Hands of a 27 year old male patient with blisters caused by dyshidrotic eczema and red patches caused by nummular eczema. Eczema is an inflammation of the skin, which causes itching and sometimes scaling and blisters. Dyshidrotic eczema is an acute form in which itchy blisters form over the hands and/or feet. The condition is also known as pompholyx and often develops for no apparent reason. It is treated with an astringent which causes the skin to tighten and dry, or with corticosteroid drugs. The nummular, discoid, form of eczema causes disc-shaped patches. It is sometimes due to an allergy, but often occurs for no known reason. Patches may be treated by the application of soothing creams and the wearing of non-irritating materials next to the skin.