April 5th, 2020
Eczema on your hands? Here's 11 things that can help
If you suffer from hand eczema, you’re not alone. Many people get eczema on their hands or feet at some point or another in their lives. It can be triggered by extreme seasonal changes and flare up more when it’s hot or cold out. Eczema can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but if you find that you are eczema-prone, you can certainly do something about it.
Focus on the things you have power over!
Use A Powerful Ointment
Using a powerful ointment like the products from Lingon Health can really help you to get your eczema under control and feel better. Ointments and over-the-counter treatments are an excellent way to tame eczema symptoms and reduce the urge to scratch.
If your eczema is terrible, you can also lather ointment onto your hands and then put them into gloves for a few minutes. This can help the cream or ointment soak into your hands and really start to get to work. Wearing gloves with lotion in them at night is also a bright idea.
Use Aloe Vera
If you prefer a more natural route for hand eczema, you can use aloe vera. Aloe vera is a plant-based gel that most people associate with soothing sunburns, but it’s actually very helpful for taming eczema! Aloe vera is antimicrobial, heals wounds, boosts your immune system, and is antibacterial.
You can use it in two ways; you can either buy fresh aloe leaves from the store and get the gel out yourself, or you can purchase aloe vera gel at the store. Sometimes aloe vera gel contains other things, so if you do the latter, make sure that it’s natural. Then, simply follow the same steps as you would for prepping your hands with ointment.
Aloe vera is sticky and will get on your clothes and in your hair. Unlike ointments, it will not melt into your skin over time.
Consider Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
If your eczema on your hands is extreme, you can also look into anti-inflammatory drugs. Generally, you can take these drugs over the counter, and unlike ointments or creams, many times, these drugs are taken orally. Although they have a less immediate effect, most anti-inflammatory drugs are potent in the long run.
Wear Gloves When Cleaning
Cleaning products can irritate healthy skin, and they wreak even worse damage on the skin that’s been affected by eczema. Wearing gloves while cleaning is a very effective way to help shield your skin from any additional irritants.
You definitely want to wear gloves when you’re handling harsh chemicals, but you should also do so whenever you’re handling liquids. Water can exacerbate the signs of eczema.
Don’t Use Super Hot Water
Although we all love to take hot showers, it’s best to make sure that the water is lukewarm at best. Hot showers can irritate the skin tremendously, especially if you’re one of those people who tends to spend a lot of time in the shower. Try to minimize the amount of time that you spend showering, and make sure that your water isn’t too hot.
Take Oatmeal Baths
If you have severe eczema on your hands or anywhere else on your body, you should consider taking an oatmeal bath. You can get prescription oatmeal baths at virtually any pharmacy or simply make your own.
Although it’s generally not a good idea to soak in water with eczema, oatmeal baths are an exception.
Still, make sure that the water isn’t too hot. A nice, long lukewarm oatmeal bath can help soothe your eczema and make your skin a lot less itchy.
Protect Your Hands From The Cold
One of the biggest causes of hand eczema is cold weather. Make sure that you protect your hands from the cold by wearing gloves when you go outside. This is even more important to do if you already have eczema.
Additionally, you will want to protect your hands from too-hot temperatures. Heat rash can quickly turn into eczema if you’re not careful.
There are plenty of over-the-counter powders that you can buy to stave off heat rash. Make sure that you use talcum powder during the summer months, especially on areas of your body like the crook of your arm or in-between your fingers.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Stress is one of the most significant contributors to eczema, so if you can reduce your stress levels, please do. Find healthy ways to cope with your stress that don’t exacerbate your eczema. Sometimes, a poor diet is also the cause of eczema, so if you’re not getting enough nutrition, you might be doing yourself and your body a huge disservice.
Sometimes, having eczema on your hands can be a vicious circle. Having the rash in the first place sometimes makes it even more stressful, which just contributes to more outbreaks and problems down the road.
