Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Recognize hand eczema
• Method 2 of 3: Treat hand eczema
• Method 3 of 3: Prevent hand eczema
• Tips

Eczema can cause pain and discomfort to all parts of your body, but eczema on the hands can be an even bigger problem. Whether your eczema is caused by an irritant, an allergen, or hereditary factors, there are steps you can take to treat the condition. One of the first things you should do is see a doctor to have you examined to make sure it is really eczema. Your doctor can also perform a test to determine which irritants or allergens may be causing your eczema. Once the cause of your eczema is known, your doctor may recommend a cream containing corticosteroids, antibiotics, or cold compresses, or recommend that you start using different products every day. Keep reading to learn more about how to treat hand eczema.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Recognize hand eczema

1. Watch for the symptoms of hand eczema. Eczema on the hands and fingers is a common condition. If you suspect you have some form of eczema, see a doctor to have the condition diagnosed and treated. You may have eczema if you notice any of the following symptoms on your hands or fingers:
   • Redness
   • Itching
   • Pain
   • Very dry skin
   • Cracks
   • Blisters
2. Determine whether your eczema may be caused by irritants. Irritative contact eczema, also called ortho-ergic contact dermatitis, is the most common form of hand eczema. This form of eczema is caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to substances that irritate the skin. This can include almost any substance that your skin regularly comes into contact with, such as cleaning agents, chemicals, food, metal, plastic and even water. The symptoms of this type of eczema are:
   • Chaps and red spots on the fingertips and the membranes between your fingers.
   • A stinging and burning sensation when your skin comes into contact with irritants.
3. Consider whether your eczema may be caused by an allergy. Some people suffer from a form of eczema known as allergic contact dermatitis. In this case, the eczema is caused by an allergy to a substance such as a soap, dye, fragrance, rubber or even a plant. The symptoms of this type of eczema usually occur on the insides of the hands and fingertips, but they can occur anywhere on the hands. This type of eczema has the following symptoms, among others:
   • Blisters, itching, swelling, and redness shortly after exposure to the allergen.
   • Crusts, flakes and cracks in the skin.
   • Darkening and / or thickening of the skin after prolonged exposure to the allergen.
4. Determine if your hand eczema may be caused by atopic dermatitis. Eczema on the hands caused by atopic dermatitis is more common in children than adults, but adults can still suffer from this condition. If you have eczema symptoms on your hands and other parts of your body, the eczema on your hands may be caused by atopic dermatitis. The symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:
   • Intense itching that lasts for days or weeks.
   • Thickening of the skin.
   • Lesions on the skin.

Method 2 of 3: Treat hand eczema

1. See a doctor as soon as possible to get a diagnosis. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to see a doctor to make sure that you have eczema and not something else, such as psoriasis or a fungal infection. Your doctor can help you choose the best treatment and may even refer you to a specialist if your hand eczema is severe.
2. Ask your doctor for a patch test. To determine the cause of your eczema, your doctor can perform a patch test on you to see if you may be allergic to something. If you suspect the eczema on your hands may be caused by an allergen, ask your doctor for a patch test. The results of the patch test will tell you which substance or substances are causing your eczema so that you can avoid them.
   • During the patch test, your doctor will apply a substance to a patch and apply this patch (or patches) to your skin to see which substances are causing your eczema. The patch itself won't hurt, but you may experience some pain and irritation from the fabrics themselves and how your skin reacts to them.
   • Nickel is a known irritant that can cause eczema. You can find out if you have a nickel allergy by means of an adhesive test.
   • It may also be helpful to make a list of all the products you regularly use on or near your hands. These could include products such as soaps, moisturisers, cleaning agents and special substances that you may come into contact with because of your work or what you do at home.
3. Consider an ointment with 1% hydrocortisone. Your doctor may recommend using an ointment with 1% hydrocortisone to help treat your eczema. This ointment is available without or with a prescription. If you don't know what to look for, ask your doctor to recommend a remedy.
   • Most hydrocortisone ointments should be applied while the skin is still damp, such as after taking a shower or washing your hands. Make sure to follow the directions on the hydrocortisone ointment package that your doctor recommends.
   • In some cases it is necessary to use stronger topical corticosteroids, but you will need a prescription from your doctor.
4. Use a cold compress to help relieve itching. Eczema often causes severe itching, but it is important not to scratch your hands to relieve the itching. Scratching can make your eczema worse and can also destroy your skin, which can lead to infections. If your hands are itchy, use a cold compress to relieve the itchiness.
   • To make a cold compress, wrap a towel or paper towel around an ice pack or plastic bag filled with ice.
   • You can also try keeping your nails short and filing to avoid scratching your hands and making your eczema worse.
5. Consider taking oral antihistamines. In some cases, taking over-the-counter oral antihistamines can help if you have occasional hand eczema. Keep in mind that these medicines can cause drowsiness, so it is best not to use them during the day or when you are very busy. Ask your doctor if taking oral antihistamines might be a good solution for the eczema on your hands.
6. Ask your doctor if you may need to take antibiotics. Eczema can sometimes cause infections because the skin has broken through blisters, cracks and lesions. If your skin is red, very warm, swollen, and / or painful or unresponsive to eczema medications, you may have an infection. Don't forget to ask your doctor if you may need an antibiotic to treat an infection caused by your eczema.
   • Do not use antibiotics unless your doctor prescribes them for you. Using antibiotics unnecessarily can make them less effective when you do need them.
   • Complete the course of antibiotics that your doctor has prescribed for you. Even though the infection appears to be cured, the symptoms may return and may be more difficult to treat if you do not complete the full course.
7. Ask your doctor about prescription medicines. In some cases, you can't get rid of hand eczema with over-the-counter topical creams and lifestyle changes. In these cases, your doctor may need to prescribe a systemic (instead of topical) corticosteroid or an immunosuppressant. Do not consider these options until you have tried to control your eczema with other products and methods, as these medicines can have side effects.
8. Ask your doctor about prescription topical immune modulators. If your eczema doesn't go away by using other remedies or methods, you may want to consider asking your doctor about a prescription topical immune modulator cream. Elidel and Protopic are two prescription creams approved by the Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG) to treat eczema. These drugs change the way your immune system reacts to certain substances, so they can help when nothing else works.
   • Using these creams is usually safe, but in rare cases serious side effects can occur. So only use these creams as a last resort.
9. Ask your doctor about light therapy. Some skin conditions, including eczema, respond well to light therapy or controlled ultraviolet light exposure. It is best to undergo this treatment if traditional topical remedies don't work, but you haven't tried systemic remedies yet.
   • The treatment is effective in 60 to 70% of all patients, but may need to be done consistently for several months before any improvement occurs.

