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Elizabeth Anderson Responds:

While I can't say for sure without seeing your skin, your symptoms sound like hand eczema. The three usual causes of hand eczema are an irritation reaction (such as over-cleansing or using harsh chemicals on your skin), an allergic reaction, or an oversensitivity condition (such as atopic dermatitis). The first step is to avoid irritating the skin. You should only use mild cleansers and moisturize only with fragrance-free products. Sometimes moisturizing before bed and wearing cotton gloves overnight can help rehydrate the skin. If those steps don't work I would recommend seeing a dermatologist so your skin can be examined.

-Dr. Anderson

Answer Published on 5/7/2009 at 5:57 PM