How To Control Eczema On Hands

Why Does Eczema Appear On The Hands

There can be a variety of reasons why eczema appears on the hands. For example, the hands can be affected by irritant or allergic contact dermatitis or both at the same time.

Coming into contact with irritants such as dust, detergents, cleaning agents, airborne sprays or even just frequent hand-washing can cause irritant hand eczema . The skin on the palms of the hands is much thicker than elsewhere on the body and is normally able to withstand a great deal of wear and tear. But in people who regularly immerse their hands in detergents or solvents, the protective barrier of the skin breaks down, and eczema may develop. People who have this form of hand eczema often have a history of eczema in childhood.

Allergic hand eczema arises as a result of an allergic reaction to a particular substance in the environment. It is possible to be allergic to a number of different substances, but common causes of contact sensitivity include nickel, fragrances, preservative chemicals, rubber and various plants, amongst other things. Once a persons immune system has identified a substance as harmful, they will react to the substance every time their skin is exposed to it, and this reaction becomes more severe on every exposure to the allergen.

When an allergic reaction of this kind is suspected, your GP should refer you to a dermatologist, who will normally perform patch tests to try to identify the allergic cause.

Moisturize Your Skin Daily

The control of eczema is essential through hydration. Keeping your skin moist is the most important thing you can do to reduce eczema flare-ups. In fact, in people with eczema, the upper layer of the skin, which acts as a barrier to prevent the evaporation of water, does not work properly. As a result, the skin tends to become dry and irritated, which can trigger eczema attacks.

• Apply a moisturizer for sensitive skin every day, even when you don’t have eczema patches.
• Choose ointments because these are more effective at retaining water in the skin and preventing it from evaporating. If you don’t like its sticky texture, apply an oil-based cream during the day, as it will be absorbed more quickly, and use an ointment at night.
• Choose a product that is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.If you need to apply topical medication to your eczema patches, apply it first, followed by your moisturizer 15 minutes later.
• The best time to apply your moisturizer is right after a shower or bath. Gently sponge excess water, then apply your moisturizer.
• If you need to apply a topical medication to eczema patches, put it on first as recommended by your health care professional, then apply the moisturizer about 15 minutes later.

Follow A Treatment Plan

Once your childs skin clears, you can help keep the skin calm. Studies show that you can do this by:

• Taking good care of your childs skin

• Helping your child avoid what triggers the eczema

• Using medicine

Control dry skin

When someone has eczema, the skin can actually get drier from a bath unless a moisturizer is applied immediately after the bath.

Keeping the eczema under control can help your child:

• Feel comfortable

• Reduce how severely and how long eczema flares

• Prevent eczema from worsening

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Avoid Scratching Your Skin

While it can be tempting to scratch itchy skin, Fishman says it’s important to avoid this as much as possible. Scratching can actually make eczema worse because it triggers the inflammation response. Not only that, scratching vigorously enough to break the skin leaves you more prone to scarring and infection.

Keeping your fingernails short can help minimize damage when you can’t resist the urge to scratch.

Stay Cool Avoid Sweating And Drink Enough Water

Trying to minimize sweating is an obvious first line of defense. Staying cool by avoiding excessively warm temperatures and reducing sweating are the most important strategies, Dr. Friedmann says. That might mean sticking to the shade when youre outside or staying indoors in an air-conditioned environment when the temperatures climb, Bard notes. Be sure to drink plenty of water, too. That will keep your body at a normal temperature, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And opt for loose-fitting clothes in breathable fabrics .

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How Is Eczema Treated

If youre diagnosed with eczema, your doctor might:

• prescribe medicines to put on the skin that soothe the redness and irritation, such as creams or ointments that contain corticosteroids
• recommend other medicines to take by mouth if the eczema is really bad or you get it a lot

If someone has severe eczema, ultraviolet light therapy can help clear up the condition. Newer medicines that change the way the skins immune system reacts also may help.

Most Importantly Avoid Scratching

We know, we know . . . Eczema is itchy and you want to scratch. But listen. Even if scratching makes you feel momentarily better, you need to resist the urge to do it! Scratching does nothing to help, and it will even make things worse by exacerbating any damage or redness youre experiencing. In fact, it will only make you feel itchier.

Scratching your eczema creates a vicious cycle of itch, scratch, rash. You feel itchy, you scratch, you get temporary relief, but the rashes only get worse. In other words, scratching does the opposite of what youre looking to achieve.

