Like all forms of eczema, hand eczema – also known as hand dermatitis – causes skin to itch and turn red. Both genetics and exposure to skin irritants play a part in this condition, which affects roughly 10% of the population nationwide.
Typical symptoms of hand eczema include cracked skin, blisters, peeling, flaking, redness, and itching. Hand eczema can cause mental stress and physical discomfort, and a treatment that works for one patient may not work on another.
Treating Hand Eczema
Our strategy is to create customized treatment plans for each individual patient so that we can help you to successfully manage your symptoms and prevent flare-ups as much as possible.
Treating Dyshidrotic Eczema
Also known as pompholyx, this particular type of hand eczema creates small, itchy blisters that appear on the palms of your hands. We have found that this condition responds very well to phototherapy treatment with the XTRAC Excimer Laser.
Treatment Options
A Good Skincare Routine
Dry skin is the number one enemy for a patient with hand eczema. We will work with you to ensure you have established an effective skin care regimen, including daily bathing and moisturizing. This can have a great impact on deterring flare ups and managing current symptoms.
Prescription Medications
We can prescribe a number of prescription creams, including topical corticosteroids, that are applied directly to the skin to help ease the redness and itching. This is our standard first line of treatment. If we are not happy with the result, we may prescribe oral medication to achieve the same effect, or a combination of both.
Phototherapy with the Excimer Laser
If your hand eczema does not respond well to topical or oral treatment, we will propose using Phototherapy. Our patients have had good success with this treatment. Not only does it quiet existing symptoms, but it often puts hand eczema into a state of remission for an extended period of time.
How Phototherapy Works
Phototherapy exposes the affected skin to a narrow band of ultraviolet B (UVB) light. We use the XTRAC Excimer Laser, which emits a very precise, concentrated band of UVB to the affected skin. Because the laser’s focus is so exact, we can also avoid unnecessarily exposing the surrounding healthy skin to UVB rays. This treatment significantly reduces inflammation and itching and boosts the body’s immunological response to this condition. Learn more about this treatment here:
Laser Dermatology – XTRAC Laser for Psoriasis