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.
Managing and treating Chronic Hand Eczema
Patient goals for treatment include reducing pain, visible improvements in the signs of Chronic Hand Eczema, and less limitations in work and private life.1
This figure is adapted from Thyssen JP, et al. Contact Derm. 2022;86:357–378.
To try and achieve these goals, the management of Chronic Hand Eczema involves lifestyle changes to minimize contact with triggers, and pharmacological therapies.2,3
However, there are no options specifically approved to treat Chronic Hand Eczema and there are currently no topical treatments which provide both short-term efficacy and long-term disease control.1,2
Preventative measures
A fundamental part of Chronic Hand Eczema management is patient education on the avoidance of exogenous factors that trigger Chronic Hand Eczema, such as allergens and irritants.2,3
Topical treatments
Topical treatments are recommended for use first-line.2,3 Emollients and moisturizers are recommended for frequent use in all patients with Chronic Hand Eczema.2,3 For short-term use, topical corticosteroids (TCS) are recommended as a first-line therapy, with their potency correlated to the severity of disease.2,3
Systemic treatments
Systemic treatments may be used by specialists for patients who are refractory to topical therapies.2 There are no systemic therapies that are approved for Chronic Hand Eczema and specialists may rely on data on atopic disease.2
Treatment considerations
Chronic Hand Eczema treatment should be appropriate to the stage of disease and disease etiology, whilst taking acuteness, morphology, location, and comorbidities into account.2 Further consideration is required for the safety of the treatment and patient preference.1,2
TCS are the standard first-line therapy for Chronic Hand Eczema but can result in skin barrier dysfunction and are not recommended for long-term use due to the risk of skin atrophy.2,3
For patients who are refractory to first-line treatments, systemic therapies may be used although some of them may have important safety considerations.2,4
Related content
Chronic Hand Eczema overview
Chronic Hand Eczema is a multifactorial, inflammatory skin disease2,4
Understanding Chronic Hand Eczema
Chronic Hand Eczema is characterized by erythema, vesicles, papules, scaling, fissures, hyperkeratosis, itch, and pain2
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 year2