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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Hand Skin Dryness With Flaking?

The skin on my thumb, index, and middle finger on my right hand hand has been getting dry and flaking. It started with my thumb for a few days then spread to my other two fingers and now it has been about 2 week since it started. What does this mean and how can I get it to stop?
Tue, 25 Nov 2014
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Dermatologist 's  Response
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic

This condition is due to extreme dryness of the skin of the palms. This is a cummulative condition that is further exacerbated by wet work, soaps, detergents etc and therefore also known as chronic cummulative irritant contact dermatitis.
Individuals engaged in lot of wet work e.g housewives and food handlers are prone to develop this condition.
The condition is more common in atopics; those who already have an underlying dry skin.
Urea and ammonium lactate based moisturizers are quite good for extremely dry and cracked, fissured skin in this condition.
Apart from using moisturizers, I also usually recommend my patients to use a potent topical steroid e.g clobetasol propionate, twice daily.
Steroids are antinflammatory and help heal the cracks and fissures.
The condition may recur specially in housewives and in those individuals whose occupations demand frequent hand washing and frequent contact with soaps and detergents.
Regular use of a moisturizer frequently and each time after hand washing is recommended.
Soaps and detergent use should be restricted to the minimum.
The condition may severely impair routine activities so much so that it may even require a job change in those in whom the condition is occupational.


Regards
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What Causes Hand Skin Dryness With Flaking?

Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic This condition is due to extreme dryness of the skin of the palms. This is a cummulative condition that is further exacerbated by wet work, soaps, detergents etc and therefore also known as chronic cummulative irritant contact dermatitis. Individuals engaged in lot of wet work e.g housewives and food handlers are prone to develop this condition. The condition is more common in atopics; those who already have an underlying dry skin. Urea and ammonium lactate based moisturizers are quite good for extremely dry and cracked, fissured skin in this condition. Apart from using moisturizers, I also usually recommend my patients to use a potent topical steroid e.g clobetasol propionate, twice daily. Steroids are antinflammatory and help heal the cracks and fissures. The condition may recur specially in housewives and in those individuals whose occupations demand frequent hand washing and frequent contact with soaps and detergents. Regular use of a moisturizer frequently and each time after hand washing is recommended. Soaps and detergent use should be restricted to the minimum. The condition may severely impair routine activities so much so that it may even require a job change in those in whom the condition is occupational. Regards