I’ve previously written about the skin condition, exfoliative keratolysis, that I get every summer on my thumbs. EK is a strange skin condition that is not eczema or psoriasis. It is its own thing. It usually comes about in the summer triggered by humid conditions. It tends to show up on thumbs, hands or the soles of the feet. Though it looks like dry, peeling skin, water makes it worse. The skin thickens, hardens into a callus, dries out, and peels off. Sometimes it peels off so deeply that it makes me bleed. It can be very painful. I avoid wearing nail polish because I don’t want to call attention to my hands, but mostly because using polish remover kills!
I’m writing about exfoliative keratolysis again because not a lot of people including doctors know what it is. My doctor and the dermatologist she sent me to several years ago both misdiagnosed it. Recently, I posted about exfoliative keratolysis on Facebook, and my post actually helped another blogger who has EK on her feet know what it is. Also, I came across a product that actually helped lessen my EK and helped it get better faster.
I have found a few forums on the internet for EK sufferers. They share information about symptoms that helps people diagnose the condition as well as tips for treating it. Presently, there is no cure and nothing that gets rid of it overnight. However, urea is the treatment of choice, especially products with a high percentage of urea. In one of the forums I was reading at the beginning of the summer before my EK returned, I saw a number of recommendations for Revitaderm40 Keratolytic Emollient.
I checked it out online, and from what I read, it seemed to produce better results than the products I had been using in the past. I tried Aveeno Eczema cream that made my skin feel and look a little better in the short term because the peeling was less obvious but it didn’t do much to help it heal. Last summer, I tried an old-fashioned looking product with urea: Gramp Lyford’s Country Salve, a product for dry, cracked skin that I found at a local agricultural store. It did help somewhat.
Revitaderm40 is a very thick white gel-cream. It can be applied as needed, but they recommend applying it after showering or after hands have been in water as well as at bedtime. The cream sinks in after a minute or two, so I try to put it on during the day too.
I can tell that Revitaderm40 is working because the skin on my thumbs isn’t peeling nearly as much as it has in past years. And none of the peeling areas that I do have have bled.
The thumb on my left hand has even less peeling than my right hand, and it hardly looks effected at all.
The key ingredient, as I mentioned, is urea 40%. In addition, Revitaderm40 has aloe vera gel, tea tree oil and chamomile. The jar of cream also comes with a pumice stone that you can use to get off the flaking skin. I bought Revitaderm40 by Blaine Labs on Amazon but you can also buy it directly on the Blaine Labs website. It’s priced at about $30 for the 4 oz. size (it also comes in an 8 oz. jar), and it should last a couple of years. It’s made in the U.S.
So if you have EK, give Revitaderm40 a try and let me know if it helps you!
Update 2022: Revitaderm seems to be no more, but it is replaced by another very similar product also sold on Amazon: Elanel 40% Urea + Salicylic Acid.
I will have to remember this if anyone asks me about this condition! I have actually heard of it before! I’m glad you were able to find a product that worked for you!
Christine recently posted…The blotterazzi by beautyblender
Wow, I’m impressed, Christine, that you’ve heard of this skin condition! Even my doctor and dermatologist were stumped.
Hi Allison,
My son is 13 years old and has been dealing with this condition for 5 years. The revitaderm 40 is almost 300$ on amazon and i cant seem to find the website “the Blaine Labs website.” My sons condition is crippling throuhout the summer months and he basically stays indoors all summer. I am 100% certain this is the condition he sufers from. I a have been familiar with this condition for years and have treated it with countless creams. Would any 40% urea cream help do you think or should i just pay the #00$ on Amazon? Please give me your advice! Jessica
Jessica, i bought my jar about 5 years ago, and I believe it cost me less than $20. I just took a quick look online for it, and I saw crazy high prices for it though not as high as you report. I am guessing that Blaine Labs is no longer in business, and Amazon, eBay & other sites are selling closeout stock. I would try another brand of urea 40. The prices I saw for other urea 40 brands were more in line with what I paid. I have exfoliative keratolysis on my thumbs now, started up about 10 days ago. The Revitaderm Urea 40 makes it less painful. I also think it helps it go away a little faster than if I didn’t use it. It is definitely soothing. I hope whichever brand of urea 40 you choose, it will help your son. I know how uncomfortable EK can be, and it must be hard for a kid. Good luck!
