Hand exzema

[bonnie2055]

Hi everyone
Been struggling with hand exzema for 6 months
2 months ago my hand were that dry and cracked my skin would of opened up and bled with finger movement was really sore to move hands
Fingers and hands were bright red and itchy

Went to doctors a 4 weeks ago got a steroid cream applied as directed 2 times and wear gloves to bed with cream underneath

Never had an issue with skin conditions before
But this is really affecting my my hands were so sore I coukd not bare to have them in water or gloves touching them

Washing my dd and cleaning myself became a problem as my hands are so sore and start flaring when water or cleaning products touches it

Had fo get my mum to wash her for me

Don't use scented soap and use unscented moisturiser now

Hands are sore when I clench my fists
I'm at my wits end

They feel better after being in bed with gloves on but as soon as i start my day it flares

Cleaning the house has been a nightmare

It affects work as I have to use gloves
It's affecting my mood
It's affecting what I am able to do at home
It's affecting my mental health

What else can I do is there any extra support for this??

Ok so I had something similar and this is what worked for me…

1. washing up liquid and shower gel were the absolute worse… if washing up use gloves with a cotton liner, do not let fairy liquid touch your skin. In the shower only use sanex gel.
2. when you go to the bathroom wash your hands in warm water and any baby soap, then Pat them 75% dry, then apply a barrier moisturiser like diprobase emollient. It’s important to not let your hands get dry and cracked and then apply cream it’s too late… there must still be some moisture for the cream to lock the water into your skin.

these two things really helped. Now I can manage using surcare to wash up in but I can never use fairy liquid or it’ll bring the eczema straight back.

Buy a big pack of cotton gloves and use them inside rubber gloves for any cleaning. Rubber gloves directly on the skin are awful, make it hot and itch. Everytime use a fresh pair of cotton liners to protect your hands

I've had contact dermatitis on and off for many years and it was really bad on my hands a few years ago, much better now but still get flare-ups when I forget to be careful.

My tips:

Avoid liquid hand soap / body wash wherever possible, use unscented bar soap for hand washing and showers.

Never, ever use any cleaning products without gloves. I use either flock-lined cleaning gloves or vinyl gloves, and not latex gloves. This goes for everything from washing-up to using furniture polish.

If you smoke, try to stop - my hands have never been as bad as they once were now that I stopped smoking.

Try to avoid your hands getting cold and wet outoors.

Avoid any contact with solvents - no nail varnish, no alcohol-based hand sanitizer (Covid was v bad for my skin) and always wear gloves for painting.

When I was at my worst, I bought a big box of vinyl gloves and wore them in the shower and even when bathing the little one. Elastic bands or cheap elastic hair ties around the wrists keep most of the water out. I even wore them when hanging up the laundry!

Personally, I found moisturisers and barrier creams did not help at all. Avoiding all chemicals and using steroid cream (of the correct strength) is the only treatment that works for me. Weak steroid cream didn't help, though, so you may need to go back to doctors.

I know it's really rubbish, but be patient and careful and it'll improve before you know it.

Thank you so much for replying will give these ago