Find a Doctor Find a Doctor
Time to see a specialist? Time to see a specialist?
We found [COUNT] Specialists
who treat [INTEREST]
near [LOCATION]
We found [COUNT] Specialists
who treat [INTEREST]
near [LOCATION]
[TELEHEALTH] offer Telehealth options.
More
Finding Solutions for Eczema

This content is created by Healthgrades and brought to you by an advertising sponsor. More

This content is created or selected by the Healthgrades editorial team and is funded by an advertising sponsor. The content is subject to the Healthgrades medical review process for accuracy, balance and objectivity. The content is not edited or otherwise influenced by the advertisers appearing on this page except with the possible suggestion of the broad topic area. For more information, read the Healthgrades advertising policy.

8 Tips for Managing Eczema at the Workplace

Doctor William C Lloyd Healthgrades Medical Reviewer
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Sarah Handzel, BSN, RN on March 30, 2021
  • Confident woman at the office
    Earning a Living With Eczema
    Living with eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, poses unique challenges that may affect how you feel at work. While many people with eczema work without difficulty, you may find it hard to manage the itchy, dry patches of skin while you’re on the job. Fortunately, it’s possible to get control of your eczema symptoms so you can have a productive work day each day. By following these tips, you can help keep your skin as healthy as possible while you work.
  • laptop-coffee-glasses
    1. Avoid known eczema triggers.
    Eczema, and the dry, itchy, uncomfortable skin that comes with it, can develop anywhere on your body and often occurs in response to contact with certain triggers. Take time to investigate your workplace to identify known triggers so you can avoid them. Some of the most common workplace triggers include products that irritate your skin, certain metals, some types of fabric, caffeine, and cigarette smoke. Additionally, since stress is often an eczema trigger, try to keep your stress levels as low as possible.
  • Middle-aged woman applying hand cream
    2. Keep ointments or creams handy.
    If you’re working with eczema, it’s a good idea to keep moisturizing ointments or creams readily available. Eczema characteristically causes very dry, itchy skin. If you have an office job, you can store these types of products in your desk. For those with non-desk jobs, small tubes or jars of ointment can be kept in a pocket, a locker, or in a work vehicle. Use these products often to keep your skin moist and healthy.
  • closeup of woman applying bandaid to finger
    3. Treat scrapes and cuts immediately.
    Depending on the nature of your job, you may be more likely to scrape or cut your skin unintentionally. It’s important to treat cuts and scrapes immediately by cleansing the area with non-irritating soap and applying a clean bandage. Doing so helps prevent allergens and irritants from entering your skin and causing additional eczema symptoms. Treating minor injuries also helps prevent skin infections, which are typically caused when bacteria enter the skin through open wounds.
  • closeup of pink gloves on white background
    4. Protect your hands.
    If you have eczema on your hands, you may find it beneficial to wear protective gloves while working. Heavy-duty vinyl or neoprene gloves used along with cotton glove liners help protect your hands if you work in wet conditions. If you’re working with eczema in a dry environment, clean, heavy-duty fabric or leather gloves offer an additional layer of protection for your skin. If you use fabric gloves, be sure the fabric isn’t one of your eczema triggers.
  • Washing Hands
    5. Avoid harsh cleansers.
    Antibacterial soaps, industrial hand cleansers, disinfectants, and waterless hand sanitizers all contain irritating ingredients which may make eczema worse. Many of these products contain alcohol, which dries your skin and can further irritate eczema if you’re having a flare-up. Others contain certain chemical solvents which remove natural oils from your skin, drying your skin out even more. Instead of using harsh cleansers, wash your hands with gentle soaps that don’t contain any fragrances, dyes, or alcohol.
  • Your Opinion Matters!
    In order to improve our content, we want to hear from you. Please take this short anonymous survey to let us know how we’re doing.
    Take the survey!
  • Little blue pill
    6. Bring your prescriptions to work.
    Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend prescription ointments, creams, or medications to help manage eczema. It’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment plan as closely as possible for maximum symptom relief. Bringing your prescriptions to work helps you stay on track with your treatment regimen and helps prevent eczema symptoms from worsening. Most types of eczema medications, including steroid pills, can be used discretely to help you manage your condition.
  • young Hispanic male speaking with female manager in office
    7. Talk with your boss.
    It may be difficult or embarrassing, but letting your boss know about your unique medical needs may be necessary to help you stay productive while managing your health. You may need to take more time off than usual for doctor’s appointments or treatment sessions, or you may need designated time throughout the day to perform your normal skin care routine. Letting your boss know about your health needs can help you avoid any trouble while you care for yourself.
  • woman writing in journal
    8. Take time off if you need it.
    For some people, eczema symptoms become so severe that they interfere with sleep. For others, excessively dry, itchy skin actually becomes quite painful, making even the slightest movements uncomfortable. If your condition causes particular distress, you may need to take time off to see your doctor and adjust your treatment plan. Eczema is an unpredictable disease, and you may need to try several treatments before finding what works best for you.
Living With Eczema | Eczema in the Workplace
  1. Eczema: Management and Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9998-eczema/management-and-treatment
  2. Eczema Treatment. National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/
  3. Protect Your Hands at Work. National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/protecting-hands-work/
  4. Eczema Causes and Triggers. National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/causes-and-triggers-of-eczema/
  5. Atopic dermatitis (eczema). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/symptoms-causes/syc-20353273
Was this helpful?
72
Last Review Date: 2021 Mar 30
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.