Eczema on Hands – 10 Tips to Care for Them
Eczema that appears on your hands (often also called hand dermatitis) usually starts with some redness and mild itching, and develops into that red itchy rash that can sometimes be unbearable. Because you use your hands every day it can be difficult to do even the simplest tasks.
Usually you’ll notice hand eczema more often in people who have their hands in water during the day. The constant wetting and drying can dry out the hands making the condition worse.
So if you have hand eczema what can you do?
The first thing you can do is limit your contact with anything that may irritate your hands. You would actually surprised how many chemicals, soaps and irritants your hands will come into contact with over the course of a day. Of course, often that is easier said than done.
Tips to Care for Eczema on Hands
- If you have a dishwasher then use that instead of washing dishes by hand. If you don’t then ask family members to do the dishes.
- See if your store carries dishwashing liquid that is made for sensitive skin.
- Don’t wear rubber gloves as this can make things worse, but simple plastic gloves may work ok. If you do wear plastic gloves however give your hands some time out to breathe, especially if they get sweaty.
- Bathe in lukewarm water rather than hot water.
- Swap soaps and cleansers with products made specifically for dry skin or eczema conditions. If you are looking for budget options, then Dove or Oil of Olay have mild moisturizing soaps.
- Same goes with shampoo – find an organic or a sensitive skin brand.
- Swap regular household cleansers with natural products such as vinegar and baking soda
- Pat dry your hands rather than rub them.
- Always apply a hand cream after drying them that contain no fragrance or additives. Barrier creams such as vaseline can also work well for some people.
- Lots of people recommend Burts Bees products for their hands.
