustular eczema, you must treat the type you have. While treatment may involve topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors, each case differs depending on the severity. If you have weeping eczema blisters, you may also have to treat an infection using antibiotics or antifungals.
Learn MoreThe 7 Types of Eczema: Symptoms and Treatment
Pustular eczema may appear similar to other types of contagious conditions. However, it is not passed from one person to another. You cannot give nor contract pustular eczema.Learn MoreEczema: Understanding Why It’s Not Contagious
Pustular eczema may appear similar to other types of contagious conditions. However, it is not passed from one person to another. You cannot give nor contract pustular eczema.
Learn MoreEczema: Understanding Why It’s Not Contagious
People with pustular eczema may have different triggers. Some common triggers are:Harsh chemicals found in laundry detergent or personal care productsEnvironmental exposureOther allergiesSweaty or wet handsStressLearn MoreEczema Triggers: Identification and Management
People with pustular eczema may have different triggers. Some common triggers are:Harsh chemicals found in laundry detergent or personal care productsEnvironmental exposureOther allergiesSweaty or wet handsStress
People with pustular eczema may have different triggers. Some common triggers are:
Learn MoreEczema Triggers: Identification and Management
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Association.Dyshidrotic eczema.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema signs and symptoms.Calle Sarmiento PM, Chango Azanza JJ.Dyshidrotic eczema: A common cause of palmar dermatitis.Cureus.2020 Oct 7;12(10):e10839. doi:10.7759/cureus.10839Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020 May 15;101(10):590-598.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Who gets dyshidrotic eczema?DermNet.Guidelines for the diagnosis and assessment of eczema.Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH.A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.2016 May;8(3):181-90. doi:10.4168/aair.2016.8.3.181Leung AKC, Lam JM, Leong KF, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL.Nummular eczema: An updated review.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov.2020;14(2):146-155. doi:10.2174/1872213X14666200810152246American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema diagnosis and treatment.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eczema Association.Dyshidrotic eczema.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema signs and symptoms.Calle Sarmiento PM, Chango Azanza JJ.Dyshidrotic eczema: A common cause of palmar dermatitis.Cureus.2020 Oct 7;12(10):e10839. doi:10.7759/cureus.10839Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020 May 15;101(10):590-598.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Who gets dyshidrotic eczema?DermNet.Guidelines for the diagnosis and assessment of eczema.Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH.A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.2016 May;8(3):181-90. doi:10.4168/aair.2016.8.3.181Leung AKC, Lam JM, Leong KF, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL.Nummular eczema: An updated review.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov.2020;14(2):146-155. doi:10.2174/1872213X14666200810152246American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema diagnosis and treatment.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eczema Association.Dyshidrotic eczema.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema signs and symptoms.Calle Sarmiento PM, Chango Azanza JJ.Dyshidrotic eczema: A common cause of palmar dermatitis.Cureus.2020 Oct 7;12(10):e10839. doi:10.7759/cureus.10839Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020 May 15;101(10):590-598.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Who gets dyshidrotic eczema?DermNet.Guidelines for the diagnosis and assessment of eczema.Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH.A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.2016 May;8(3):181-90. doi:10.4168/aair.2016.8.3.181Leung AKC, Lam JM, Leong KF, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL.Nummular eczema: An updated review.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov.2020;14(2):146-155. doi:10.2174/1872213X14666200810152246American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema diagnosis and treatment.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment.
National Eczema Association.Dyshidrotic eczema.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema signs and symptoms.
Calle Sarmiento PM, Chango Azanza JJ.Dyshidrotic eczema: A common cause of palmar dermatitis.Cureus.2020 Oct 7;12(10):e10839. doi:10.7759/cureus.10839
Frazier W, Bhardwaj N.Atopic dermatitis: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020 May 15;101(10):590-598.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Who gets dyshidrotic eczema?
DermNet.Guidelines for the diagnosis and assessment of eczema.
Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH.A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.2016 May;8(3):181-90. doi:10.4168/aair.2016.8.3.181
Leung AKC, Lam JM, Leong KF, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL.Nummular eczema: An updated review.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov.2020;14(2):146-155. doi:10.2174/1872213X14666200810152246
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: Nummular eczema diagnosis and treatment.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment.
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