Are Your Hands Just Dry, Or Is It Eczema?

Sometimes that irritated skin on your hands is more than simple dryness.

Handeczemacould be the culprit, with painful dry anditchyskin on all or part of the hand and fingers.

"If your hands are extremely dry and painful, and using moisturizer throughout the day is not helping to relieve them, you may have handeczema," said Dr. Dawn Davis, a pediatric and adult dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Without the proper treatment and preventive measures, handeczemamay worsen."

Eczemamight look like patches of red, dark brown, purple or gray irritated skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It can be scaly, inflamed anditchy. It can feel like it's burning or includeitchyblistersand deep, painful cracks, as well as crusts, pus and bleeding or weeping skin.

"Handeczema可以从各种触发耀斑,”戴维斯说的吗in an academy news release. "Some patients will see increased irritation in cooler, dry temperatures, while for others the condition may worsen during warmer months due tosweating. A trigger or flare for one patient could be different than flares or triggers for other patients."

冲突可能出现不合适的ly drying wet hands or anallergic reaction, such as to latex or jewelry metals. People who hadeczema(atopic dermatitis) as a child have a higher risk of developing handeczema. Chemicals like solvents, detergent and cement can increase risk.

Prevent flare-ups by using a gentle hand or hypoallergenic cleanser, not washing too frequently and making sure to rinse off any excess cleanser, Davis said. Rinse well between the fingers where cleanser can accumulate.

Also, gently pat hands dry with a towel instead of air drying, she suggested. Use fragrance-free creams and ointments instead of lotions.

"At the core of alleczematreatments is a sensitiveskin careroutine," Davis said. "It's important to note that patients with hand eczema may also have foot eczema. They're parts of the body that we use often and as such are often exposed to harm from our environment and the chemicals and objects we use in our daily lives. They both have thick skin along the palms and soles, which protect the skin, but can also be difficult to hydrate."

It may help to apply petroleum jelly to the affected area before bed or a thick moisturizer often throughout the day, Davis said.

Also, wear gloves when you might encounter irritants.

Some people with eczema will use a vinegar soak, which is also called an acetic acid dressing solution.

"After making the solution, the patient soaks a washcloth in the mixture, wrings it out, rolls the washcloth around their hand like a burrito, and then puts a white tube sock over their hand for several hours or before going to bed," Davis said.

A dermatologist can also offer advice and treatments.

"It is important that people seek treatment for hand eczema so their skin doesn't get infected, which can lead tocellulitis, a common, potentially serious bacterialskin infection," said Davis.

"If you suspect that you have hand eczema and at-home treatments fail to bring you relief, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist," she recommended.

SOURCE: American Academy of Dermatology, news release, Sept. 27, 2022

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

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QUESTION

Eczema (also atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis) is a general medical term for many types of skin inflammation.See Answer