Housewives’ (Hand) Eczema - A Few Facts
There are two types of hand eczema: dry form and wet form. Although it's commonly known as housewives’ eczema, hand eczema affects more than just women, particularly wet form hand eczema. The dry form leads to dry skin and little cracks on the fingertips (possibly other parts of the hand). The skin may harden which leads to even more cracks. The dry form affects more women than men. Household work that involves cleaning or frequent water exposure often will make symptoms worse and prolong the healing process. There is an occupational factor too. Dry form occurs more frequently among barbers, medical professionals, chefs, etc. The weather plays a role as well. The dry, cold winter makes our skin feel drier than other parts of the year.
Drinking a lot of water will not sufficiently hydrate the skin and is unlikely to improve hand eczema. The best way to deal with this chronic skin disorder is to moisturize your skin. An ideal moisturizer for hand eczema offers three functions: intensively moisturizes skin; restores the damaged skin barrier; and reduces redness, irritation, and dry cracks. While steroid creams might have been commonly recommended, it is important to know that the dry form of hand eczema does not itch. Furthermore, our hands contact many different objects, materials, and parts of our own body throughout the day. Steroid cream on the fingertips will rub off to whatever object they touch. While dry and cracked skin may cause discomfort or even pain, a strong, steroid-free moisturizer will improve dried or cracked skin conditions significantly and quickly without any potential side effects. Why not give it try first before turning to prescription medication?
The wet form hand eczema is a different story. It's often associated with blisters, oozing, and itchy rashes. There are often contact irritants or triggers involved, and the seasonal change does not really make a difference. Carefully observing what materials could worsen your symptoms is key. For severe cases of hand eczema, medical treatment may be necessary to ease the symptoms. Identifying the triggers is very important to avoid future flare-ups. Using a good moisturizer in between medical treatments may accelerate the healing process or ease the symptoms.