Interventions for hand eczema

Hand eczema is a chronic condition that involves inflammation or dermatitis of the skin of the hands. The causes of hand eczema can be multi-factorial, involving both predisposing and external factors. In one-third to one-half of cases, hand eczema is considered atopic, meaning that affected individuals are predisposed to develop asthma, hay fever or eczema (Coenraads, 1998). The most common external causes of hand eczema are contact with mild toxic agents or irritants, for example, water and soaps, leading to irritant contact dermatitis.

Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by skin contact with allergens and occurs in people who have developed a contact allergy to a specific substance, for example, perfumes. It is less common than irritant contact dermatitis. Ingested allergens may occasionally provoke hand eczema, for example, nickel. In many people with chronic hand eczema, a combination of these factors play a role, while, for several types of hand eczema, the cause remains unknown (Jensen, 2006).