Consider Using A Humidifier
Occasionally, you can get eczema from low humidity. Dry air can undoubtedly lead to serious outbreaks, so consider getting a humidifier. Using a humidifier, especially at night, can really help you to reduce the amount of eczema on your hands and in other places on your body.
It’s essential to use a humidifier if you’re in a place with cooler or cold weather or if you’re in a location that tends to be very dry. Humidifiers are excellent ways to keep a lot of different health-related problems at bay and also provide a lot of additional health benefits.
Apply Coconut Oil
Coconut oil can help your skin heal and is a great way to add a lot of moisture back into your hands if you have eczema. It’s an excellent item to have around anyway since you can actually eat it as a superfood or use it for other beauty-related treatments like a hair mask.
Use coconut oil the same way that you use ointments or creams. You can leave it on your hands overnight in gloves or simply work it onto the eczema as a way to treat it topically. Also, coconut oil smells great, so there’s an added benefit!
Try Not To Scratch
The worst thing that you can do if you have eczema is scratch it. Scratching will only make the rash a lot worse and could even open you up to infections or scarring in extreme cases. As eczema is already quite unsightly, scratching is a very bad idea.
Use ointments and creams to avoid the urge to scratch. You can even take a deep breath and count backward from ten if it helps you to concentrate and avoid scratching yourself. Try out a few different methods and see what works best for you. Some people find that it helps to keep in mind that by scratching their eczema, they’re only prolonging the pain and discomfort of it.
Here are some tips to stop itching your eczema.
- Put ointment on right away
- Take an oatmeal bath
- Put a cool cloth or compress on the eczema
- Avoid itchy fabrics on the hands
- Count backward from ten
- Try to think about something other than the itchiness
If you have eczema on your hands, you’re far from alone. Many people get eczema at some point or another in their lives and have to deal with it. It’s a very common occurrence, especially during wintery or very hot weather.
If you follow the tips that we’ve outlined here, you should be able to tame your eczema effectively and help heal your hands. Eczema happens from time to time, but you certainly don’t have to just live with it!
Your hands go through more than you realize.
Washing. Drying. Sanitizing. Cleaning. Cooking. Working.
Then doing it all over again.
For most of us, these are such ordinary parts of the day that we barely think about them. But when your skin is already dry, sensitive or eczema-prone, all of that repeated exposure can start to add up.
If your hands constantly feel dry, itchy, tight or irritated, it may be worth paying attention to what they're going through every day.
Sometimes, your hands simply need a break.
Why Can Eczema Be So Difficult on the Hands?
Your skin has a protective outer barrier that helps hold moisture in while keeping irritants out.
For people with eczema, that barrier doesn't always work as effectively as it should. This can make the skin more vulnerable to dryness and irritation.
Your hands have an additional challenge:
They're constantly interacting with the world around you.
Think about how many times your hands come into contact with water, soap, sanitizer, cleaning products and different surfaces during an ordinary day.
Even something as necessary as washing your hands can be difficult for already-sensitive skin when it happens repeatedly.
And your hands may barely get a chance to recover before you wash them again.
The Little Things Can Add Up
Sometimes we look for one big reason our skin suddenly feels worse.
But it isn't always one thing.
Several small things throughout the day may contribute to irritated hands.
Hot Water
A hot shower or very warm water may feel good, especially when it's cold outside, but frequent exposure to hot water can contribute to dryness.
When washing your hands, lukewarm water is generally a gentler choice.
Harsh or Fragranced Soaps
Not every cleanser feels the same on sensitive skin.
Some soaps and cleansers contain fragrances or ingredients that may be irritating for certain people.
If your hands consistently feel tight, dry or uncomfortable immediately after washing, start paying attention to what you're washing them with.
Frequent Handwashing
Washing your hands is important, and we're certainly not suggesting that you stop.
But if you're washing frequently throughout the day, your skin is also repeatedly being exposed to water and cleanser.
That makes what you do after washing especially important.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is another normal part of everyday life, particularly at work, school or while traveling.
Alcohol-based sanitizers can sometimes feel drying or sting when the skin is already cracked or irritated.
