It is important if you have eczema on your hands, to keep them well moisturized and do your best to avoid anything that could irritate your skin. This is not always a simple task as there are many daily household items that can potentially cause a reaction. However, avoiding irritants to the best of your ability will keep red, swollen, itchy and cracked skin at bay.

Many products in your home and workplace contain substances that can irritate sensitive skin. Some of these products include, but are not limited to detergents, household cleaners, air fresheners or sprays, soap, cosmetic products, perfume, aftershave lotion, turpentine, gasoline, pain stripper and other solvents and a variety of chemicals. The more often you are in contact with these items, the more likely your skin is likely to break out in eczema.

In addition, touching water too much and washing them excessively with soap can dry up your skin much faster. Hence, you should always dry your hands thoroughly should they get wet and that includes between the fingers as well. Ensure that all soap residue are rinsed away before you dry your hands off.

If you do not know which substance will irritate your skin, then prevention is better than cure. If you need to do housework, then it is best to wear a pair of vinyl or plastic gloves that fit properly at work or at home. The more you protect your hands, the least likely a full blown eczema will happen.

It is also a good idea to wear a pair of thin cotton gloves under a pair of plastic gloves. The cotton gloves are meant to soak up your sweat. In between tasks, take off both pairs of gloves and air your hands. This prevents too much sweat from building up in the gloves, which can trigger a flare-up of eczema.

Wear a pair of regular gloves whenever you step outside during the winter months. The low humidity can dry out your hands and cause irritation.

When you choose a skin care product for your hands, select a very basic moisturizer, with no alcohol or fragrance in it. Also choose one that is more on the greasy side as opposed to the creamy side.

Regular petroleum jelly is an excellent choice for hands, whether it is a brand name like Vaseline or a generic form. Another excellent hand cream for eczema skin is Eucerin 5% Urea Hand Cream which has a light texture and is both free of fragrance and color. This moisturizer is suitable for everyday use and cuts down on the tightness of skin that plagues some eczema sufferers.

I personally like to use an emollient Aqueous Cream for my hands and legs. As I work by the PC, I like to keep one jar by my side.

You should always moisturize your hands a few times daily. Moisturizers keep the skin supple and hydrated and prevent it from cracking. Well-moisturized skin does not age as quickly either.