How long does contact dermatitis on hands last?

How long does contact dermatitis on hands last?

To treat contact dermatitis successfully, you need to identify and avoid the cause of your reaction. If you avoid the substance causing the reaction, the rash often clears up in 2 to 4 weeks. You can try soothing your skin with a cool, wet cloth and other self-care steps.

What does contact dermatitis look like on hands?

Contact dermatitis causes the skin to become itchy, blistered, dry and cracked. Lighter skin can become red, and darker skin can become dark brown, purple or grey. This reaction usually occurs within a few hours or days of exposure to an irritant or allergen.

Does hydrocortisone help contact dermatitis?

Topical corticosteroids (also known as steroid creams) are typically the first-line treatment for contact dermatitis. 9 Hydrocortisone (in stronger formulation than OTC options), triamcinolone, and clobetasol are commonly prescribed. These can help reduce itching and irritation, and they work rather quickly.

Why do I get dermatitis on my hands?

What causes hand dermatitis? In many people, hand dermatitis happens because of direct damage to the skin by harsh chemicals as well as irritants, especially soap, detergent and repeated contact with water. This is called irritant contact dermatitis.

Is Benadryl good for dermatitis?

OTC Benadryl is not approved to treat eczema. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends against using Benadryl to treat eczema, including its topical formulations. They say it might even cause allergic or contact dermatitis in some people.

Can you get dermatitis from washing your hands too much?

Washing your hands too vigorously or drying them too forcefully can also irritate eczema and cause skin irritation. Handwashing can also lead to other conditions like hand dermatitis (sometimes called irritant contact dermatitis).

Is hand dermatitis contagious?

It often affects people who work in cleaning, catering, hairdressing, healthcare and mechanical jobs where they may come into contact with chemicals and other irritants. Hand eczema isn’t contagious. You cannot “catch” it from another person, or give it to someone else.

Does Benadryl help contact dermatitis?

Over-the-counter oral antihistamines like Benadryl, Zyrtec, or store-brand allergy medication might help with allergic dermatitis. If you’re frequently experiencing contact dermatitis due to minor allergies, you can take a prescription allergy medication to prevent future outbreaks.

Is hand sanitizer good for eczema?

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the most effective and killing germs and they are safe for people with eczema. However, you should avoid products with fragrances, which is a common trigger for eczema. Also avoid products with glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which dry skin.