The best advice for those who have eczema on their hands is to keep hands
well moisturized and do your best to avoid any skin irritants. This is not
always a easy task, but avoiding irritants to the best of your ability
will keep keep itchy, red, swollen, and cracked skin at bay.
Many
things in your home and workplace could serve to irritate the sensitive
skin on your hands. Some of these include, but are not limited to, soap,
detergents, cosmetic products, household cleaners, air fresheners or
sprays, aftershave lotion, gasoline, turpentine, pain stripper, other
solvents and a variety of chemicals. Skin is likely to break whenever you
find yourself in close proximity to any of these substances. Having your
hands in water too often and washing them excessively with soap is also
discouraged as it can serve to dry your skin out ten times faster.
However, when you do wash your hands, always thoroughly dry them to
include between the fingers. Make be certain that all soap residue has
been rinsed before drying your hands.
Wearing a pair of vinyl or
plastic gloves that fit properly at work or at home whenever it is
absolutely necessary for you to have your hands in and out of water is
recommended. If you suspect but don’t know for sure that a substance will
irritate your skin then wear gloves to prevent any adverse results. The
more you safeguard your hands the better. It is recommended that you wear
a pair of thin cotton gloves under a pair of plastic gloves in order for
the cotton gloves to soak up any sweating your hands do as a result of
wearing gloves. Always take breaks to take off both pairs of gloves and
give your hands a chance to breathe. This prevents a sweat buildup in the
gloves which can trigger an eczema flare-up. It is helpful to wear a pair
of regular gloves whenever you step outside during the winter months. The
blustery wind, cold air and low humidity during the winter season can dry
the hands out immensely, even on days when the temperature is moderate and
the wind is absent.
It is imperative that you moisturize your skin
every day without fail, morning and before bed, regardless of what time of
day you bathe. This includes your hands. Moisturizers keep the skin
supple, hydrated, and crack-free, as well as keeping flare-ups at bay.
Well-moisturized skin does not show signs of age as quickly. A very basic,
no frills type of moisturizer is ideal. Avoid lotions and creams with
alcohol or fragrance and choose one that is more greasy than creamy.
Petroleum jelly is actually an excellent choice for hands, whether it is a
brand name like Vaseline or a generic form. Another excellent eczema hand
cream is Eucerin 5% Urea Hand Cream which has a light texture and is both
fragrance and dye-free. This is a suitable every day moisturizer that
decreases the tightness of skin that afflicts some eczema sufferers.
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