1. Hand Eczema is a common skin condition-affecting patients of all ages, Constitutional factors that is, an inherently sensitive skin.
2. Irritation from too much exposure to wet work, detergents, oils and greases, solvents etc at home or in the workplace.
3. Contact allergy to a specific substance eg. Cement, nickel, lanolin etc. or a combination of the above factors.
4. Hand eczema is unlikely to be caused by diet. The eating of seafood as a cause of hand eczema is a misconception. It is also not an infective condition, and will not spread to other people.
While doing housework
Protect yourself from wet work by wearing plastic or rubber gloves. Do not get the inside of the gloves wet. Do not wear the gloves for a prolonged period of time.
Avoid handling fruits, vegetables and raw meat. Use gloves to prepare these foods.
Avoid washing dirty diapers with the bare hands. Do not squeeze floor mops with bare hands.
When doing dry dirty work, wear cotton gloves.
Use hand moisturizer often.
In the workplace
Do not come into prolonged contact with water, coolants, oils, greases and solvents. Wear rubber or plastic gloves if it is safe to do so.
Do not wear cotton gloves when doing wetwork. These soak up the irritants and worsen the problem.
Do not use diesel or solvents to wash your hands. Use a gentle soap.
Use hand moisturizers after work.
If you have a specific allergy to a substance, avoid contact with this completely. Ask your doctor to tell you the sources of the substance you are allergic to.