Eczema on Hands
Eczema, also termed as dermatitis, is a skin disease affecting one out of ten people. An individual who have acquired hand eczema manifests a number of symptoms such as skin dryness, pain and redness. These would eventually lead to blistering, itching, cracking, flaking, and peeling of the skin on hands.
There are certain factors which could lead to the incidence of hand eczema, like:
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Health condition. People who have history of atopic disorders are likely to contract hand eczema. Examples of atopic ailments are hay fever, asthma and atopic dermatitis.
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Work situation. Individuals whose hands are constantly wet all day or are exposed to strong chemicals have a higher risk to acquire hand dermatitis.
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Stress. This worsens any skin disorders including eczema on hands.
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Environmental conditions. A cold environment with decreased humidity reduces the moisture in the skin which puts it at risk of conditions like eczema.
What Causes Eczema on Hands
Basically, hand eczema is caused by three factors:
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Atopic eczema – This occurs to those who are prone to skin allergic tendencies.
For instance, those who suffer from hay fever or asthma can likely develop hand eczema. -
Contact dermatitis – This happens to people who have allergies to certain chemicals and acquire eczema when these chemicals are put in close contact to the skin. Examples of this are the use of latex gloves, hair dye or certain jewelries.
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Dermatitis caused by irritants – This condition arises when a person is exposed to oils, cement, perfumes, shampoos and the others. This particularly happens to those whose work is associated with the use of chemicals and substances. For example, those who often do hand washing, work in the salon, often use detergent soap, and other job that always makes use of soap and other substances with strong solutions are prone to hand eczema.
Treatment for Eczema on Hands
In order to treat hand eczema or prevent its occurrence, there are home remedies an individual can do.
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Those who are prone to this condition must use the dishwasher and washing machine. If not, wear cotton gloves under a vinyl gloves when doing the dishes and washing clothes.
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When washing hands, do not use hot water, and use only mild and unscented soaps.
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As much as possible, keep away from using antibacterial detergents and soaps.
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When shampooing, use gloves and use a rubber band around to prevent solutions from getting into the gloves and into the hands.
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After washing hands, make it a habit to apply petroleum jelly or moisturizer to minimize skin drying.
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Always use hand shields when handling foods, especially citrus fruits and meat.
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Wash clothes with mild and unscented detergents.