Hand eczema can occur both acutely and chronically. There are several causes of hand eczema. The most common are atopic, contact allergic or irritant hand eczema.
We surround ourselves with many skin-irritating substances in everyday life, such as soaps, perfumes, detergents, preservatives and other chemicals. You can react allergically to these, but the most common is that they have an irritating and drying effect on the skin and damage the skin barrier. Common to all hand eczema, regardless of the cause, is that there is a breach in the intact skin barrier so that these irritants penetrate the skin more easily and cause inflammation, itching, sores and painful cracks.
Regardless of the cause of hand eczema, the same preventive advice applies. Hand washing should be reduced to an absolute minimum. Water dries out the skin and contributes to damaging the skin barrier. Soap enhances this effect. It is better to use antibac than to wash your hands. It is important to lubricate your hands regularly and often with an oily hand cream without perfume. Always lubricate after hand washing.
Gloves should be used for all wet work. The skin should be protected with gloves against cold and moisture.
When the eczema is active, it should be treated with a medium to strong cortisone cream available on prescription. It is also important to have preventive and maintenance treatment if the hand eczema easily returns. If the skin changes are not red, i.e. inflamed, cortisone cream will not help you except for the itching. Then it is better to lubricate frequently and regularly with an oily hand cream. In some cases, it may be appropriate to treat hand eczema with tablets.
Our dermatologists help people of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, with everything from simple skin changes to serious conditions.
Our dermatologists help people of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, with everything from simple skin changes to serious conditions.