Hi, I’ve had this on my finger tips for the last couple of months. My dermatologist said it could be psoriasis but hasn’t given me a diagnosis. I have a follow up appointment and will definitely mention keratolysis exfoliative. I searched Amazon for the cream and found it for $20 (link below).
foot cream for dry cracked feet – callus remover for feet – athletes foot cream – antifungal cream – pumice stone for feet – urea cream 40 percent for feet – eczema cream – foot lotion – Revitaderm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071J1L4C5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VfkuFbSFVYH5R
Hi Allison ,
Thank you for posting about this condition. I’ve been searching around online and based on your description, it sounds like what I am dealing with. I’m going to try a similar product on amazon.
Hi Nikki, thank you for your comment. It seems like Revitaderm 40 may no longer be in business, but I am sure there are other urea 40 cream out there. I did see a jar of Revitaderm 40 on Amazon but the 3rd party seller had jacked up the price. My jar of Revitaderm 40 is probably about 5 years old and I’m halfway through it. It still works for me! I had a milder than usual bout with exfoliative keratolysis this summer, though it lasted from June through the end of August. Having to wash my hands constantly and use hand sanitizer sure didn’t help. But the Revitaderm 40 was very soothing as usual, and I think perhaps that’s why I just had one small patch on my right thumb, smaller than usual. Hope you find a urea 40, and hope it works for you.
Glad you found something that seems to be helping! That must get very frustrating when doctors aren’t helpful.
Tess Galen recently posted…Giovanni D:tox System Purifying Facial Mask
It definitely was, Tess. Required a lot of research on my part
I love informative posts like this! Very good to know!
Bethany Everett recently posted…YSL VoxBox
Thanks, Bethany. Hope you don’t get it!
Ouch that sounds painful! Glad you found something to ease your symptoms!
Julie recently posted…theBalm Nude ‘tude v. Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette (Review + Swatches)
Yes, me too. I’m traveling on business and unfortunately I can’t keep putting it on so I’ve taken a step back but hopefully it’ll be gone soon.
So great that you found some relief! I can’t imagine the polish remover, ouch! It’s great that you are sharing this so others can get help too!
Heather recently posted…Affordable Eyewear with EyewearInsight.com
You are right about that polish remover. Yikes! Yes, I discovered that another blogger has it on her feet.
While I don’t suffer from this issue this is a great product to know about in case I need to refer anyone. I can’t imagine how painful it must be in the summer.
Color Me So Crazy recently posted…Vita Liberata 2-3 Week Tan and a Little Present!!
EK definitely is a pain. I’ve been traveling all week and I can’t use the cream like I was at home so my fingers are suffering. The Revitaderm 40 helps for sure with regular use.
Ouch, glad this product is working for you to help with this skin condition!
Ursula aka Blueridge Beauty recently posted…Blueridge Beauty Blogger: Hello Fresh
I’ve been traveling all week and not able to use it as much and the condition has gotten worse again. Can hardly wait to get home to use that great cream.
I have never heard of this skin condition before! I’m glad you found something that seems to be working for you. Crossing fingers it’s a long term solution!
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Thank you, Elaine. Unfortunately, unless I keep at it constantly, it reverts back to the problem again. While traveling on business this week, I couldn’t keep using the cream and it doesn’t look so great. Hopefully, now that I’m home and can use it religiously, I’ll be back on the mend. It is definitely a pain!
This is the third time I have had Exfoliative Keratolysis on my right thumb but I didn’t know what it was till now. I ordered some urea cream off Amazon. Really hope it helps. What a frustrating condition. Very happy to know what it is though and be able to read about other people’s experiences. Thanks for the post !
TC, my doctor misdiagnosed my exfoliative keratolysis as eczema. I figured it out like you, online. Nothing cures it, but I found that the Revitaderm, a urea cream, definitely soothed it and helped me get rid of it faster. For some reason, this past summer (mine usually shows up in May or June and goes away in September), I hardly had it at all – I hope it stays that way. Good luck!!
Thanks Allison. Can’t seem to find exactly the same cream but I have found another that is 40% urea so hopefully they helps. Weirdly mine is triggered by the cold. It lasts until all the skin has peeled off my thumb and the new layer heals a bit. Strange. But thanks for the tips!
