What is hand eczema?

Hand eczema is also known as hand dermatitis.

If you suffer from hand eczema, and the condition is left untreated, or you don’t find a treatment that works adequately for you, it can develop into chronic hand eczema (CHE). The term ‘ chronic’ simply means long-term. So the earlier you spot your eczema, the earlier it can be treated, which could stop it getting worse.

Up to 1 in 10 people suffer

The hands are one of the most common parts of the body to be affected by eczema - it has been reported that up to 10% of the population (1 in every 10 people) may suffer from hand eczema. So, if you have hand eczema, you’re not alone.

Up to 30% are in high-risk professions

Hand eczema is even more common in certain professions. Up to 30% (almost one third) of people in high-risk occupations, such as nursing, are affected.

The reason why hands are so commonly affected is that we do so much with them in everyday life, exposing them to the climate, water, soap, harsh chemicals and the wear and tear of manual work and hobbies, such as gardening.

Red, dry, itchy, blistered and cracked skin

When the hands are affected with eczema, the skin usually becomes red, dry, itchy and even blistered. Cracked skin can be painful and even a small amount of eczema on the fingertips can be surprisingly troublesome. It is very itchy and sufferers repeatedly scratch and rub their skin to get relief. Unfortunately, this damages the protective surface layer of the skin, leaving it open to infection.

Varies in severity

• Hand eczema varies in severity, from a mild condition affecting a small area of skin, to severe blistering affecting the whole hand.
• The severity of hand eczema differs from person to person and can even differ at different times in the same person.
• Depending on how your hands are affected, hand eczema may be considered severe because of the way it restricts you (from work, hobbies, social activities) rather than just because of what it looks like.
• You may have had a severe attack of hand eczema in the past, but now have very mild symptoms. Alternatively, you may have had mild hand eczema in the past and now be experiencing a more severe or prolonged attack.
• You may have had one period of hand eczema, treated it successfully, and had nothing ever since, or you may have had repeated attacks.

Variety of ways to treat

Just as every person’s experience of eczema is different, so there are a variety of ways to manage and treat hand eczema. Have a look at the ‘Treatments for hand eczema’ and ‘Tips for managing hand eczema’ sections of this website to find out more, or speak to your healthcare professional.