Talking with my doctor

If you think you have hand eczema, the sooner you see your doctor, the sooner you can start on a plan to manage your symptoms. Your doctor can suggest how to take care of your hands, offering advice based on your particular history. He or she can also recommend various treatment options, from over-the-counter emollients to stronger prescription medications.

If you have already been diagnosed with hand eczema, follow your doctor’s advice and continue to schedule regular visits so he/she can monitor your progress.

Is a dermatologist the right next step?

Hand eczema is tricky. It may take a while to find the cause of yours and the best way to treat it. If you continue to have attacks and don’t know what to do, please speak to your doctor again. It may be helpful to get a referral to a certified dermatologist in order to discuss other treatment options that may be helpful to you.

Getting the most out of office visits

Everyone has their own comfort level discussing health issues. The following guide is meant to help you prepare for a visit with your doctor by giving you an idea of what you can expect, and some questions you may want to ask. Feel free to print it out and bring it with you on your next office visit. 

Questions your doctor may ask you:

Your doctor may want to examine the affected areas straight away, or ask for a bit more information first.

• Why you have come?
• Which areas are affected?
• Are any other areas of skin affected?
• How does your skin feel?
• When did you first notice this problem? (This may help identify the cause.)
• Have you had this problem before? (You may remember an earlier, milder attack.)
• Do you have any allergies? (Your skin may react to certain substances, or you may have hay fever or asthma, or suffer sneezing, coughing, or wheezing at certain times.)
• Can you think of anything you have been doing that may have made you hands sore? (You may have been handling something unusual that caused the problem.)
• Do you get your hands wet regularly at work or in the home? (Wet hands may be more vulnerable to physical and chemical damage.)
• What sort of work do you do? (Your condition may be work related or aggravated by chemicals used in association with your work.)

If your doctor thinks you have hand eczema, you may be given a prescribed treatment, and will usually be given advice about caring for your hands, and avoiding allergens or irritants that may be causing or could worsen your condition.

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Questions you may want to ask your doctor.

Even if you have previously visited your doctor about your hand eczema, it’s very easy to forget all the things you’d like to ask. Here are some useful questions to ask during your appointment:

• What can I do to take care of my hands to avoid outbreaks or to lessen symptoms when outbreaks occur?
• Are there any side effects from the treatment you recommend that I should look out for?
• Will the treatment react with other medicines—is there anything I should avoid?
• How long will it take for my treatment to work?
• What should I do if the problem does not get better?
• Is there anything else I can do to help control my eczema?
• Should I be tested for allergies?
• Will I always be allergic to certain things?
• Is there a treatment that could stop me from having specific allergic reactions?
• When should I next come and see you?

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