What To Do When You Have Hand Eczema
Posted on: 24 November 2019
Eczema is a skin condition that can occur anywhere, but it's especially troublesome when it manifests on your hands. Eczema can cause blisters, dryness, peeling, and scaly patches of skin. Hand eczema may feel itchy or painful, making it hard to do daily activities. Here are four things you can do if you suffer from hand eczema.
1. Find out if you have any allergies.
Allergies can take many forms. Some allergies only become problematic when you ingest the allergen in some way, such as when you eat a food you're allergic to or inhale pollen. Other allergies can be triggered merely by touch. If you've started using any new personal care products lately, they may have triggered your hand eczema flareup. Try to remove potential allergens from your personal care routine. Some people are even sensitive to the laundry detergent they use, so don't forget to consider the soaps and detergents you use daily.
2. Protect your hands while washing them.
Frequent hand washing can be a good thing, but like anything, it's possible to take it too far. If your hands feel dry and painful, your hand soap may be exacerbating your hand eczema. Try to limit the frequency with which you wash your hands if it's sanitary to do so. If you must wash your hands often due to work or immune system concerns, use the gentlest hand soap you can find. Skip the antibacterial soaps and use ordinary hand soap instead. The active ingredient in antibacterial soaps is very drying and harsh on delicate skin.
3. Use moisturizer.
Moisturizers can help people who suffer from hand eczema. A rich lotion can replenish the moisture your hands have lost. It can repair your skin's natural moisture barrier and soothe pain and itching. Some people are sensitive to fragrances, so you may want to choose a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic lotion.
4. Visit your dermatologist.
If home care remedies don't do the trick, you should visit your dermatologist. You can show them the symptoms on your hands if you're having an active flareup. You should also describe your symptoms to your doctor. They may prescribe you a medicated ointment to put on your hands to help them heal.
Eczema may be caused partly due to your genes, which means you may never be completely rid of it. Fortunately, taking these steps can help limit your flareups and reduce the severity of your symptoms. Learning all of the hand eczema information you can is the first step toward finding relief.
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