Breaking the cycle

If you have been struggling with hand eczema for a while, it’s easy to feel discouraged. Some people may give up trying to manage or treat their condition. This, in turn, can lead to more severe symptoms as the disease progresses. Blisters may burst, making the skin vulnerable to infections. Long-standing eczema at the ends of fingers may result in deformed nails.

Taking action

Regardless of how long you have lived with hand eczema, it may be possible to take control of it. If you have not done so already, you should work with your doctor to try to find the cause of your hand eczema. In addition, it may be time to reevaluate with your doctor how you are currently managing and treating your hand eczema.

A test known as a “patch test” can be used to diagnose which particular substance triggers your hand eczema. Patch tests are carried out on skin that is not affected by eczema — such as your back, upper arms, or chest. If the allergen that causes your hand eczema is amongst those tested, the skin that came into contact with it will develop as a small, red, itchy, and swollen patch. Patch tests are typically performed by specialists. However, it is not always possible to identify the cause of hand eczema.

Avoiding triggers of your hand eczema, along with lifestyle management, should be the mainstay of your overall hand eczema management strategy. However, if your symptoms are not improving significantly with your current treatment, it may be time to consider with your doctor if other treatments might be right for you. In addition, it may be beneficial to see a skin specialist (ie, dermatologist) about your condition, if you are not already.

The more you know about your own hand eczema, the better prepared you’ll be to talk with your doctor. Take the My Hand Eczema Survey to get an overview of your history with hand eczema.

Then, visit Talking with my doctor for tips on how to have a productive, focused conversation at the doctor’s office.

Hand eczema is tricky, and it may take time to identify the cause and find the treatment that works best for you. Don’t settle for a management program that isn’t helping.