Managing the Struggles of Hand Eczema

Are you a parent or a little one with eczema who struggles with hand eczema yourself? You’re not alone. As eczema can be hereditary, it’s no surprise that parents of children with eczema can battle with eczema, hayfever or asthma themselves. And with all the cooking, washing and housework that comes with life as a parent, our hands can be exposed to plenty of potential eczema triggers throughout the day.

Why Do I Have Hand Eczema?

Hand eczema can occur in conjunction with atopic eczema on other parts of the body or as a form of contact dermatitis caused by regular exposure to irritants. Common irritants that can trigger hand eczema include harsh chemicals, soaps, hand sanitisers, detergents, acidic foods, and prolonged exposure to water. Allergens such as rubber, latex, or perfumes can also trigger hand eczema. However, just like with our children’s eczema, sometimes we won’t be able to pinpoint the exact cause or trigger.

There is also a type of eczema called pompholyx or dyshidrotic eczema that can affect the hands, usually on the sides of the fingers and palms. It can also affect the soles of the feet. This type of eczema usually appears as itchy, watery blisters that can burst or bleed and can be followed by peeling skin. The cause of pompholyx eczema is unknown, but it is thought to be triggered by heat, sweat or sensitivities to certain metals.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hand Eczema?

It’s common for our hands to feel dry occasionally, but hand eczema is more than just having dry skin. Symptoms of hand eczema can appear on and in between the fingers, on the palms or other parts of the hands. If you think you might have eczema on your hands, you should see a doctor for a diagnosis.

Symptoms of hand eczema as a result of atopic or contact dermatitis can include:

• Dryness with peeling and flaking skin
• Redness or rashes that range in colour from red to purple-brown or darker brown, depending on your skin colour
• Itching
• Inflammation of the skin
• Cracked or crusted skin
• Pain and swelling

Hand eczema can be prone to infections, which can cause pain, swelling and inflammation. If you think your hand eczema has become infected, it’s vital to see a medical professional for treatment.

How Can I Manage Hand Eczema? 

Treating hand eczema as an adult is similar to treating our little one’s eczema in that it will likely involve avoiding triggers and adopting a consistent moisturising routine. In some cases, your doctor may also recommend using things like topical steroids, antihistamines, prescription or over-the-counter medications or other methods to treat your hand eczema.

Two general ways to help manage hand eczema might include:

1. Avoiding known triggers and preparing your hands to come into contact with them

Avoiding triggers can be tricky, especially if you repeatedly come into contact with chemicals or other irritants at work. This can often be the case for beauticians, mechanics, hairdressers, nurses, chefs and other professionals.

Where contact with triggers can’t be avoided, you can try to:

• Protect your hands by wearing the appropriate gloves with a cotton liner. If they aren’t disposable, be sure to wash the gloves and cotton liners regularly.
• Bring your own fragrance-free hand wash, moisturiser and any other treatments to work with you
• When you need to wash your hands, it can be helpful to use lukewarm water and soap-free wash, gently dab them dry and moisturise immediately afterwards
• Use a thick moisturiser to moisturise your hands when possible throughout the day and especially after washing
• Try to keep your clothing, PPE, equipment and work space clean to minimise contact with triggers.

2. A moisturising routine for hand eczema

Itchy Baby Co. products can be helpful as part of a hand eczema management routine. We suggest dissolving two spoonfuls of our Natural Oatmeal Bath Soak in a bowl of lukewarm water and soaking your hands for around 10 minutes. Pat dry and immediately apply our thick Eczema Moisturiser to lock in hydration from the soak. If possible, pop on a pair of cotton gloves (cut the fingertips off if needed) and leave them on overnight.

This blog post was brought to you and your family with love and care from the Itchy Baby Co. team. x

Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional