Pompholyx or Dysidrosis ?

• The Greek word of origin is:
  • πομφολυξ = pompholyx = vesicle

• This term was given to what is now pemphigus by Robert Willan (a British physician, 1757-1817, the real founder of dermatology).

• Alibert (a French physician, 1766-1837) decided then to use this term for all bullous skin conditions originating from pemphix.

• This term will persist and afterwards this term will be used to describe vesicles on the hands (cheiro-pompholyx) and on the feet (podo-pompholyx). (considered as a type of endogenous eczema)

• Nowadays, this term is also known as dysidrosis and pompholyx is rather used for the presence of bullae when the vesicles merge. (often dysidrosis is spelled as dyshidrosis)

Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information:

-Harms M. Dermatologica Helvetica (The Swiss Journal of Dermatology and Venereology: www.dermatologicahelvetica.com