This information is intended for education of both the general public and healthcare professionals. If you are experiencing any symptoms please discuss the best treatment options with your doctor.
The burden of Chronic Hand Eczema
Hands play a critical role in the way we physically interact with the world, communicate, and express ourselves.1,2
Chronic Hand Eczema can cause visible and functional impairments to the hands, so it can have a profoundly negative impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL), including psychological well-being, occupational and social lives, and physical functioning.1–4
Occupational burden
Chronic Hand Eczema can have a profound impact on patients’ ability to work, particularly in occupations that involve prolonged wet work or harmful skin exposure.4–6
These include those who work in healthcare, construction, and food preparation.4,7
Patients who have occupational Chronic Hand Eczema may have to make significant changes to their professional lives to avoid exposure to causative factors.1,6
In a 2022 review, up to 25% of patients reported job loss/job change due to Chronic Hand Eczema.8
This, as well as sick leave and loss of productivity, means the socioeconomic consequences of Chronic Hand Eczema are substantial.6,8,9
Ingrid’s story
This animation follows the life of Ingrid, a fictional patient with Chronic Hand Eczema. It explores how the disease has impacted her throughout adulthood, including her job, pastimes, and social life
Duration: 03.29
Psychosocial burden
Due to the widespread negative impact on QoL, there can be a high psychosocial burden in patients suffering with Chronic Hand Eczema.1,10
According to a 2015 study, patients with hand eczema were significantly more likely to suffer from clinical depression or an anxiety disorder compared to people without a skin condition.11
The chronicity of Chronic Hand Eczema can lead to additional emotional burden due to feelings of frustration around the recurrence of symptoms.4
Contributing to the QoL impairment of Chronic Hand Eczema are the social restrictions it can place on patients.10
Hands are highly visible and patients can experience embarrassment and feel self-conscious when in public.1,4,12
Consequently, Chronic Hand Eczema can be associated with social phobia and withdrawal for fear of stigmatization.10,12
Furthermore, the physical signs and symptoms of Chronic Hand Eczema can have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships because patients are less able to physically interact with loved ones.1,4,10
*A cross-sectional, multicenter study of 3,635 outpatients with dermatological conditions in 13 European countries
Figure adapted from Dalgard F, et al. 2015.
Psychologic comorbidities in patients with hand eczema (n=143)11*
Bar graph showing the frequency of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in patients with hand eczema (n=143) compared to a control group with no dermatological conditions (n=1,359).11
In a cross-sectional, multicenter study of 3,635 outpatients with dermatological conditions in 13 European countries, the psychological comorbidities - depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation - were significantly more prevalent in the group of patients with hand eczema compared to the control group.11
Physical burden
The signs and symptoms of Chronic Hand Eczema can negatively impact patients’ abilities to complete everyday tasks at work and in the home.1,4,10
These include:4
- Skin pain, making it difficult to touch items
- Swelling, preventing patients from grasping objects
- Skin irritation, leading to avoidance of soaps and chemicals when performing self-care and domestic chores
Related content
Understanding Chronic Hand Eczema
Chronic Hand Eczema is characterized by erythema, vesicles, papules, scaling, fissures, hyperkeratosis, itch, and pain6
Diagnosing Chronic Hand Eczema
Chronic Hand Eczema is hand eczema that lasts for more than 3 months, or relapses twice or more often in a year6
Managing and treating Chronic Hand Eczema
To work towards patient goals, the management of Chronic Hand Eczema involves lifestyle changes to minimize contact with triggers, and pharmacological therapies1,6