Peter sams asked:


Hand Dermatitis is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Hand Dermatitis may occur to the people at any age. Hand dermatitis varies in severity. It may affect the backs of the hands, the palms or both sites. Often it starts as a mild intermittent complaint, but it can become increasingly severe and persistent. Bacterial infection can result in pustules, crusting and pain. Longstanding dermatitis at the ends of the fingers may result in deformed nails. Hand dermatitis can spread to affect other sites, particularly the forearms and feet.

We have provided you here all symptoms, causes and treatment methods of Hand Dermatitis.

Causes of Hand Dermatitis

Genes: A tendency to develop skin reactions or a certain type of eczema is often inherited.

Allergy: An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to something that does not cause everyone’s immune system to overreact. Common allergens (substances that cause an allergic reaction) that lead to hand dermatitis include nickel, Balsam of Peru (added to fragrances, foods, and skin care products), rubber, and topical vitamin E.

Irritation: With repeat use or short but heavy exposure, numerous everyday items can irritate skin. Water is probably the most common irritant. Frequent hand washing or immersing the hands in water too often can remove protective oils from the skin. When the oils are removed faster than they can be replaced, the skin becomes less pliable and more susceptible to hand eczema.

Poor glove hygiene: Wearing gloves can protect the skin from substances found in the workplace and while working around the home. However, slipping gloves on and off may allow irritants or allergens to get inside the gloves. This can trigger a flare-up. If this occurs, be sure to talk with a dermatologist about best practices for wearing gloves.

Symptoms of Hand Dermatitis include:

1) Mild, itchy rash to severe itching, swelling, and blistering

2) Irritant contact dermatitis usually affects the top of the hand, often appearing as dry, chapped skin around the knuckles and tops of the fingers

3) When hand dermatitis is caused by a fungal infection, the symptoms include itchy blisters along the sides of the fingers.

4) If caused by metals, the irritation appears under a ring

5) Allergic contact dermatitis also usually appears on the top of the hand and around the fingers.

6) The affected skin initially becomes red and dry, then progresses to itchy papules (bumps) and fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), scaling, cracking (fissures), weeping (exudation) and swelling (oedema).

Treatment of Hand Dermatitis

Methods for Treating Hand Dermatitis are:

· Where possible, avoid wet-work and contact with irritants.

· Protect your hands using vinyl gloves, which are less likely than rubber to cause allergic reactions. Don’t wear these for long periods, as sweating will also aggravate dermatitis. Always make sure the gloves are scrupulously clean inside.

· Use emollients frequently. A thin smear of a thick barrier cream should be applied to all affected areas before work, and reapplied after washing and whenever the skin dries out.

· Your doctor will prescribe topical steroids to reduce inflammation. These come in various strengths and should only be applied to areas of active dermatitis once or twice daily. Generally a potent topical steroid is used for several weeks.

· If your dermatitis is infected, your doctor will prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic such as flucloxacillin for about a week.

Darryl Rambo asked:


Normal skin has a soft, supple texture because it is fully hydrated. For skin to feel soft, pliable and “normal,” its top layer must contain a minimum of 10% water and ideally between 20% and 35%. To help protect the outer layer of skin from losing water, the skin’s sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum is a complex mixture of fatty acids, sugars, waxes and other natural chemicals that form a protective barrier against water evaporation. If the skin doesn’t have enough sebum, it loses water and feels dry. When environmental factors cause more water evaporation it overwhelms the ability of sebum to prevent water loss, the skin will then shrivel and crack.

Dry skin, also called xerosis, is a very common problem, it affects people of all ages, even infants. One or more of the following factors are usually involved:

* Decreased production of sebum is often a factor in the elderly, since the number of sebaceous glands in the skin tends to decrease with age. More elderly people also may have decreased blood flow to the skin, causing sebum production to drop.

* The loss of existing sebum usually is caused by excessive bathing or showering, excessive scrubbing of the skin while washing, or harsh soaps that dissolve the protective layer of sebum. In some cases, the result is dry skin over the entire body, especially among athletes who shower several times a day. In other cases only the hands are affected, for example, in food handlers, homemakers, health care workers, house cleaners and others who frequently wash their hands.

