Home remedies for eczema on hands and feet

Hands and feet face repeated washing, friction, sweating and contact with soaps, cleaning products, footwear or work materials. Eczema can leave skin dry, itchy, scaly and inflamed; fissures may sting when water touches them. Atopic dermatitis is one possible cause, but hand dermatitis, contact allergy and infection can look similar. Read about [Dry Skin](/symptoms/dry-skin/) and [Itchy Skin](/symptoms/itchy-skin/) to compare related symptoms.

Use lukewarm water and a fragrance-free cleanser only where needed. Pat dry, especially between toes and fingers, then apply a thick cream or ointment while the skin is slightly damp. Reapply after every hand wash and before sleep. Use protective gloves for cleaning, with a soft cotton layer underneath if sweating is a problem; replace wet gloves promptly. Choose roomy, breathable shoes and moisture-wicking socks, and avoid scratching, hot water, perfumed products and unlabelled home mixtures. Keep nails short. Darkening after inflammation may fade slowly; it is not a reason to scrub the area, and advice on [Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation](/conditions/post-inflammatory-hyperpigmentation/) may help.

Book an appointment if eczema repeatedly returns, limits work or walking, disturbs sleep, or fails to improve with barrier care. Cracks that bleed, increasing tenderness, warmth, swelling, fluid, yellow crusting or fever need prompt assessment. A clinician can distinguish eczema from fungal infection or allergic contact dermatitis and select treatment for the affected site.

What is affecting my hands or feet? Could an allergy or workplace exposure be involved? Which moisturiser should I use, and how often? How can I protect cracks? What signs mean I should return sooner?