How Can I Rx Hand Eczema?

Hand eczema is the skin condition where the hands become red, chapped, scaling and can even have small painful vesicles (blisters) and cracks.  The causes of hand eczema are many.  They are usually broken down into two categories irritant and allergic hand eczema.  Irritant hand eczema can be caused by frequently washing the hands and from the irritant effects of many detergents, soaps, and chemicals.  An allergic reaction is where your body reacts through its immune system against various allergens to cause red, itching and chapped hands. Various allergens include nickel, detergents, latex in rubber gloves, fragrance in moisturizers and other chemicals.

Avoidance: Be a detective, if a certain detergent, chemical, cleanser or utensil breaks your hands out avoid contact with that irritant or allergen.

Wear Protective Gloves: Vinyl gloves and cotton gloves are very helpful when doing the dishes, laundry, bathrooms, and working outdoors.

Moisturizers: Hydration (getting water back into the skin) is very important in combating the scaling and cracking seen with hand eczema.  Eucerin, Cetaphil, Aquaphor, SBR Lipocream, Neutrogena Hand Cream, Ureacin and DML are just a few of the excellent moisturizing lotions, creams and ointments DermatologistRx carries.  Remember that an ointment is thicker and takes longer to work into the skin than a cream and a cream is thicker and takes longer to work into the skin than a lotion.

Topical Steroids: Hydrocortisone 1% and Pramoxine 1% (Prax Lotion)  are topical steroids available over the counter and can be used on the patches and scales of hand eczema. The best way to use a topical steroid is twice a day for 2-3 days and then stop for several days.  Note, everyday usage of a topical steroid may thin the skin and cause small blood vessels to form in the skin.

See the dermatologist? If the above tips fail you may wish to see your dermatologist who may patch test you to various chemicals that could be causing an allergy.  Stronger topical steroids may also be prescribed. There are diseases that look like hand eczema but are not (fungal infection, psoriasis, lichen planus, porphyria cutanea tarda) that take the skill of a dermatologist to diagnose.

All products should be used as directed on the product container.  Any product that causes irritation should be discontinued.  The information provided at DermatologistRx is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a dermatologist or your physician.

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