What role do hand sanitisers play in contact dermatitis?

Doctor's Answers 1

Yes, definitely. Even during the SARS time, we actually saw it already and now we are seeing a lot of people getting hand eczema. Hand eczema is due to contact with soaps and irritants and even all these sanitisers.

Frequent hand washing leads to eczema. it’s a very slow process. Initially when you wash nothing happens, the more you wash the barrier gets weaker and weaker because of the soap and irritants until one day your barrier just breaks down and you develop eczema.

And if your hands are already dry and cracked and you continue to wash and have contact with the irritants, it is very hard for your skin barrier to recover and the eczema is very persistent.

Unfortunately, when you do develop hand eczema it is important to minimize contact with the irritants because that is the important part of the treatments beside using the topical medications. But of course, it is difficult in these times of COVID-19 to tell people not to wash their hands but ideally, we should try to minimize that if that happens.

Similar Questions

Besides steroid creams, what would work for seborrheic dermatitis around the nose?

Apart from steroid creams, other treatment options include topical anti-fungal agents, topical calcineurin inhibitors (if topical steroids are not tolerated). In resistant cases, oral anti-fungal, antibiotics, phototherapy and low dose oral isotretinoin have been used.

Photo of Human

Answered By

Human

I have super sweaty hands, is there any way I can solve this?

Hyperhidrosis is the term used to describe excessive uncontrollable sweating. It is caused by the eccrine sweat glands which are found in large numbers over the palms and soles hence patients tend to present with sweaty hands or feet. Hyperhidrosis can be localised (affecting the palms, soles, armpits, face or other sites) or generalised (affecting most or all of the body) as well as primary (usually starts in childhood or adolescence, may have a family history, may persist lifelong or improve with age) or secondary (less common, can be due to endocrine, neurological problems or drugs).

Photo of Human

Answered By

Human

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox