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Eczema can cause pain and discomfort on any part of the body, but eczema on the hands is a much more complicated problem. Regardless of whether the cause of your eczema is an irritant, allergen or genetic, you have a way to treat it. One of the first things to do is see a doctor to confirm for sure your condition is eczema. Your doctor also tests to find out what causes eczema to be caused by. Once you've found the cause, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid creams, antibiotics, cold compresses, or change the products you use every day. Please continue to read the article below to learn how to treat eczema on hand.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Identifying Hand Eczema

1. 

   
   
   Look for the symptoms of eczema. Hand or finger eczema is a fairly common condition, and if you suspect that you have eczema, you should see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. You may have eczema if you have any of the following symptoms on your hands or fingers:
   • Redness
   • Itching
   • Pain
   • Very dry skin
   • Chink
   • Blistering

2. 

   
   
   Determine if your eczema is caused by an irritant. Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of hand eczema. This type of eczema occurs when you have been exposed to an irritant for a long time. An irritant product can be anything that has the chance of frequent skin contact, including detergents, chemicals, foods, metals, plastics and even water. Symptoms of this type of eczema include:
   • chapped, reddened spots on the fingertips and in the skin between the fingers
   • prickly itchy and hot when exposed to irritants

3. 

   
   
   Determine if eczema is caused by an allergy. Some people have a type of eczema called allergic contact dermatitis. In this case, eczema occurs when you are allergic to a substance such as soap, dyes, fragrance, rubber or even a plant. Symptoms of this type of eczema are mainly concentrated on the inside of the hands and on the fingertips, but they can appear anywhere on the hand. Symptoms include:
   • blistering, itching, swelling, and redness not long after exposure to the allergen
   • flaking, flaking, and cracking skin
   • darken and / or thicken skin after prolonged exposure to the allergen

4. 

   Determine if eczema is caused by atopic dermatitis. Hand eczema caused by atopic dermatitis is more common in children than in adults, but it can still be developed by adults. If you have symptoms of eczema on your hands and other parts of your body, atopic dermatitis may be the cause. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:
   • very itchy for days or weeks
   • thicker skin
   • damage to the skin
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Method 2 of 3: Treating Hand Eczema

1. 

   See your doctor as soon as possible to get diagnosed. Before starting any treatment, you need to see your doctor to confirm that the symptom you have is eczema, not from another illness, such as psoriasis or a fungal infection. Your doctor will help you find the best course of treatment, or refer you to another specialist if your eczema is too severe.

2. 

   Ask your doctor about an allergy skin test. To determine the cause of your eczema, your doctor may do an allergy skin test to find the allergen. If you suspect an allergen is the cause of your eczema, you should let your doctor know so they can have a skin patch test. The results of the test tell you what causes eczema so you can avoid contact with them later.
   • With this test method, the doctor applies one substance to the patch and applies it to the skin (or uses patches for different substances), thereby finding out which substance causes the eczema. The test itself is not painful, but you may feel pain or irritation from the test substances, depending on how they react to your skin.
   • Nickel is a common irritant that can cause eczema flare-ups. A skin pressure test detects nickel if the cause is it.
   • You should also make a list of products that you often use near or with both hands. This list may include soaps, moisturizers, cleaning products, and any special substances that you may have come into contact with in the job or at chores.

3. 

   Consider using 1% hydrocortisone ointment. Your doctor may recommend that you use 1% hydrocortisone ointment for eczema. This drug is available over-the-counter or by prescription. Seek advice from your doctor if you are unsure of what medication to buy.
   • Most hydrocortisone ointments should be applied while the skin is still damp, like after bathing or washing hands. Remember to follow the instructions that came with the product when purchasing.
   • Your doctor will prescribe stronger topical corticosteroids in some cases, but you must purchase them with a prescription.

4. 

   Use a cold compress to relieve itching. Eczema is often very itchy, but remember not to scratch it with your hands. The more you scratch, the more severe the disease and potentially tear the skin when scratching, even leading to infection. If your hands are itchy, use a cold compress to relieve it.
   • To make a cold pack, just wrap a large handkerchief or tissue around the ice pack.
   • Also, keep your nails short and flat to avoid damaging your skin and making eczema worse by accidentally scratching.

5. 

   Consider taking an antihistamine. In some cases, oral antihistamines can treat eczema on the hands. Remember that these medications cause drowsiness, so they should not be taken during the day when there are many tasks to do. Talk to your doctor about whether taking an antihistamine is a good solution for your case.

6. 

   Consult your doctor about antibiotics. Eczema can sometimes lead to an infection because blisters and cracks form an open wound in the skin. If your skin is red, hot, and painful, or if the illness does not go away with eczema treatments, you may get an infection. But talk to your doctor about antibiotics for eczema-related infections.
   • Do not take antibiotics unless directed by your doctor. Taking antibiotics when not needed will make them ineffective when they are absolutely needed.
   • Take the full course of antibiotic treatment your doctor has prescribed. Even if the infection is almost gone, it can return and be more difficult to cure if you don't take enough antibiotics for the course of treatment.

