Our hands are in constant use every day, enduring a lot: water, cleaning agents, disinfectant sprays, mechanical stress, and so on. It's no wonder they are particularly susceptible to skin irritation, and sometimes even skin conditions.
One of these is hand eczema – an inflammatory but non-contagious skin condition that can be very uncomfortable for those affected.
Typical Symptoms of Hand Eczema
Hand eczema manifests through a variety of skin changes – sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually. It usually affects different areas of the hand, from the back of the hand, to the palms, wrist, or even between the fingers.
Typical complaints include:
- Dry, cracked, and flaky skin
- Redness, swelling
- Weeping areas and blistering
- Itching, burning, and pain
The itching, in particular, is insidious – scratching further damages the skin barrier. This allows germs to penetrate the skin and cause an infection.
Acute or Chronic? That is the Difference
Not every case of hand eczema remains permanent. It often occurs in acute flare-ups but then subsides. Acute hand eczema is defined when symptoms occur a maximum of once a year and do not last longer than three months. Chronic hand eczema, on the other hand, is present when symptoms occur several times a year or last longer than three months.
Most Common Causes of Hand Eczema
Hand eczema can have various causes – and sometimes several factors combine, and many sufferers don't even know exactly what triggers their symptoms. The most common forms are:
1. Allergic Contact Hand Eczema
Here, the skin reacts allergically to certain ingredients such as dyes, fragrances, or preservatives in cosmetics, paints, or cleaning products. Reactions to certain materials or chemicals are also possible. Symptoms usually appear some time after contact.
2. Irritant Contact Hand Eczema
This eczema develops due to excessive irritation – without an allergic reaction. For example, through regular contact with cleaning agents or solvents, frequent hand washing or sanitizing, and prolonged wearing of rubber gloves. This is particularly common in professional contexts where a lot of work involves water or chemicals.
3. Atopic Hand Eczema
Atopic hand eczema usually occurs in conjunction with neurodermatitis, especially in adult neurodermatitis. Genetic factors and individual trigger factors play a crucial role here. Feel free to check out our blog post on neurodermatitis on the hands.
Treatment of Hand Eczema – What Helps?
The most important measure: Identify the cause – and avoid it. The earlier, the better. You should also avoid direct skin contact with irritants by, for example, wearing suitable gloves or cotton gloves under rubber/latex gloves. It is also important to gently clean your hands with mild, fragrance-free products or moisturizing soaps and generally not to wash them too often to avoid destroying the natural skin barrier.
If you are affected, you should also apply a rich basic cream or medicinal hand cream to your hands (several times) daily. Our med hand cream is ideal for daily care, regeneration, and prevention of dry, itchy, and reddened hands thanks to its mild, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free formula. It can also be used as an overnight hand mask for acute hand eczema and neurodermatitis flare-ups. In acute phases, a cortisone-containing cream may also be useful – but only in consultation with your treating doctor.
Especially with chronic or recurring eczema, a dermatological clarification is always advisable. Sometimes an allergy diagnostic (patch test) is also necessary to find the exact triggers.
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep-Founder, Doctor & Mother of 3
