If your hands are often eczema while doing chores around the house, your doctor will help you determine which harsh chemicals or practices are causing your eczema condition. In addition to modifying these risks, improving hand protection can go a long way. Here are some practices:

"Plate hands" is actually a form of hand eczema. It happens because constant moisturization and drying break down the protective outer barrier of the skin. Fragrances and preservatives in soaps and irritants in household cleaners can make it worse. If you already have hand eczema or are recovering from an episode, you need to avoid getting your hands wet as much as possible.

When you need to sanitize your hands, wash your hands with warm water and a mild fragrance-free cleanser, then gently blot your hands and apply moisturizer immediately. The best moisturizer is petroleum jelly, but creams in jars or tubes work well too. You should keep a good moisturizer next to every sink in your home. If your hands feel sticky, wipe off the excess. You only need a very thin layer.

If you need to wash your hands frequently to maintain hygiene, you can try using waterless handwashing. Add your usual mild cleanser, but don't add water. Then gently wipe it off. If you're in an emergency, avoid waterless or antibacterial disinfectants; they often contain solvents and other ingredients that can make your problem worse. If you have clean hands, the latter products may actually help prevent hand eczema.

Keep an extra pair of cotton gloves around your home so you can protect your hands while doing chores. Even folded clothing can sometimes irritate delicate skin. When these gloves get dirty, you need to wash them with soap that is free of fragrances and dyes and contains a lot of chemical products. If you don't have eczema on your fingertips, you can cut off the tips of the gloves to keep you cool in hot weather and to keep your phone handy. For wet work, wear cotton gloves and cover them with unlined, powder-free vinyl or neoprene gloves. (The latex in rubber gloves can cause allergies.) Then, wash the eczema reusable gloves inside out and allow them to air dry thoroughly. If there are holes in the reusable vinyl gloves, throw them away. Wearing gloves with holes is worse than no gloves. If the gloves get wet, take them off immediately; dry your hands and put on new gloves.

Wear gloves when peeling potatoes and handling meat, onions, peppers, or acidic fruits such as citrus and tomatoes. We recommend disposable vinyl gloves. Throw away the gloves when you've prepared these foods.

Do not wear waterproof gloves for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time.

Ask someone to wash your hair for you. Or wash your hair with a waterproof/cotton-lined glove combo. Use a rubber band on your forearm to keep water out.

Rings can trap irritants under them. Remove them when doing chores and before washing and drying your hands. Also, clean your rings regularly by soaking them overnight in a tablespoon of ammonia in a pint of water.

Use the washing machine and dishwasher, not your hands, for laundry and dishes. If you must wash dishes by hand, do so under running water. Use a long-handled scrubber to minimize damage to hot water opponents.