7. 

   Consult your doctor about prescription medications. Sometimes palm eczema cannot be treated with over-the-counter topical medications. In such cases the doctor needs to prescribe corticosteroid drugs that act on the whole body (not topically), or drugs that suppress immunosuppression. You shouldn't consider these options unless you have tried other treatments, as they can have negative side effects.

8. 

   Consult about topical immunomodulators. If your eczema cannot be treated with any other method, talk to your doctor about prescription immunomodulating creams. Elidel and Protopic are topical creams that have been certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat eczema. These are drugs that change the way the immune system interacts with certain substances, so they can be effective if other methods don't work.
   • Immunomodulated creams are normally safe to use, but have the potential to cause side effects, although very rare, so it is only a last resort.

9. 

   Consult about phototherapy. Some dermatological diseases, including eczema, respond well to phototherapy, which means controlled exposure to ultraviolet light. It is best to apply this remedy only after the topical solution has failed, but before applying a body-wide therapy.
   • Optical therapy is effective in 60-70% of participants, but it takes many months to persevere to see effective treatment.
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Method 3 of 3: Preventing Hand Eczema

1. 

   Reduce your exposure to eczema. After you get the skin allergy test results, you will know what is causing your eczema or making it worse. Try to avoid maximum exposure to these substances then. Switch to another cleaner, have someone handle the food that caused you to be eczema, or put on gloves to create a barrier between your hands and the substance.

2. 

   Choose soaps and moisturizers that do not contain strong fragrances and dyes. Dyes, fragrances in soaps and moisturizers also cause eczema on the hands. Avoid soaps and moisturizers that contain artificial fragrances or colors. Look for products for sensitive or purely natural skin. If you know exactly what soap or moisturizer causes eczema flare-ups, do not use it.
   • Consider using pure petroleum distilled wax (vaseline wax) instead of a moisturizer, which is hypoallergenic and has a better moisturizing function.
   • Don't wash your hands too often. Although you do have to wash your hands to get rid of irritants after exposure, too much washing your hands can make eczema worse. Avoid washing your hands unless it is soiled.

3. 

   Keep your hands dry. Hands that are often wet are at greater risk of developing eczema. If you often have to spend too much time washing dishes or doing other things exposed to water, it is best to reduce these activities or use any method to avoid wet hands. For example, you can use a dishwasher instead of hand washing, or at least wear gloves to keep your hands dry while washing.
   • Dry your hands immediately after washing or with wet hands, and make sure your hands are completely dry.
   • Take a quick shower to reduce the amount of time your hands are exposed to the water.

4. 

   Moisturize your hands often. Using a good moisturizer is essential in preventing eczema. But choose a moisturizer that won't irritate your skin. Oily moisturizers are the best choice for hand eczema, they retain moisture better and are less prone to itching or heat when applied to irritated skin. Carry a moisturizer with you at all times to ensure the best moisturizing of hands. Apply the cream whenever you wash your hands or when your hands feel dry.
   • You can also ask your doctor to prescribe a moisturizer like Tetrix. This is a lot more effective than store-bought moisturizers.

5. 

   Wear cotton-lined gloves if exposed to irritants or allergens. If you cannot avoid the use of chemicals and other substances that irritate your hands, wear cotton-lined rubber gloves to protect your hands. Wear gloves whenever handling these substances.
   • If necessary, wash your gloves with fragrance and dye free soap. Turn the inside out and dry completely before using again.
   • If you need to wear gloves when cooking and cleaning, you must purchase two separate pairs for each job.

6. 

   Remove the ring when handling irritants or allergens. The rings trap these substances at the contact between the skin and the ring. Hence the skin underneath the ring and the area around it get more eczema. You must remove the ring before contacting with the agents, before washing or applying moisturizer.

7. 

   Ask your doctor about soaking your hands in a bleach solution to treat eczema. Using a bleach solution that is very diluted with water can reduce the amount of bacteria on your hand, and thus is beneficial for people with eczema. Of course, if bleach is the cause of eczema, don't do this. Consult with your doctor before deciding to wash your hands with bleach solution in daily activities.
   • Be sure to dilute bleach very thinly before using it. The dosage is about 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in nearly 4 liters of water.
   • Be careful not to get the bleach on your clothes, carpet, or anywhere else that causes the colors to stain.

8. 

   Stress management. In some cases stress can cause eczema flare-ups or make it worse. So to eliminate this factor, you should incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily life. Exercise regularly and spend a little time each day relaxing. Try some relaxing activities like yoga, deep breathing, or meditation. advertisement

Advice

• Try out your bedroom with a humidifier, especially in dry climates or in dry seasons. Keeping the air moist can reduce eczema symptoms.
• Contact your doctor if your eczema worsens, or if the illness doesn't get better after treatment.
• Remember, it takes time to treat your eczema and it is possible that the disease will never completely go away. You must find the treatment that works best for you, and follow it until the illness subsides.