For some people with eczema, symptoms follow a noticeable pattern: skin worsens during the workweek and improves on weekends or vacations.
That pattern can be worth paying attention to.
Frequent handwashing, prolonged contact with water, cleaning products, chemicals, gloves, heat, sweat, and other workplace exposures can irritate an already vulnerable skin barrier. Certain occupations—including healthcare, food service, construction, cosmetology, manufacturing, and mechanical work—have a particularly high risk of occupational contact dermatitis.
If your eczema regularly worsens at work, the first step is identifying what your skin is being exposed to.
Why work can make eczema worse
People with atopic dermatitis have a weakened skin barrier, which makes the skin more susceptible to irritation. Repeated exposure to water and other irritants can further disrupt that barrier. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that even water can become irritating when the hands are wet frequently or for prolonged periods.
Some of the most common workplace exposures include:
- Frequent handwashing or hand sanitizer
- Detergents and cleaning products
- Solvents and other chemicals
- Food and food-preparation products
- Prolonged glove use
- Heat and sweat
- Fragrances and preservatives
Healthcare workers, hairstylists, chefs, cleaners, mechanics, construction workers, florists, and manufacturing workers are among the occupations with greater exposure to potential irritants and allergens.
Look for a pattern
Work-related eczema isn’t always obvious.
Symptoms may develop gradually after repeated exposure rather than immediately after touching something. Contact dermatitis can also look very similar to atopic eczema, and the two can occur together.
Consider whether:
- Your eczema is worse at the end of a shift or workweek
- Your skin improves during weekends or vacations
- The rash appears primarily on areas exposed during work
- Symptoms started after taking on a new task or using a new product
- Coworkers performing similar tasks have experienced skin irritation
If there is a consistent pattern, tell your clinician what you do at work and what your skin regularly comes into contact with. Occupational history can help dermatologists identify possible causes of contact dermatitis.
Protect your hands during wet work
“Wet work” means repeatedly exposing the hands to water or other liquids throughout the day. It is common in healthcare, food service, hairdressing, cleaning, and many other jobs.
For people prone to eczema, frequent wet work can lead to dry, irritated skin and eventually painful cracks or inflammation.
When handwashing is necessary, use lukewarm rather than hot water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser when appropriate. Dry the hands carefully and apply moisturizer afterward. The National Eczema Association recommends moisturizing frequently, particularly after washing.
Keeping a moisturizer at your workstation or near the sink can make this easier to maintain throughout the day.
Use protective gloves correctly
Gloves can reduce direct exposure to water, detergents, chemicals, and other irritants, but they need to be appropriate for the task.
Wearing the wrong gloves—or wearing them for too long—can create problems of its own. Sweat and moisture can accumulate inside waterproof gloves and irritate eczema-prone skin. Some people may also react to materials used in certain gloves.
For prolonged wet work, the National Eczema Association recommends protective gloves and suggests cotton liners when sweating inside the gloves becomes a problem.
If your job involves chemicals, follow your workplace’s safety requirements for selecting protective equipment rather than substituting a different glove solely for eczema.
Consider what else touches your skin
Not all occupational eczema develops on the hands.
Uniforms, protective equipment, masks, adhesives, cleaning products, fragrances, metals, and other materials can cause irritation or allergic contact dermatitis where they contact the skin.
Location can provide a useful clue. A rash that repeatedly appears beneath a glove, wristband, mask, uniform collar, or piece of protective equipment may warrant further investigation.
Allergic contact dermatitis can sometimes appear away from the original point of exposure, so persistent or unexplained symptoms are worth discussing with a dermatologist.
What to keep at work
A work skin-care kit doesn’t need to be extensive. For most people, it should simply make their existing eczema routine easier to follow away from home.
Consider keeping:
- A fragrance-free moisturizer
- A gentle cleanser, if you need to supply your own
- Appropriate protective gloves or cotton glove liners, where relevant
- Any prescription treatment your clinician has instructed you to use during the day
If you already have an eczema routine that works for you, see our Everyday Care tips → for the basic skin-care recommendations to continue at work.
When to talk to a clinician
Work-related eczema can become progressively harder to manage when the exposure continues every day.
See a clinician if your skin becomes persistently painful, cracked, blistered, bleeding, or inflamed; if your usual treatment stops controlling your symptoms; or if you suspect something at work is causing your eczema. A dermatologist may also consider contact-allergy testing when an occupational allergen is suspected.
Importantly, identifying occupational eczema doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding your job altogether. Dermatologists can help identify the likely exposure and recommend ways to protect the skin while allowing people to continue working.
Pay attention to what changes between work and home
If your eczema repeatedly improves when you’re away from work, mention it during your next clinical evaluation. Details about your job, the products you handle, protective equipment you wear, and when symptoms appear can help distinguish ordinary atopic dermatitis from an occupational irritant or allergic contact dermatitis.
The earlier the cause is identified, the easier it may be to reduce repeated exposure and prevent the skin from becoming chronically irritated.
Having trouble controlling your eczema?
A licensed clinician can review your symptoms, photos, and treatment history and determine whether prescription treatment is appropriate.