A 28-year-old woman has recurrent episodes of deeply seated, tense, tapioca-like vesicles on the sides of her fingers and palms accompanied by intense itching and burning. She reports that attacks follow emotional stress. This condition is known to be associated with which of the following?

• A Hypohidrosis from sweat duct obstruction alone
• B Hyperhidrosis ✓
• C Ichthyosis vulgaris exclusively
• D Vitamin B12 deficiency

Explanation

Pompholyx (dyshidrotic eczema) shows deep-seated, tense, small vesicles resembling sago grains or tapioca on the lateral fingers, palms, and soles, with stress and hyperhidrosis recognised triggers or associations. The old concept that it results purely from occlusion of sweat ducts has been abandoned, since the vesicles are spongiotic and not ductal cysts.

Reference: Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.