Management of Atopic Hand Dermatitis

This article provides an overview of clinical aspects of hand eczema in patients with atopic dermatitis. Hand eczema can be a part of atopic dermatitis itself or a comorbidity, for example, as irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. When managing hand eczema, it is important to first categorize the subtype and identify potential culprit allergens or irritants. First-line therapy should be a combination of emollients and topical corticosteroids; possible alternatives include topical calcineurin inhibitors or coal tar. Second-line therapy includes UV therapy and systemic therapy, including azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, and mycophenolate. Prednisolone should only be very infrequently used.