I have suffered with this painful, unsightly condition for years. I was told it was eczema. I’ve tried everything, but it’s only getting worse and worse. This year it is particularly bad; I’m starting to notice people staring at my hands! I am so happy I found your blog! Now that I know what I’m dealing with I can finally treat it properly and get some relief!! I can’t thank you enough!!
Amanda, the doctors I went to didn’t know what it was either. Unfortunately, nothing cures it (that i’m Aware of), but the Revitaderm or urea 40 does make it less painful for me and seems to help mine either be less awful or go away a bit faster. I hope it will help you feel better.
this is so helpful. i have had EK for a few years but always mis-diagnosed until just a few weeks ago and my Dr recommended to find something with Urea. I was searching for what products I can get off amazon for this- thank you, very helpful!
I’m so glad my post helped. I have had good results with this urea cream. Thankfully mine has been much less awful this year and last. Hope the cream helps 🤞🏻
I have had this for over 20 years and have never had a diagnosis. Unfortunately I have it year round. Today while googling I found the EK description and realized that’s what it’s called. During my search I found your blog post. Your thumbs could be my thumbs! I have tried creams and ointments galore and I’m sure you can relate. Let me tell you a story….I was going and getting my nails done with acrylics. Afterwards they’d have me sit for 5 minutes under a UV light. One day I realized my thumbs were CLEAR, NO PEELING. They looked absolutely normal. I wondered initially if it was from a chemical or because the nail was essentially sealed but I finally came to the conclusion that it was the UV light. I have since had to stop getting my nails done so I’ve ordered my own light to use at home.
Sherry, thank you so much for leaving a comment. I diagnosed EK myself because my GP said it must be psoriasis and the prescriptions she gave me never worked at all. When I eventually told her what it was, she had never heard of EK.
I know that UV light has been a longtime treatment for psoriasis because my cousin and 2 friends have been using UV light for decades to get some relief from their severe psoriasis. I looked up UV light and EK, and I found a citation in nailpro.com from 2014 and also https://straightfromthedoc.com/exfoliative-keratolysis/ that says “Photochemotherapy can help prevent recurrence of this condition comprising of Psoralen and ultraviolet A light (PUVA) in extreme cases.” The nailpro article also mentions applying something first and then using UV light. Let me know how you make out with your light!
At any rate, I am so sorry that you have it year round. How difficult to live with it. The peeling skin is painful! I’m sure you wear gloves when your hands are in water etc.
I don’t know what’s changed (and I hope I don’t jinx myself), but mine has been less severe and/or for shorter periods the last 2-3 years, and I think one year I didn’t get it at all. Maybe because I’m getting older? (the article I cited says that it’s more common among young people, though I didn’t get it when I was young).
When I do get it, the UREA 40 cream helps soothe it and helps it go away faster than anything else I’ve tried.
All the best, Sherry!
I was misdiagnosed by my dertmatalogist with a fungal infection, as it wasn’t plaque psoriasis or tinea versicolor (which I have had for a few years and can keep it in check). I have had EK on my hands (palms and fingers) for almost 2 years and more recently started to show on the soles of my feet. lots of peeling, luckily no pain, just annoying and unsightly. Constant lotion masks the peeling. It seems to worsen when I don’t use gloves for cleaning. I have been using Gilden Tree’s max strength 42% Urea Gel for about 8 months and have found it helpful, very inexpensive at $15 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0862J2FRP/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=f657b61712e416350d887ea067c4ce70&hsa_cr_id=8123094380701&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=c6f640bc-5792-4ebd-a3d6-cbc4614c7e28&pd_rd_w=zX1SI&pd_rd_wg=u34Ek&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2_title Hope it helps for anyone who has EK. I am so glad I came across your blog.
Thank you so much, Esther. My jar of Revitaderm urea is probably about 7 years old at this point. Next spring when I need it again I will try the 42% urea you recommended! Can’t beat that price!
I’m so glad I found your post! I’ve had this for years and have been misdiagnosed as eczema and psoriasis. I have it on my thumb and now it shows up on my index finger. Year round. It can be so raw and painful. Just rec’d the product you recommended today from Amazon and immediately applied it. It’s definitely more soothing than any moisturizer I have tried. Hoping this helps! Thank you so much for the insight! Much appreciated!
So happy to hear it, Stacy. It doesn’t curr it, but for me, it makes it feel better, not raw and the episode goes away faster than without it. Good luck 🍀