Pro tip

Instead of scratching, its better to rub or pinch your skin.

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What Causes Adult Eczema

Although the cause is not completely understood, its thought that variations in certain genes affect your skins ability to protect itself from irritants. Certain environmental substances trigger an immune response that leads to inflammation in and on the skin.

Triggers may include:

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Can Atopic Eczema Be Cured

No, it cannot be cured, but there are many ways of controlling it. As they get older, most children with atopic eczema will see their AE improve with 60% clear by their teens. However, many of these people continue to have dry skin and so need to continue to avoid irritants such as soaps, detergents and bubble baths.

AE may be troublesome for people in certain jobs that involve contact with irritant materials, such as catering, hairdressing, cleaning or healthcare work. In later life, AE can present as hand dermatitis and as result exposure to irritants and allergens must be avoided both in the home and at work.

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Why Is Eczema Worse In Cold Weather

There are different types of eczema, which affect people of all ages. The most common variety is known as atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis affects 1 in 10 Americans, causing patches of extremely dry, itchy, inflamed skin. Sometimes it can appear scaly or crusty. Whatever form it takes, the itchy rashes can drive you crazy and even keep you up all night scratching.

For most people, eczema flares come and go. Several factors team up to make it more common in the cooler months, says dermatologist John Anthony, MD. Cold air, wind and a decrease in humidity can all dry out skin, he says. That loss of moisture can cause eczema to flare.

Opt For 100% Cotton Clothing

Cotton is a comfortable fabric that lets the skin breathe and helps prevent irritated skin, which makes it a great choice if youre prone to eczema flare-ups! In general, you should always choose light, breathable fabrics that dont rub against or scratch your skin, especially when exercising or doing sports.

Conversely, many synthetic fabrics and materials such as wool, hemp, or linen are irritating to the skin and can cause eczema flare-ups.

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Stay Hydrated And Balance Electrolytes

The cells in the body require proper fluid levels to perform their many tasks. They also require electrolytes like magnesium, potassium, and sodium to transfer fluids in and out of cells.

Simply drinking enough water and taking in electrolytes can be helpful for cutting down on flares. Electrolytes are naturally found in coconut water, Himalayan sea salt, and citrus fruits, so pairing these with daily water intake can provide that needed balance. Tip: Infused-water recipes are an easy and tasty way to stay hydrated.

What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider About Eczema

• How can you tell that I have eczema?
• If I dont have eczema, what other skin condition might I have?
• Is there a specific brand of moisturizer that you recommend?
• Is there a prescription cream that you can prescribe?
• How often should I see a dermatologist regarding my eczema?
• What soaps, lotions, makeup, etc. should I avoid?
• What medications do you recommend?
• What at-home treatments do you recommend?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Eczema is very normal, very common, and very, very uncomfortable. It can affect your quality of life. At its worse it can keep you from sleeping, distract you and make you feel self-conscious in public. See your dermatologist or other healthcare provider as soon as you start to see signs of it. Explore at-home remedies and prescribed treatments.

Youre not alone! 15% to 20% of people experience eczema or another type of dermatitis at some point in their lives.

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Ways To Relieve Itchy Eczema At Home

Telling your child to stop scratching itchy skin rarely works.

Eczema is just too itchy, and telling your child to stop scratching can feel stressful. Stress often makes eczema worse.

Safety tips

• Dont let your child eat the finely ground oatmeal.

• Colloidal oatmeal makes the bath very slippery, so take care to prevent a slip or fall.

Try To Reduce The Damage From Scratching

Eczema is often itchy, and it can be very tempting to scratch the affected areas of skin.

But scratching usually damages the skin, which can itself cause more eczema to occur.

The skin eventually thickens into leathery areas as a result of chronic scratching.

Deep scratching also causes bleeding and increases the risk of your skin becoming infected or scarred.

Try to reduce scratching whenever possible. You could try gently rubbing your skin with your fingers instead.

If your baby has atopic eczema, anti-scratch mittens may stop them scratching their skin.

Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage to the skin from unintentional scratching.

Keep your skin covered with light clothing to reduce damage from habitual scratching.

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Turn Down The Shower Temperature

Hot water might feel good in the moment, but it can ultimately worsen eczema by releasing itch-inducing compounds, says Dr. Fromowitz.Instead, use lukewarm water, which is less likely to exacerbate sensitive skin. And while youre in there, stick to a mild, unscented soap .After you towel off, apply a liberal amount of moisturizer to hydrate and repair the skin’s barrier.

