title: Hand dermatitis/eczema: current management strategy.
abstract: Ever since its inception a couple of centuries ago, hand dermatitis/eczema has been in the reckoning. Idiosyncrasies continued to loom large thereafter, till it acquired its appropriate position. Dermatitis/eczema are synonymous, often used to indicate a polymorphic pattern of the inflammation of the skin, characterized by pruritus, erythema and vesiculation. A spectrum delineated into acute sub-acute and chronic dermatitis of the hands. Pompholyx, recurrent focal palmer peeling, ring, wear and tear and fingertip eczema, apron, discoid eczema, chronic acral dermatitis, gut and patchy papulosquamous eczema are its clinical variants. Occupational dermatitis/eczema may be contributory. Etiological definitions are clinched by detailed history of exogenous and endogenous factors. However, scientific confirmation of the entity is through patch testing by using available antigens.
authors.affiliation: Dermato-Venereology (Skin/VD) Center, Sehgal Nursing Home, Panchwati, Delhi, India. drsehgal@ndf.vsnl.net.in
authors.forename: Virendra N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Sehgal
authors.forename: Govind
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Alpna D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents