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Q. A 25 year old mother of one month old twins asks, “I have a very itchy hand rash, do you have any suggestions?”

ANSWER

Yes, the ABC’s can help your hands. Hand dermatitis, also known as hand eczema, is a common dry and sensitive skin condition that is worsened by frequent hand washing. Sufferers experience extreme inflammation, irritation, burning, peeling, dryness, redness, cracking, itching, fissuring, and sometimes bleeding of the hands. Hand dermatitis is grouped into four basic types, and all four types may occur together, simultaneously.

First, allergic conditions may result in allergic contact hand dermatitis. An example is a nurse who wears latex gloves and develops an allergy to latex. Second, caustic or other harsh substances may cause a non-allergic hand dermatitis called irritant hand dermatitis. An example is a mechanic who works with gasoline and comes home every day with burning irritated hands. Third, emotional stress coupled with an innate predisposition may trigger a blistering itchy hand eczema called pompholyx. Pompholyx has tiny pinpoint bubble-like blisters on the sides of fingers and palms. An example is an accountant whose hands break out at tax time. Pompholyx blisters tend to run in certain families. They itch intensely and increase with mental stress. Fourth, soapy hand washing can deplete the skin barrier lipids and can cause lipid-depleted hand dermatitis. In addition to the four major types of hand dermatitis, the hands can also suffer from other drying hand conditions, such as: Diabetes, atopic (eczema-prone) dermatitis, yeast or fungal infections, chronic bacterial infections, psoriasis, scabies, drug induced rashes, and other dry and sensitive conditions of the hands. Each of these drying hand conditions will benefit from ABC skin care

Pompholyx blisters tend to run in certain families. They itch intensely and increase with mental stress. Fourth,
soapy hand washing can deplete the skin barrier lipids and can cause lipid-depleted hand dermatitis. In addition to the four major types of hand dermatitis, the hands can also suffer from drying hand conditions, such as: Diabetes, atopic (eczema-prone) dermatitis, yeast or fungal infections, chronic bacterial infections, psoriasis, scabies, drug induced rashes, and other dry and sensitive conditions of the hands. Each of these drying hand conditions will benefit from ABC skin care. ABC Daily Hand Care Moisturizing Method Here is a helpful twice a day ABC recipe for daily care of your fragile dry and sensitive hands:

ABC Daily Hand Care Moisturizing Method

Here is a helpful twice a day ABC recipe for daily care of your fragile dry and sensitive hands

A: Avoid. Stay away from hand allergens. Cleanse your hands with lukewarm water rather than hot. To wash, you may use True Moisture® Rinse Optional Cleanser C. To avoid soap in public places, carry this gentle cleanser with you wherever you go.

B: Bathe.Bathe your hands. First, rinse with tap water, then, soak your hands in pure distilled water for three minutes. Let the distilled water penetrate hands.

C: Cover.Liberally apply True Moisture® Clinical Lipid Therapy® Cream A in the morning and Cream B at night. Cover Cream B hands at night with cotton gloves.

“How do I use my creams and medicines?”

When undergoing treatment, remember this very important point: Every time you wash your hands, you also wash away your important therapeutic medications and creams. Don’t forget to reapply your creams and medications several times per day. Your dermatologist may prescribe topical cortisone, Elidel™, or Protopic™. Ask your doctor how you should use your medications. Hands need continuous care. For severe hand rashes, I ask my patients to apply their meds liberally after each and every hand washing. When the rash is better, I have my patients use the medicines less often. One mistake hand dermatitis patients often make, is that many use the steroid cream, Protopic, or Elidel forever as a moisturizer. A steroid cream is not meant for prolonged use. I warn against this, as steroids can thin your skin with longterm use. Elidel™ or Protopic™ do not have this side effect, but are not intended to be daily moisturizers. Once your hands improve, you should maintain frequent hand moisturization with True Moisture® Clinical Lipid Therapy® Cream A (morning) and B (night). True Moisture® Creams are not drugs and have no harmful drug side effects. Creams A and B are not steroids and are safe for long-term use and daily hand maintenance.

Hand Dermatitis Prevention
Prevention should begin at home and in your personal life. If you have an automatic dishwasher, use it. Wash your dishes by machine, not by hand. Avoid direct contact with gasoline, diesel, turpentine, paint, paint thinner, and floor, furniture, metal, and shoe polishes. Avoid irritating solvents. When working, wear vinyl or cotton, not latex gloves. Ruin your gloves, not your hands. Buy gloves at the hardware store and always wear them for protection. Cleanse with True Moisture® Gentle Rinse Optional Cleanser C and do not let your hands contact soap or shampoo in the bath, at work, or in public restrooms. Note: Rings collect soap, and can worsen hand dermatitis by trapping allergens. So, remove your rings when doing housework and before washing hands. You may need to wear gloves when you shampoo your hair or when you scrub your body with any skin cleanser. Another hint: When outdoors in cold or windy weather, cover your hands with True Moisture® Clinical Lipid Therapy® Creams A & B several times during the day, and use only your doctor prescribed meds, True Moisture® Rinse Optional Cleanser C, Clinical Lipid Therapy® Creams A and B, and nothing else. Also, remember to cover your hands with cotton gloves whenever possible. Ruin your gloves, not your hands.

In summary, after your hand dryness has improved, continue daily hand moisturizing care. There is no fast "magic" cure. Think ABC: A- Avoid anything allergic: Hands can worsen again when exposed to perfumes, dyes, hair sprays, shampoos, anti-perspirants, grasses, plants, laundry products, dog and cat hairs, chemicals, aloe vera, acrylic nails, nickel, elastic, latex, diaper wipes leathers. B- Bathe: Cleanse with True Moisture® Rinse Optional Cleanser C. Soak hands in distilled water for three minutes. C- Cover: Apply Clinical Lipid Therapy® Cream several times a day and cover with cotton gloves.

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