Even though atopic dermatitis can occur almost anywhere on the body, many individuals are affected by hand eczema.   Eczema itself manifests many symptoms, including severe itchiness, inflammation, dryness and flakiness of the skin.  In more serious instances of hand eczema, blisters, cracked skin, weeping sores, and bleeding may also be apparent.

Hand eczema is normally caused by external components that  aggravates the skin.   This particular type of eczema is known as contact dermatitis, a localized skin rash or skin hypersensitivity induced by an allergic response to a external substance touching the skin. There are two kinds of contact eczema: irritant and allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis happens when the skin immediately reacts to a substance that harms the skin: the longer the substance stays on the skin, the worse the reaction will be. Allergic contact dermatitis comes about because of an immune system response. The immune system overreacts to the offending chemical or allergen and immediately overproduces antibodies against the antigen.

Everyday chemical substances that cause irritation leading to hand eczema include scents and dyes in cosmetics, chemicals found in home cleaners, latex rubber, citrus fruit peelings, detergents, nickel in jewelry, bronzing chemicals used in leather, and certain medications. Plant toxins such as poison ivy and oak are also standard hand eczema offenders.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single eczema remedy,  but there are a few measures you can do to ease the symptoms and prevent breakouts in the future. Firstly, avoid rubbing the stricken areas since it may worsen the condition and lead to cracking or bleeding of the skin. Avoid washing your hands too often, and do not expose the hands to extreme hot or cold temperatures. You should also keep your hands moisturized with a fragrance-free lotion or emollient ointment.

Immediately when you get a flare-up, try to distinguish the offending substance and do away with it from your environment. You should also try to stay as stress-free as possible since it can also cause an eczema outbreak.

When performing household chores,stay away from toxic chemicals by wearing vinyl housecleaning gloves. Even when wearing gloves, try to avoid extreme water temperatures being too hot or too cool. Also be careful to not allow your hands to sweat inside of the gloves, since this can also make an eczema rash even worse.

If you wash anything with your bare hands, make sure you remove all jewelry, including rings, bangles, etc. Washing anything while you’re wearing jewelry can trap harsh chemicals and water underneath the jewelry.

You should also pay attention to your diet. There may be certain ingredients in foods that you are allergic to which is manifesting as eczema. Eat a healthy diet made up of fresh whole foods such as green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit.

If your hand eczema condition does not improve with the tips above, get advice from a dermatologist.