What to Do If You Have Eczema on Your Hands

Amanda Gardner HealthMay 24, 2017

Eczema on your hands can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Dermatologists weigh in on how to ease symptoms like itchy, red skin.

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You've probably heard of "dishpan hands," a rash that occurs from dipping hands too often in a kitchen sink filled with soapy water. When most people use this term, however, they're usually talking about hand eczema, also known as hand dermatitis. More than 30 million people in the U.S. have some form of eczema, a skin condition that causes red, itchy patches on the skin. Eczema can appear anywhere on the body, but it's particularly bothersome when it shows up on the hands.

"[Hand eczema] has a huge impact on people’s lives when it’s severe or even in mild cases," says Ross S. Levy, MD, chief of dermatology at Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Although experts aren't sure exactly what causes eczema, most believe it's likely a combination of a person's environment and genetics. In the most common type, atopic dermatitis, the immune system is triggered by something and goes into overdrive, leading to sensitive, dry skin. The problem doesn't go away and is treatable, although incurable. Certain things, such as allergens in food, dust exposure, or weather extremes, can make symptoms worse. Like eczema that appears elsewhere on the body, symptoms of hand eczema can include red, itchy, scaly, painful hands that are dry and chapped. Blood or pus may ooze from cracks and blisters on the skin.

"It could happen easily from washing your hands regularly or changes in temperature, people who are in a cold environment," says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of Living with Itch ($19; amazon.com). "These are very common things that can happen to a lot of people."

Another type of hand eczema, called contact dermatitis, is linked to direct exposure to an irritating substance such as chemicals. Professionals whose hands often come in contact with chemicals are particularly at risk, such as hairdressers, cleaners, plumbers, and construction workers, as well as those who frequently wash their hands throughout the day, such as nurses.

Yet another type of hand eczema is dyshidrotic eczema. It can cause itchy blisters on the hands, fingers, feet, and toes. It’s often triggered by stress, moisture, and contact with certain metals such as nickel or cobalt.

RELATED: 10 Home Remedies for Eczema

The key to both preventing and treating hand eczema is to find out what triggers it and avoid those triggers whenever possible. Here, a few smart strategies that may help keep hand eczema at bay. It's also a good idea to see a dermatologist, who may suggest stronger topical or other treatments to treat underlying inflammation, depending on your symptoms.

• Limit contact with water, especially water that is hot and soapy. Wash dishes in a dishwasher if possible and clean hands with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.

• Apply a moisturizer right after cleaning hands and regularly throughout the day. "[Moisturizing] the skin is extremely important," says Dr. Yosipovitch. "It should be part of a daily routine." Look for a brand that contains humectants or emollients.

• Stay away from antibacterial soaps. "These irritate the skin more than giving benefit," says Dr. Yosipovitch. Waterless cleansers are more likely to contain alcohol and chemicals that may trigger a flare.

• Take care of any breaks or cuts on the skin before chemicals have a chance to come into contact with them and cause irritation.

手上的濕疹通常會讓人感到不舒服和沮喪。皮膚科醫生專家們不確定究竟是什麼原因導致濕疹，但大多數人認為這可能是一個人的環境和遺傳學的結合，導致敏感，乾燥的皮膚。雖然這個問題不會根治，但是可以治療的。某些事物，如食物中的過敏原、灰塵暴露或極端天氣，會使症狀惡化。像在身體其他地方出現的濕疹一樣，手部濕疹的症狀包括紅色、發癢、鱗屑、手部乾燥和皸裂。血液或膿液可能從皮膚上的裂縫和水泡滲出。

另一種類型的手濕疹，稱為接觸性皮炎，是直接接觸到刺激性物質，如化學品。專業的手經常接觸化學物質是特別危險，如理髮師、清潔工、水管工、建築工人，以及那些經常整個一天洗手，如護士。

另一種是dyshidrotic濕疹手部濕疹。它會引起手、手指、腳和腳趾發癢的水泡。

相關：

預防和治療手部濕疹的找出關鍵的原因，並盡可能避免這些觸發因子。減少與水接觸，特別是熱水和肥皂。如果可能的話，用洗碗機清洗盤子，用溫水和無香味的肥皂洗手。