Persistent condition
The most common skin condition on the hands is hand eczema. It is an inflammation of the skin. The inflammation is not caused by a bacterium, but by factors that act on the skin from the outside as well as from the inside. It is an annoying and often persistent skin condition.
Hand eczema is a term used for skin conditions on the hand that are accompanied by itching, redness, small bumps, blisters, scaling and sometimes fluid secretion. These complaints are not caused by a bacteria or fungus, but by inflammation. Hand eczema is therefore not, as is often thought, contagious.
Causes
There are different forms of hand eczema, with different causes. The most common forms are: allergic contact eczema, irritative contact eczema, constitutional eczema, vesicle eczema and calluses and cleft eczema.
Allergic contact dermatitis
As the name suggests, allergic contact dermatitis is caused by contact of the skin with a substance to which there is an allergy. When the skin comes into contact with this substance, called the allergen, the immune system becomes active and eczema develops.
Irritant contact dermatitis
Substances such as cleaning agent, soap and white spirit can lead to irritating contact dermatitis. This is also called ortho-ergic or toxic contact dermatitis. That’s not an allergic reaction. The skin is damaged by an aggressive substance and cannot recover quickly enough, causing eczema. Water can also lead to irritating contact dermatitis if your hands come into contact with it very often. This form is much more common than allergic contact dermatitis.
Constitutional eczema
This is the most common form of eczema and is also called atopic eczema. Atopy means the innate predisposition to become allergic. This can run in the family, but it doesn’t always have to be. This form is most common in childhood. People with this congenital predisposition can more easily get hand eczema later in life. Constitutional eczema can last from a few months to many years. There are periods of terrible symptoms followed by no symptoms. The complaints are often worse in winter due to the dry, freezing air.
blister eczema
A special form of hand eczema is blister eczema. This is characterized by blisters and sometimes even large blisters on the palms. The blisters and painful fissures located deeper in the skin are mainly found on the sides of the fingers in blistering eczema. This form of eczema can also occur on the feet.
Calluses and chapping eczema
This form of eczema is characterized by dry, scaly skin with calluses and fissures on the palm side of the hands. Calluses and cleft eczema mainly occur in men between the ages of 40 and 60. It is not clear how this form of eczema develops. It is sometimes thought that this is the ‘end stage’ of blistering eczema or irritative contact eczema.
Diagnosis
Do you think you suffer from hand eczema? Your doctor will soon refer you to a dermatologist. He will first look, ask questions and if necessary do some tests.
Therapy
In most cases, hand eczema is treated with a hormone ointment that contains corticosteroids. These are available in different strengths. Your doctor will determine which ointment you need. Other forms of treatment are: tar ointments and light therapy. In some cases, a course of antibiotics may be necessary.
In addition to treatment with medication, it is very important to avoid as much contact as possible with the substances to which you are allergic. When cleaning, wear gloves as much as possible. There are different types available. Some gloves can actually make the irritation worse. So try out a few varieties and see which ones work best for you.
Wash your hands with skin-friendly soap, rinse them well and pat them dry. Also use a neutral cream regularly. And finally, easier said than done, but don’t scratch. No matter how bad the itching is, scratching will cause more complaints.
