WHAT IS CHRONIC
HAND ECZEMA?

Hand eczema that keeps coming back?
It might be Chronic Hand Eczema

Chronic Hand Eczema is eczema on the hands and wrists that hasn’t gone away for over 3 months OR that happens at least 2 times in a year

Chronic Hand Eczema is common,
and affects around 5 in every 100 people*¹

Chronic Hand Eczema (sometimes called CHE) is not always the same as atopic dermatitis, but if you do have atopic dermatitis (eczema), you might be more likely to have CHE.

*A study called ‘CHECK’ looked at people between 18 and 69 years old from Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK and asked them to complete an online survey.
60,131 people completed the survey and 4.7% of them (2847 people) had CHE diagnosed by a doctor in the last year.¹

There are things that might make someone more likely to have CHE, such as:

Being female

Working in jobs using their hands

Being in their 30s

Living in an urban area, like a town or a city

CHE can be triggered by things like irritants or allergens. You might come across these in some lines of work, or during hobbies or everyday activities like housework.

Experience with CHE may vary and medical advice should be sought from a healthcare professional.

+What are irritants and allergens?

What’s an irritant?

Something that bothers your skin and can make your eczema worse, like soap, detergents, or certain chemicals.

What’s an allergen?

Something that causes an allergic reaction, like pollen, pet dander, or certain foods. These can sometimes trigger eczema flare-ups.

There might be a higher chance of having hand eczema if you work as a:

Hairdresser

Mechanic

Cleaner

Healthcare worker

Metal or construction worker

Beauty therapist

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What does it feel like? The symptoms

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Living with chronic hand eczema

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