Ultraviolet Light And Phototherapy

Light therapy is often used to treat severe eczema that doesnt respond to creams. This involves a machine that exposes your skin to ultraviolet light.

UVB light is most common. However, some forms of eczema therapy use UVA. According to the National Eczema Association, about 70 percent of people with eczema had improved symptoms after phototherapy.

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How To Naturally Heal Eczema On Palms

Do you suffer from eczema on your palms? Characterized by red, inflamed and swollen skin palm eczema is an uncomfortable condition that can have a great impact on daily life .

It can be triggered by skin contact with allergens such as perfumes, metals, rubber or leather and tends to more commonly affect those who work as cleaners, carers, hairdressers, construction workers, and chefs.

Keep reading to learn more about what characterizes palm eczema including causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Please keep in mind that although these tips can relieve eczema, we are in no way medical professionals. If youre experiencing severe eczema symptoms like an infection, it is best to seek medical advice immediately.

What is Dyshidrotic Eczema?

Palm eczema is most commonly considered dyshiodrotic eczema. This condition is also known as vesicular eczema, dyshidrosis, foot-and-hand eczema, and palmoplantar eczema.

It involves small, intensely itchy eczema blisters that develop on the edges of the fingers, toes, soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands.

Causes of Eczema on Palms

Like all types of eczema, dyshidrotic eczema isnt contagious. Its impossible to catch dyshidrotic eczema from another person, or pass it on to someone else. Instead, a person develops eczema due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Thats why dyshidrotic eczema tends to run in families. Eczema is also triggered by a variety of irritants and allergens including:

References:

Daily Routine Of Soaking And Gloves

A few months ago, my hands were so bad that I was practically disabled. There arent many things in life that you can do without using your hands. So I went to a dermatologist again , and this time the results were different. This is what my doctor told me to do:

I soaked my hands in one quart of water mixed with four capfuls of a coal tar shampoo for a half hour EVERY night for six weeks. After soaking, I would rinse and pat my hands dry, and then I would apply a steroid ointment and cover my hands with white cotton gloves. I also used a steroid cream twice a day.

At first I was discouraged. I had tried steroids before, and my hands would get better for a couple days and then get worse again. This time they got worse for the first few days and then they gradually got better. It has been almost two months since I finished my treatment and my hands are still perfect! Now the only thing I use is an OTC cream a couple times a day.

I feel so blessed to have gone to this doctor! I thought that I would pass this information on to you so that maybe others can get some relief from this treatment.

D.U.

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Soaking Helps Heal Hand Eczema

I found this address on a website and thought a suggestion I have may help people struggling with hand eczema. I have used Alpha Keri bath oil for years. It totally relieves the burning and itching . . . soothes and takes the red out. It has been a lifesaver as I have had eczema since my early 20s. A dermatologist suggested the bath oil. My hands were in horrible shape the first time I had an appointment. He soaked my hands in this and immediately I thought Id died and gone to Heaven! It may not work for everyone, but using it along with Cortaid has worked for me for years. I work with babies so my hands are wet all of the time. Im not able to use the Alpha Keri creams for some reason. They dont help me at all. I just wanted to suggest this as I am living proof that it works I keep it with me wherever I go!

Lanie J.

How Can I Treat Hand Eczema

According to the AAD, one of the first steps in treating hand eczema is to avoid the cause, if possible. You can also frequently apply a fragrance-free, preservative-free moisturizing hand cream to help your skin heal. Your doctor might be able to recommend one that will be effective.

If your symptoms are severe, consider meeting with a dermatologist to discuss treatment options. The AAAAI outlines some of the treatments you could receive for different issues hand eczema can cause.

For example, if your hands are extremely dry or cracked from eczema, your dermatologist may prescribe a topical steroid cream a treatment thats applied directly to the skin to help decrease any underlying inflammation that could be causing your symptoms.

Topical steroids are typically only used for short-term treatments, however, as they may make the skin thinner.

If your dermatologist thinks allergies or AD may be triggering eczema on your hands, they may recommend oral antihistamines allergy medication taken by mouth to help prevent inflammation associated with allergic reactions. Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness, so your doctor may recommend taking them at night.

Sometimes, severely dry, cracked hands or blisters may lead to an infection. In such cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics in addition to other eczema therapies.

Depending on the underlying cause, you may also talk with your doctor about certain injections that may help treat eczema.

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