Three years after writing my original post above, I can now say two things: (1) I continue to use my Apple products just as much as ever (MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad mostly) and (2) my hands are 100% cleared up. No more blisters or other effects from Dyshidrosis (hand eczema). I am at a loss for why I originally contracted the condition or whether Apple products, nickel, metals, or anything else caused it. The fact is medical science does not know the cause; therefore, I cannot claim to know the cause.
I learned how to manage my dyshidrosis by breaking most of the rules. I will post my method here since so many others in this thread are complaining of the same or similar ailment.
(1) I used a magnifier with LED lighting to look for the very beginning of the blisters.
(2) For every blister, I used a lancet (commonly used to prickk fingers for blood sugar tests) to open them up. The rule was to open them so the skin could not close back over them. That allowed the tiny blisters to drain. I found they stopped enlarging and began healing once this was done. I used other tools, such as a cuticle remover tools, to help remove the skin covering the blister. Since the blisters were barely the size of a pinhead, I had to do this under lighted magnification. That created the least damage to the skin and the least pain.
(3) I also worked to remove the calluses that formed on my hands at an accelerated pace (often overnight). I usually used an Emjoi battery operated callus remover to literally sand off the callused skin. This often revealed more new blisters which I popped as described in step 2.
(4) Once the calluses were removed and all blisters were popped, I washed my hands thoroughly using a nail brush to ensure I got my hands very clean.
(5) From there, I coated my hands with vaseline. This did two things: (a) hold the moisture in my skin, helping to prevent the dryness and forming of calluses, and (b) created a protective coating over the popped blisters to help keep my hands clean.
(6) Then I put on special moisturizing gloves. I cut the finger tips out of the gloves (they were not affected by the dyshidrosis). My desire to continue working on my computer was overwhelming so I needed my finger tips exposed. The gloves also assisted with maintaining my skin's moisture while keeping the popped blisters clean. I wore the gloves while sleeping to maximize the effect.
Because I was popping the blisters while they were so very tiny, they often closed up overnight (or I guess you could say they healed up overnight). The vaseline helped this process. By the end of the day, I had to repeat the whole process again with the new blisters that had formed.
This continued on a (mostly) nightly basis for about 2.5 years. During that time, the breakouts would flair up constantly. However, there were areas on my palms where the blisters became fewer and fewer to the point of completely stopping. My left hand (which was originally the worse) was the first to clear up completely. It took my right hand another year or so for it to finish clearing up. It was interesting how patches on my palms would clear up while other areas remained active. But one by one, each area cleared up. Eventually, all areas became clear.
It's been about a year or longer now that my left hand has been 100% clear. Not a single blister has returned. My right hand finally cleared up a few months ago. Still not a single blister has returned on that hand. As of now, I am 100% clear of all blisters or other symptoms of dyshidrosis.
I no longer do anything special to my hands. No more callus removal. No more moisturizers. No more gloves at night. Nothing. My hands are perfectly normal as they were before all this happened.
I cannot say whether my method "cured" my dyshidrosis or if it just naturally went away or went into remission (only to return again some day). I do know that my method helped me manage the dyshidrosis while it was active. It prevented the blisters from enlarging (so they could not grow big enough to join together to create mega-blisters). It prevented the buildup of calluses. Popping the blisters gave instant relief from the itching. So even while I was still suffering from the condition, my method helped reduce all the symptoms. And I do believe it is what eventually led to it being eradicated completely.
Caveat: I am not recommending that anyone do this. I am only speaking of what I did. I am not a doctor or have any medical training. If you try it, you do so only at your own risk. If you do try it and it helps, that would be cool. I have to admit it was challenging because it took so long, but the results are so well worth it.
So now my hands are perfectly normal as I continue to enjoy my frequent (nearly constant) use of Apple products. 🙂