* Extreme conditions such as a hot, dry, climate can overwhelm the skin’s natural protective barrier, causing moisture to evaporate. This is an important reason for dry skin among people who live in hot desert climates. Excessively dry indoor air also can cause dry skin and “winter itch”, particularly in people who use forced-air heating systems. Among outdoor athletes, frequent exposure to wind and sun can evaporate moisture from the skin, making the surface feel itchy and dry. Even swimmers can get dry skin, since the chemical content of pool water actually draws moisture from the skin.

Dry skin is a common problem in people with diabetes or skin allergies (atopic dermatitis). Less often, it can also be a symptom of hypothyroidism, kidney failure, or Sjogrens Syndrome. Dry skin is one of the side effects of some medications, especially some acne products that are applied directly to the skin.

Usually people will notice that their skin is flaky and slightly more wrinkled than normal, but sometimes the only symptom is itching. Symptoms may sometimes worsen during the winter months, especially if you spend a lot of time indoors.

With dry skin, you can generally make the diagnosis yourself. You can begin by examining your normal skin care routine. Do you often take long, hot baths or showers? Do you shower several times a day or scrub your skin surface with harsh soaps? Do you have a job that requires frequent hand washing?

Next, examine your environmental risk factors, both indoors and outdoors. Do you live in a dry climate? Do you usually spend your winter months indoors without a humidifier? When you do go outdoors, do you protect your skin with appropriate clothing or with a sunscreen on exposed surfaces? When was the last time you used a moisturizer?

Once you begin to take care of your skin properly, the flakiness and itch of dry skin should improve within one or two weeks. In many cases, a good skin care moisturizer cream will begin to make your skin look softer and suppler within minutes.

Without proper care, dry skin can become a chronic problem that can lead to skin thickening, cracking and bleeding. This may increase your risk of skin infections.

You can help to prevent dry skin by taking these steps:

1. Take only one shower or bath daily. Wash with comfortably warm (not hot) water, using a soap that either has a high fat content or contains glycerin. Limit your bath time to 10 to 15 minutes, and avoid scrubbing.

2. If you are an athlete, shower off quickly after a workout or game. Use warm water, and bring your own mild soap, “gym” brands may be too strong.

3. When you finish your bath or shower, apply moisturizer while your skin is still wet. Petroleum jelly or a thick cream is best for sealing skin moisture.

4. Cover exposed skin when you play outdoors. If you can’t wear protective clothing because of hot weather or game regulations, apply a sunscreen with a moisturizer. If you are a swimmer, apply a light layer of a water resistant gel before you enter the pool.

5. If your indoor air is dry during winter months, use a humidifier to raise the humidity level.

As necessary during the day, apply a good skin care moisturizer cream that contains at least one of the following ingredients:

*Colorless carotenoids, UV light activated, they provide powerful

antioxidant protection against the environment.

* Shea butter, evening primrose oil, and meadowfoam seed oil

provide rich emollients to enhance the skins natural barrier

function and increase hydration levels.

* Parsol® 1789 and other sunscreens shield against aging UVA

and UVB rays.

* Chamomile, cornflower, and matricaria flower extracts. This

special blend soothes the skin.



Avoid overusing antiperspirants and perfumes, since these products can dry the skin.

If you have a simple case of dry skin, begin by trying the suggestions outlined in the Prevention section. If your dry skin persists, contact your doctor’s office for advice.

Call your primary care doctor or a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin problems) if you have:

Dry skin that doesn’t respond to nonprescription treatments

Severe itching that interferes with your ability to work or sleep

Dry skin that cracks and bleeds, or becomes red, swollen and painful

Overall, the prognosis is excellent. You can often prevent dry skin by making a few simple changes in lifestyle. If dry skin develops, there are many soothing and effective treatments available. Most can be purchased without a prescription.

http://www.totalskincareproducts.com/natural-based-skin-care-products.html

Darryl Rambo asked:


For skin to feel soft and supple it must be fully hydrated. To help protect the outer layer of skin from losing water, the skin’s sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum is made up of fatty acids, sugars, waxes and other natural chemicals that form a protective barrier against water evaporation.

If the skin doesn’t have enough sebum, it loses water and feels dry. When environmental factors cause even more water evaporation, it over taxes the sebum’s ability to prevent water loss, the skin will then start to shrivel and cause you to look like a prune.

