Dry hands and dermatitis: what to know

Hand dermatitis may cause redness, scaling, itching, burning, tightness, or painful fissures. Irritant dermatitis can follow repeated washing, wet work, friction, or chemical exposure. Allergic contact dermatitis can appear after contact with a particular substance, sometimes after earlier exposures seemed harmless.

The condition may affect the backs of the hands, palms, fingers, or spaces between them. Cracked skin can make everyday tasks uncomfortable and can allow irritants to penetrate more easily. The appearance may overlap with infection or other inflammatory skin disorders, so a persistent rash merits review.

Use lukewarm water, a gentle fragrance-free cleanser, and a rich moisturiser immediately after drying. Reapply after washing and cover painful cracks with a suitable protective dressing. Wear protective gloves for cleaning, but remove them regularly if sweat builds up inside.

A clinician may recommend emollient therapy and, during flares, topical corticosteroids. Do not apply prescription treatment to broken or infected-looking skin without guidance. Persistent or extensive disease may call for specialist options such as narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Seek assessment if the rash is spreading, repeatedly returning, interfering with sleep or work, or failing to improve with trigger avoidance and moisturising. Get prompt care for increasing warmth, swelling, pus, rapidly worsening pain, fever, or red streaking, which can signal infection.

Ask whether your pattern fits irritant or allergic contact dermatitis, whether patch testing could help identify an exposure, and how to use emollients or topical corticosteroids safely during a flare.