What to do if you have hand eczema?

There are many causes of eczema in life, such as climate change, and the patient's hands will show small flaky skin lesions, swelling of the skin around the nails, etc. In the face of these symptoms, experts recommend the use of internal or external medications, or of course both at the same time.

1. Causes

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.

2. Clinical manifestations

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

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.