Xerosis is another name for abnormal dryness of the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes. It is also considered by some to be the normal hardening of aging tissue. I do not believe hardening of tissue is normal at any age. However, xerosis is a very common problem, and usually one or more of the following factors is involved:

• Decreased sebum production in the elderly is often a factor, because the number of sebaceous glands tends to decrease with age. Elderly people are also more likely to have a decreased blood flow to the skin which also causes sebum production to become less.

• Extreme climatic conditions can cause the skin’s natural protective barrier to be overwhelmed, such as a hot, dry climate which causes the moisture to evaporate. This is generally the reason for dry skin among people who live in the desert. Excessively dry indoor air may also cause dry skin, especially in people who use forced-air heating. This is sometimes called “winter itch”. Athletes are often exposed to wind, and sun which will cause evaporation, but even swimmers get dry skin because of the chemical content of the pool water which actually draws moisture from the skin.

• The most common cause for the loss of existing sebum is excessive bathing or showering, to much scrubbing while washing, or harsh soaps that dissolve the protective layer of sebum. Sometimes this results in dry skin over the entire body. Especially among athletes, or anyone who has to shower several time a day. Most often though, it is just the hands that are involved, as in the case of house cleaners, health care workers, homemakers, and food handlers who must frequently wash their hands.

People with diabetes or skin allergies, are often plagued by dry skin. Dry skin is one of the side effects of some medications, especially some acne products that are applied directly to the skin. Less often, it can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, kidney failure, or Sjogrens Syndrome.

Usually people will notice that their skin is flaky and slightly more wrinkled than normal, but sometimes the only symptom is itching. Symptoms may sometimes worsen during the winter months, especially if you spend a lot of time indoors.

With dry skin, you can generally make the diagnosis yourself. You can begin by examining your normal skin care routine. Do you often take long, hot baths or showers? Do you shower several times a day or scrub your skin surface with harsh soaps? Do you have a job that requires frequent hand washing?

Then, examine your environmental factors, both indoors and outdoors. Where you live, is it hot or cold, is it humid or dry? Do Are you inside during the winter months without a humidifier? When you go outdoors, do you protect your skin with appropriate clothing or with a sunscreen on exposed surfaces? Do you ever use a moisturizer?

When you begin to take care of your skin properly, the flakiness and itch of dry skin should improve within one or two weeks. In many cases, a good skin care moisturizer cream will begin to make your skin look softer and suppler within minutes.

If you don’t take proper care of your skin, dry skin can become a chronic problem that can lead to skin thickening, cracking and bleeding. It may also increase your risk of skin infection.

These five simple steps may prevent dry skin completely:

1. One shower or bath daily. Wash with warm (not hot) water, using a soap that either has a high fat content or contains glycerin. Don’t spend more than 10 to 15 minutes in the shower, and avoid scrubbing.

2. If you are an athlete, shower quickly. Use warm water, and bring your own mild soap, “gym” brands are usually harsh.

3. Upon finishing, apply moisturizer while your skin is still wet. Petroleum jelly or a thick cream is best for sealing skin moisture.

4. If you can’t wear protective clothing because of hot weather or game regulations, apply a sunscreen with a moisturizer. If you are a swimmer, apply a light layer of a water resistant gel before you enter the pool.

5. Use a humidifier to raise the humidity level, if your indoor air is dry during winter months,

Apply a good skin care moisturizer cream as necessary during the day, that contains at least one of the following ingredients:

* Colorless carotenoids, UV light activated, they provide powerful antioxidant protection against the environment.

* Shea butter, evening primrose oil, and meadowfoam seed oil provide rich emollients to enhance the skins natural barrier function and increase hydration levels.

* Parsol® 1789 and other sunscreens shield against aging UVA and UVB rays.

* Chamomile, cornflower, and matricaria flower extracts. This

special blend soothes the skin.

Avoid overusing antiperspirants and perfumes, since these products can dry the skin.

If your dry skin persists, contact your doctor’s office for advice. Call your primary care doctor or a dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin problems) if you have:

Dry skin that doesn’t respond to nonprescription treatments.

Severe itching that interferes with your ability to work or sleep.

Dry skin that cracks and bleeds, or becomes red, swollen and painful.

Overall, the prognosis is excellent. You can often prevent dry skin by making a few simple changes in lifestyle. If dry skin develops, there are many soothing and effective treatments available. Most can be purchased without a prescription.