Eczema on Hands

Eczema can literally affect any part of the body. Hands are among the common places of its occurrence. Some of the noticeable symptoms of eczema are itching, redness, dryness and flakiness of the skin. In some cases of severe eczema on hands, itchy blisters are also seen. Scratching of the eczema affected skin often results in worsening of the condition as the upper layers of skin breaks and the blisters burst.

Eczema increases the sensitivity of your skin to cosmetics, detergents, soaps and various other chemicals. No doubt, the occurrence of eczema on hands is uncomfortable, alters the appearance of your hands and may even embarrass you in public. An ideal option is to seek medical assistance to treat eczema on hand as soon as possible. You can speed up the process of subsidence of eczema on hands symptoms by following some measures that not only help in the treatment but also in the prevention of further aggravation of the condition. A knowledge of the possible causes of eczema on hands will help you understand and foreclose it in a better way.

What Causes Eczema on Hands?

There are basically two types of eczema. These are exogenous and endogenous. In case of exogenous eczema, the causative factors are usually known. It is caused by identifiable external factors. On the other hand, the reason behind endogenous eczema is commonly constitutionally determined. However, studies have shown that external and constitutional factors often interact with each other. Therefore, the classification of the types of eczema is not absolute.

Exogenous eczema on hands causes include mild acid, weak alkali, detergents, shampoos, conditioners, house cleansing materials, oils, greases, etc. These factors cause the occurrence of eczema on the back of the hand first, involving the palms and other parts of the hand later on. Exogenous eczema is caused by hypersensitivity reaction produced by the immune system of your body against some sort of allergen. This is why, it is usually restricted to the part of body that comes in contact with the allergen. As already mentioned, the causative factors for endogenous eczema is unknown. According to studies, the factors can be idiopathic, dyshidrotic, psychosomatic or immunological in nature.

How to Get Rid of Eczema on Hands?

• Do not heat or cool the skin. This is necessary for the treatment of eczema on hands.
• Avoid washing or wetting your hands with water too frequently. This is one of the best possible home remedies for eczema on hands.
• Wear cotton gloves while doing common household chores. This will prevent you from washing your hands too often.
• Use a brush with a long handle to wash the dishes.
• Avoid using household cleansing agents, deodorants, antibacterial soaps and powders.
• Even while wearing gloves, avoid using too hot or too cold water. This is essential for the cure for eczema on hands.
• Make sure that your hand is not sweating inside the gloves. This may make eczema even worse.
• While cooking, try to make contact with fruit juices, fruits, raw meats, garlic, onions and vegetables as less as possible.
• Wear vinyl gloves while washing your hair or use the hand which is comparatively less prone to eczema.
• Take off finger rings, bangles, etc. before washing dishes with water with naked hands. This is because, they can trap moisture and irritating substances underneath.
• Apply a good quality moisturizer on your hands twice a day. You may ask a dermatologist to prescribe you a moisturizing lotion that is most suitable for your skin type.
• Certain foods may aggravate the symptoms of eczema. You should avoid such foods. To learn what such foods can be, read more on foods to avoid with eczema.
• According to common observation, leading a life free from stress and tension may help in the treatment of eczema.

Read more on:

• Eczema Treatment - Natural Cures for Eczema
• Is Eczema Contagious
• Eczema Causes and Cures

For eczema on hands treatment, dermatologists prescribe emollients and topical steroids. Emollients need to be applied to all affected parts of the skin before working with water. It should be applied again whenever you feel the hands dry and deficient in moisture. The regular application of topical steroids reduce inflammation caused by eczema on hands and feet. You may find steroid creams over-the-counter as well. They come in different strengths. Only a specific concentration of its ingredients is suitable for a given intensity of eczema. Therefore, to be on the safe side, you should avoid self-medication and follow what is prescribed by a dermatologist. In some cases of eczema, the dermatologists prescribe oral antibiotics and eczema lotions to restore the healthy state of the skin.