dry hands and rash

[user1485461206]

The excessive hand washing has left my hands incredibly dry like I’m sure it has for many, but yesterday little bumps appeared on the backs of my hands, more on the right hand, not really sure what eczema looks like but is everyone using perfumed hand cream or something else? I’ve been using body shop pear cream but now not sure if it’s clogging the skin on the backs and causing the bumps?

It's a real problem, I know. You need to start with much gentler soap. And then perhaps try using only olive oil to moisturise. (This is what works for me after my hands started to crack with the shock of being washed a billion times a day.)

It's ezcema. I suffer from it and so does my DC. I'm very familiar with what it looks like! The little bumps are hives/rashes. They may come down on its own, but you may need steroid cream. However, if you never suffer from it before, it's likely you don't need it and just emollients wil do.

I suffer a very mild form of ezcema and I just use the body shop almond hand cream a few times a day. I use normal hand soap. All of them are perfumed. So don't worry about getting the specialised ezcema stuff.

If you do need it, my DC has Isomol gel prescribed and uses the Simple gentle handwash. However, good luck getting the simple handwash! It's out of stock everywhere. I got some child's farm ones and hopefully they are good given it's much more expensive.

Hmm ...

I've had eczema before and used whatever cream was advised by the pharmacy.

But the extreme washing rash is different and hasn't needed any special treatment.

Guess it depends exactly what you have. Hope it clears up soon!

@PerditaProvokesEnmity did you usually get the big rash with eczema? I think atopic eczema is a very generic term? I get both big ones, ring ones and also tiny little goosebump like ones! I treat them all the same at home. So you could be right that medically they are called different things. I do use the steroid cream if the flare won't go away and is very itchy.

You could try a hand cream at night, with cotton gloves over the top. This helps it sink in. I use Aveeno hand cream. I get eczema during the winter months and this usually prevents me needing to use my steroid cream.