I am 21, female. How do I manage worsening eczema in hands?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 21-year-old female, my height is 5' 2", and I weigh 143 pounds. I have eczema, and recently, it has got awful. It used to be only on a fingertip, and now it has spread across my hands. Eczema has gotten red, flaky, and painful recently.

It is the worst on my right index finger, and it looks like it has been burned. It is painful to try and bend that finger. My hands will feel fine for a few days but will suddenly itch, and I try not to scratch. I also have these itchy spots showing up across the back of my hands and wrists.

I am not sure if it is the same thing. I always use gloves when I do the dishes, use soap for sensitive skin, and use creams and moisturizers to keep it handled usually, but none of it is doing much for me.

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Yes, eczema is bad. I would suggest a few hand care tips. Avoid direct contact with detergents and dishwashing agents (use dishwashing gloves if you have one). Keep hands well moisturized. Avoid sanitizers and other allergens as much as possible. Use a mild soap for washing hands like aloe vera based soap. Always moisturize your full hands with a moisturizer after washing hands or after using sanitizer. Please follow this all the time(even after eczema has cleared).

On the eczema, patches apply an antibiotic cream (Mupirocin or Fusidic acid ) and steroid cream (Clobetasol or Betamethasone)combination (pre-mixed ones are available or you can buy them separately then mix and apply). Apply twice a day for 10 to 15 days. Apply only to affected areas. For itching , if it is not under control with only the creams you can take Tablet Levocetirizine 5 mg or Fexofenadine 180 mg at night (note - Levocetirizine can make some people a little drowsy).

Let me know how you are doing in ten days. Thank you.