If you notice discomfort after using one, don't ignore the pattern.
Cleaning Products
Dish soap, household cleaners and other cleaning products may come into contact with your hands more often than you realize.
For sensitive skin, reducing unnecessary direct contact with irritating products may help. Appropriate protective gloves can be useful for wet work or cleaning, although sweat trapped inside gloves can also bother some people's skin.
Cold, Dry Weather
Sometimes the problem isn't something you're putting on your hands at all.
It's the environment around you.
Cold temperatures and low humidity can increase moisture loss from the skin, which is one reason hands may become noticeably drier during certain seasons.
Give Your Hands a Little Help
You don't necessarily need to completely change your routine.
Start small.
1. Turn Down the Heat
When possible, wash your hands with lukewarm rather than very hot water.
It's a tiny adjustment, but remember: your hands may be exposed to water many times every day.
Small changes repeated frequently can matter.
2. Pat Instead of Rub
After washing, gently pat your hands dry rather than aggressively rubbing them with a towel.
Pay particular attention to drying between your fingers.
3. Moisturize After Washing
If your hands tend to become dry, moisturizing after washing can help replace moisture and reduce water loss.
You don't necessarily have to wait until your hands feel extremely dry.
Try making moisturizing part of the routine:
Wash → Dry → Moisturize
Keep a moisturizer somewhere convenient—next to the sink, at your desk, in your bag or wherever you're most likely to actually use it.
The best routine is often the one you'll consistently follow.
4. Pay Attention to What Touches Your Hands
This may be the most important habit of all.
Instead of immediately asking:
“How do I get rid of this?”
try asking:
“What changed?”
Did you switch soaps?
Have you been washing your hands more often?
Did the weather become colder?
Were you cleaning without gloves?
Did you start using a different sanitizer?
Are your hands worse at work but better on your days off?
You don't have to figure everything out at once.
Start noticing patterns.
What If My Hands Keep Getting Irritated?
Occasional dryness is one thing. Persistent or worsening symptoms deserve more attention.
If your hands repeatedly become very itchy, cracked, painful, swollen, blistered, bleeding, oozing, crusted or otherwise aren't improving with gentle skin care, consider talking with a dermatologist or another qualified healthcare professional.
There are several conditions that can affect the hands, and what looks like "dry skin" isn't always the same thing.
Getting the right diagnosis matters.
Your Hands May Be Telling You Something
It's easy to ignore our hands.
We use them constantly, wash them, dry them and immediately move on to whatever comes next.
But if your hands repeatedly feel dry, itchy or irritated, take a moment to notice what they're experiencing throughout the day.
You don't have to change everything tomorrow.
Start with one small thing.
Turn down the water temperature.
Try a gentler cleanser.
Moisturize after washing.
Protect your hands during cleaning.
Pay attention to patterns.
Because sometimes caring for your skin begins with something very simple:
Giving it a little more time to recover.
🌿 One Note to Remember
Your hands interact with the world all day long.
If they're feeling dry or irritated, don't only ask what you should put on them.
Ask what they've been going through.
Understanding your skin, one note at a time.
Continue Your Skin Notes
If you're learning how to better understand eczema-prone or sensitive skin, continue with:
Your Skin Barrier: What It Is and Why It Matters
Learn why your skin's protective barrier matters and what happens when it has difficulty holding onto moisture.
Why Did My Eczema Suddenly Flare Up?
Explore everyday changes and triggers that may contribute to a difficult skin day.
Lotion, Cream, Ointment or Emulsion: What's the Difference?
Understand the different ways moisturizers are formulated and why texture isn't the only thing that matters.
Why Progress With Eczema Isn't Always a Straight Line
A difficult skin day doesn't erase everything you've learned about your skin.
Building a Nighttime Routine That Works for Eczema-Prone Skin
Simple habits that may help make your evening routine gentler and more consistent.
Why Is Eczema Worse at Night?
Understand some of the reasons itching and discomfort can seem more noticeable when you're trying to sleep.