SKIN DISORDERS IN ADULTS: HAND DERMATITIS
Jun 7th, 2011 Posted in Skin Care | Comments OffOver fifty per cent of women suffer from hand dermatitis. It also frequently appears in both men and women who work in certain professions. Hairdressers, those who work in the food industry and medical people all have a greater risk of developing the condition.
By far the most common cause of hand dermatitis is having the hands in and out of water, and it is water rather than soaps and detergents that tend to cause this annoying condition. Water causes the surface cells of the skin to swell. When the hands are removed from water, the cells shrink. If this happens repeatedly, the skin eventually begins to crack. Soaps and detergents aggravate the situation because they strip away the skin’s protective outer layer. This causes water within the skin to evaporate more quickly.
Preventing hand dermatitis
The only way to prevent hand dermatitis is to keep your hands away from water. This can easily be done by wearing cotton gloves inside rubber or vinyl gloves whenever you are doing ‘wet’ work. It is a good idea to buy several pairs of cotton and rubber or vinyl gloves and keep them in different parts of the house – if they are handy, you are more likely to use them. It is important to wear cotton gloves inside the rubber or vinyl gloves so that your hands do not perspire excessively. Many people protest that it is difficult to do household chores and other wet work such as washing hair with gloves on. It is really just a matter of getting used to them, however, as surgeons, doctors and dentists use gloves routinely, even when performing very delicate operations. Tighter-fitting rubber gloves can be bought at the supermarket in boxes of fifty.
Harsh soaps and detergents should be avoided. For washing your hands moisturizing, mild soaps such as Aveenobar, Dove or Neutrogena are best. You can also use soap-free liquid cleansers such as Cetaphil or an emulsifying ointment.
Using moisture creams on the hands regularly is essential. These act like glue, trapping water in the skin. They also improve the barrier function of the skin by making it less susceptible to irritation. Good moisture creams for the hands include Neutrogena hand cream, Hydraderm lotion and Aveeno skin lotion.
Treating hand dermatitis
Cortisone-based ointments are nearly always needed to treat established hand dermatitis. They are made more effective by wrapping Gladwrap or wearing plastic gloves over the ointment to enhance penetration. If cracks develop on the hands tincture of benzoin or clear nail polish can be applied. Both these measures clear up cracks very quickly.
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