Tips to Treat Hand Dermatitis

Let’s talk about hand dermatitis.

As part of my recent posts on COVID related skin issues, I’ve been seeing a big uptick in hand dermatitis through teledermatology lately, with lots of dry itchy peeling hands and even some deep fissures and cracks in the skin. This can cause discomfort and even pain. Frequent handwashing, though necessary, is the main driver behind these hand rashes.

Some tips I’ve been sharing with my patients:

🙌🏻After each exposure to water, pat your hands dry instead of rubbing vigorously. Then use a thick goopy moisturizer with glycerin or ceramides to help moisturizer repair the skin barrier. I like plain old @vaselinebrand, @aquaphorus, @cerave , @cetaphilus, @vanicreamofficial, or @neutrogena Norwegian hand cream.

🙌🏻At night, apply a thick greasy emollient like the ones I listed above and then sleep with gloves or socks over your hands. The higher the oil content of the emollient, the better. You want something that comes out of a jar, not a pump bottle (pump bottle lotions are thinner). If you’re super itchy and can’t sleep, take a Zyrtec or a Benadryl.

🙌🏻 If you have cracks or deep fissures in your hands, use a liquid bandaid to seal the cracks.

🙌🏻 Resist the temptation to pick at dead skin or try to “pop” the deep blisters seen in a special type of hand eczema called dyshidrotic eczema. This only exacerbates the itching and can open your skin to infections.

🙌🏻Pick your products carefully. Use fragrance free cleansers and moisturizers. Aquanil is a soap-free oil-free cleanser that also moisturizes, so it’s an option for those with especially sensitive skin.

🙌🏻Avoid excessive direct exposure to water. When you are washing dishes or doing other chores involving water, make sure to wear rubber gloves with a cotton liner to protect your skin.
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🙌🏻If your hands are still dry and itchy despite all of these measures, try an over the counter hydrocortisone steroid to help, or contact your dermatologist for a prescription strength steroid to alleviate the inflammation and itching.

🙌🏻If your rash persists despite topical steroids, you might be continuously exposed to an allergen such as latex in gloves. See a dermatologist for further evaluation and diagnosis!

Hope these tips are useful, especially as we are all scrubbing our hands for 20 seconds many times a day! As always, feel free to leave questions below 👋🏻