title: Hand eczema: an update.
abstract: Eczema, the commonest disorders afflicting the hands, is also the commonest occupational skin disease (OSD). In the dermatology outpatient departments, only the severe cases are diagnosed since patients rarely report with early hand dermatitis. Mild forms are picked up only during occupational screening. Hand eczema (HE) can evolve into a chronic condition with persistent disease even after avoiding contact with the incriminated allergen / irritant. The important risk factors for hand eczema are atopy (especially the presence of dermatitis), wet work, and contact allergy. The higher prevalence in women as compared to men in most studies is related to environmental factors and is mainly applicable to younger women in their twenties. Preventive measures play a very important role in therapy as they enable the affected individuals to retain their employment and livelihood. This article reviews established preventive and therapeutic options and newer drugs like alitretinoin in hand eczema with a mention on the etiology and morphology. Identifying the etiological factors is of paramount importance as avoiding or minimizing these factors play an important role in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, PSG Hospital and PSGIMSR, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Chembolli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lakshmi
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Srinivas
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D004485:Eczema / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012176:Retinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004643:Emollients; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012176:Retinoids; D013256:Steroids