Protect Your Hands at Work

If your job is causing your hand eczema, your doctor will help you determine what irritating chemicals or work practices are contributing to your condition. In addition to modifying those risks, many of the same hand-protective strategies you use at home can help you at work. Here are some ideas:

• Use heavy-duty vinyl or neoprene gloves in tandem with cotton glove liners when doing wet work. Wash the cotton gloves regularly, as well as the vinyl gloves if they aren’t disposable.
• Wear leather or clean, heavy-duty fabric gloves for dry work.
• Avoid using industrial hand cleansers or waterless or antibacterial cleansers that contain irritating ingredients such as alcohol and solvents, especially when your hand eczema is flaring.
• Carry your own hand cleanser, moisturizer, and prescription medication to work, and use them to prevent problems.
• Keep your work clothes, protective clothing, tools, and work surfaces clean; irritant residues on them can aggravate your problem.
• Treat all minor wounds on your hands, and bandage them, in order to avoid giving irritants and allergens an easy route into your skin.