How to treat eczema on the back of hands?

Many middle-aged and elderly women suffer from skin eczema on the back of their hands, commonly known as "housewife hand". This disease is mostly caused by skin inflammation due to contact with some irritating substances. When it occurs, the hands are dry, have dark red spots, and local infiltration and hypertrophy. The disease progresses slowly, and cracks will appear in the winter, affecting the flexibility of the hands and causing certain pain to the patient. Many patients do not take the condition seriously because it is not serious, and only seek medical treatment when the eczema area becomes deeper and larger. By then, the best time for early treatment has been missed. The effect of early intervention treatment is obviously much better, so patients are advised to actively receive treatment.

Causes of eczema on the back of hands

It is caused by the interaction of external and internal factors. External factors such as various chemicals (such as cosmetics, soap, synthetic fibers), animal fur, living environment, climatic conditions, etc. can induce hand eczema. Internal factors such as food, mental stress, insomnia, excessive fatigue, mood changes, etc. can create conditions that aggravate hand eczema.

Clinical manifestations of eczema on the back of the hands

The skin lesions of hand eczema present as subacute or chronic eczema, often occurring on the back of the fingers and the palms of the fingertips, and can spread to the back of the hands and wrists, with unclear boundaries or small flaky lesions. In chronic cases, the skin may become infiltrative and hypertrophic, and cracks may occur due to finger movements. The skin around the nails swells, and the nails may become thick and irregular. Hand eczema can also occur on the palm side, which is localized, but the edges are not obvious, mostly rough, with papules, herpes, and infiltration and hypertrophy, and often cracks in winter.

When hand eczema only occurs on the fingertips, it is also called fingertip eczema. When it occurs in the middle of the palm and the palm side of the fingers, the skin lesions are dry, the keratin proliferates, and the cracks are called chronic recurrent vesicular/keratin hyperplastic hand eczema. Skin lesions may also occur in the skin between the two adjacent fingers and the distal metacarpophalangeal joints of the palm. The lesions are apron-shaped and are also called apron-like eczema. Hand eczema caused by frequent contact of hands with animals and internal organs is also called slaughterhouse eczema.

Treatment of eczema on the back of hands

1. Internal medication treatment

The purpose is to fight inflammation and relieve itching. Antihistamines, sedatives, etc. can be used, and antibiotics can be added for those with secondary infections.

2. Topical medication

In the subacute stage, glucocorticoid emulsions and pastes can be used, and antibiotics can be added to prevent and control secondary infection; in the chronic stage, ointments and plasters can be used; for stubborn localized skin lesions, glucocorticoids can be injected intralesionally.

prevention

Various suspected pathogenic factors should be avoided. During the onset period, spicy food and drinking should be avoided, and excessive washing and mental stress should be avoided.