Hand and Foot eczema
Form of eczema characterized by highly irritable, scaly, fissured, hyperkeratotic patches on the palms and/ or soles. The aetiology is unknown. This disorder takes a chronic course and may be extremely refractory to treatment.
Definition and Epidemiology
The term 'hand eczema' implies an inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) that is confined to the hands. Hand eczema is considered a 'common condition', with a point prevalence of 1 - 5% among adults in the general population, and a one-year prevalence of up to 10%, depending whether the disease definition includes more pronounced or mild cases (Agrup 1969; Bryld 2000; Meding 1987). The prevalence may be increasing in some countries (Meding 1987). Recently, a decreased prevalence has been observed, and attributed to decreased occupational exposure to irritants (Meding 2002). It is twice as common in women as in men, with the highest prevalence in young women (Meding 1987; Yngveson 2000). Reasons for this sex difference are unknown, although greater exposure of women to wet work is probably contributory.
Causes
Predisposing and external factors both play a part in hand eczema. Being atopic (having a tendency to develop asthma, hay fever or eczema) is the major predisposing factor responsible for hand eczema; one-third to half the patients with hand eczema can be considered atopics (Coenraads 1998; Meding 1990; Svensson 1988). The commonest external cause is contact irritants, or mild-toxic agents. Water is an example of a contact irritant. A distinction is made between irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis (which is caused by skin contact with allergens). Allergic contact dermatitis is less common than irritant contact dermatitis, and only occurs in persons who have developed a specific contact allergy to a specific substance such as rubber. Ingested allergens (e.g. nickel) may also provoke hand eczema (Menné 1994).
There are also several types of hand eczema where the cause is unknown. These forms of hand eczema may be referred to as: pompholyx, dishydrotic eczema or dishydrosis, nummular eczema, tylotic eczema and hyperkeratotic eczema. In many patients with chronic hand eczema a combination of the above mentioned factors seems to play a role. Hand eczema may be accompanied by similar skin changes on the feet. The relevance of psychosomatic factors remains speculative (Menné 2000).
Impact
Itch is common among patients with hand eczema. Itch itself can result in sleep loss to patients and to members of their family. A vicious cycle of symptoms and skin damage can develop, the so-called itch/scratch/itch cycle.
In addition to itch, the social stigmata associated with a visible skin disease can be a great burden. The hands are important organs of communication and expression. Therefore any impairment in function and form may result in major psychosocial problems, e.g. anxiety, low self-esteem and social phobia.
Painful cracks and blisters, besides their effect on daily life outside work, can prevent manual work leading to significant disability and huge economic loss to both individuals and society (Mathias 1985). Hand eczema accounts for an estimated 90% of occupational skin disease (Halkier-Sørensen '96). High prevalence has been documented in specific occupational groups, such as nurses, hairdressers and bakers (Smit 1993; Tacke 1995). These estimates exclude people affected through housework and many other occupational groups not included in routine surveillance systems.
Treatment
Theoretically, identifying and eliminating an allergic contact factor (e.g. rubber allergy) could cure the eczema. In clinical practice, such cases are rare. This has led to many diverse therapies being used to control the disease such as:
1. skin protection measures, including gloves
2. topical treatments (bland emollients, corticosteroid creams/ointments, coal tar and derivatives, irradiation with UV-light or X-rays)
3. systemic treatments (oral corticosteroids, other immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin).
Prognosis
Previous studies have suggested that hand eczema tends to run a long lasting and chronic relapsing course (Hogan 1990).

Web Sources (Directly Cited)
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~muzd/protocols/proto29handEcz.dwt
http://dermis.multimedica.de/doia