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)

Source of information:

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

Original article: here