Method 3 of 3: Prevent hand eczema

1. Avoid exposure to substances or allergens that cause eczema. After your doctor performs a patch test, you should know which substances or allergens are causing or aggravating your eczema. Do your best to avoid exposure to these substances or allergens. Switch to a different household cleaner, ask someone else to prepare the foods that cause your eczema, or wear gloves to have a protective layer between your hands and the fabric in question.
2. Choose soaps and moisturizers without harsh fragrances and dyes. Eczema on the hands can also be caused by dyes and fragrances in soaps and moisturizers. Do not use soaps and moisturizers with artificial fragrances and colors. Look for products intended for sensitive skin or products that are all-natural. If you know that a particular soap or moisturizer makes your eczema worse, don't use that one.
   • Consider using regular petroleum jelly instead of a moisturizer. Your skin will react less quickly to this and petroleum jelly may be more effective at moisturizing your skin.
   • Don't wash your hands too often. It's important to wash off irritants from your hands if you're exposed to them, but washing your hands regularly can make your eczema worse. Do not wash your hands unless they are very dirty.
3. Keep your hands dry. If you often have wet or damp hands, you are more likely to get eczema on your hands. If you often wash dishes by hand or do other things that get your hands wet, do so less often or use other ways to reduce the amount of wetness of your hands. For example, you can wash your dishes in the dishwasher instead of doing the dishes by hand. You can also wear gloves to keep your hands dry when washing dishes.
   • Dry your hands immediately after you wash them or get them wet. Make sure they are completely dry.
   • Take shorter showers so that your hands are wet for less time.
4. Hydrate your hands often. A good moisturizer is important to prevent new eczema. Make sure to use a moisturizer that won't irritate your skin. Ointments are usually the best options for hand eczema because they moisturize the skin better and reduce stinging and burning when applied to irritated skin. Always take a small pack of moisturizer with you so that you can always properly moisturize your hands. Always moisturize your hands after you wash them or when they start to feel dry.
   • You can ask your doctor about a prescription moisturizer that will leave a protective film on your skin. Such a remedy can be a lot more effective than commercially available moisturisers.
5. Wear cotton-lined gloves if you know your hands will be exposed to irritants or allergens. If you do need to use chemicals and other substances that irritate your hands, wear a pair of rubber gloves with a cotton lining to protect your hands from these substances. Always wear these gloves if you know you will be exposed to substances that irritate your hands.
   • If necessary, wash the gloves with a detergent without fragrances and dyes. Pull them inside out and hang to dry before using them again.
   • If you need the gloves for both cleaning and cooking, make sure you have several pairs that you only use for a particular activity.
6. Remove rings from your fingers if your hands may be exposed to irritants or allergens. Rings keep the substances that aggravate your eczema stuck to the skin. This can cause more eczema in the areas under and around your rings.Don't forget to take your rings off your fingers before using any substances that make your eczema worse, as well as before washing or moisturizing your hands.
7. Ask your doctor if you can soak your hands in a bleach bath to treat the eczema. Using a highly diluted bleach and water solution can help reduce the amount of bacteria on your hands. This helps some people to reduce their eczema. If bleach is actually making your eczema worse, then you shouldn't use this method. Talk to your doctor before soaking your hands in bleach regularly.
   • Remember that the bleach you use in a bleach bath must be diluted with a lot of water. Only use half a teaspoon per 4 liters of water.
   • Be careful not to get bleach on your clothes, carpeting, or anywhere else that could tarnish the color.
8. Control stress. In some cases, the appearance of new spots of eczema can be caused by stress or already existing spots can get worse. To help rule out this factor, it is necessary to use relaxation techniques on a daily basis. Exercise daily and schedule some time each day to relax. Relaxing activities you could try include yoga exercises, deep breathing exercises, and meditation.

Tips

• Try putting a humidifier in your bedroom, especially if you live in a very dry or very dry place. Keeping the air moist may help reduce the symptoms of your eczema.
• Talk to your doctor if your eczema gets worse or doesn't get better with treatment.
• Keep in mind that it takes time to treat eczema and you may never get rid of it completely. You will need to find out which remedies and methods work best to get rid of your eczema before continuing to use them to treat your eczema.