(BPT) - Do you often experience itchy, red and painful skin on your hands? Or experience dryness, cracking and flaking so bad it interferes with your daily life? You may be one of the 1 in 10 people worldwide living with a chronic condition called Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE).1
CHE is an inflammatory condition that can be unpredictable and look different for everyone.1 If you think you or a loved one may have CHE, here are five important things to know:
1. CHE is not just eczema on your hands
While the condition may coexist with atopic dermatitis, or eczema, CHE is a distinct, chronic, recurring inflammatory skin disease affecting the hands and wrists.1,2 Clinically, hand eczema is considered chronic when it lasts for more than 3 months or relapses at least twice within a single year.3 It is not uncommon, with 1 in 10 people worldwide living with CHE.1
2. CHE may appear differently from person to person
Common symptoms of CHE include itching, pain, redness, scaling and fissures.2 However, CHE can be challenging to recognize and diagnose because symptoms may present differently from person to person based on the subtype of disease, severity and areas affected.1 In some people, symptoms may occur on their palms or fingers, while in others, symptoms may be present on the backs of the hands, fingertips or wrists.3
3. Certain triggers may cause symptoms to worsen at times
CHE is associated with skin barrier dysfunction and skin inflammation, leaving skin vulnerable to dryness and irritation.1 Environmental and occupational factors such as prolonged exposure to water from frequent handwashing, soaps, cleaning agents, detergents, cold/dry climates or latex gloves can trigger flare-ups.3 Other triggers include biological and lifestyle factors like a history of atopic dermatitis, contact allergies, genetic factors, stress or tobacco use.3
4. The impact of CHE goes beyond the skin
Our hands are essential to how we navigate the world - from typing an email or preparing meals to holding a loved one's hand or expressing ourselves creatively.
Because of the highly visible role our hands play in our lives, CHE is often associated with anxiety, low self-esteem, social phobia, embarrassment and self-isolation.1 In fact, 79% of people living with CHE state it has a negative effect on their mood and 76% report it affects social or leisure activities.4 About 50% of people with CHE experience painful symptoms in their hands, like cracks and scaling, which can make it physically difficult to hold or touch everyday objects.2
5. It's important to see a dermatologist if you think you have CHE
CHE may be difficult to manage, but there are ways to help reduce symptoms, support skin health and improve quality of life.
If you think you have CHE, talk to a dermatologist, who can help develop a personalized plan for you. Managing CHE typically depends on the severity and stage of the disease, possible causes or triggers, the area affected and its impact on everyday life. General measures, such as avoiding irritants and allergens where possible, protecting the hands, and using emollients and moisturizers regularly to support the skin barrier can play an important part in this plan.3 Your doctor may also consider medical treatment.
For more information, visit the Chronic World Hand Eczema Day landing page, a resource about CHE created to recognize October 5 as the first World Chronic Hand Eczema Day, an awareness initiative designed to shed light on this persistent condition. While the dedicated day brings crucial global focus to the disease, having a better understanding of CHE, its symptoms, triggers, impact and how to manage it, is important year-round.
References:
- Dubin C, Del Duca E, Guttman-Yassky E. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2020;16:1319-1332. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S292504
- Grant L, et al. Adv Ther. 2020;37(2):692-706. doi:10.1007/s12325-019-01164-5
- Thyssen JP, et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2022;86(5):357-378. doi:10.1111/cod.14035
- Ahmed A, et al. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2015;40(5):495-501. doi:10.1111/ced.12619
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