About Allergies: Allergies to Hand Washing

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies We teach children at an early age that hand washing is an important part of daily hygiene. We ask our children to wash their hands before meals, after using the restroom, and any time we think their hands might be dirty, such as after playing outside. We also hear from healthcare experts (including our own doctors) that frequent hand washing can help reduce the spread of germs, especially during the cold and flu season. Hand washing certainly has benefits to reduce the transmission of infections, and should be encouraged. However, many people who wash their hands multiple times a day, such as with healthcare workers, develop rashes on their hands. Hand Washing Rashes People who get rashes from repetitive hand washing may experience symptoms of redness, flaking, blister formation, cracking, and chronic skin thickening. Pain and itching may also occur. These skin changes usually occur on the back of the hands as well as the spaces between the fingers. The skin on the palms is much thicker, and therefore more resistant to irritants and allergic rashes. These hand rashes may occur throughout the year, but are worse during the dry, cold winter months, possibly as a result of warm or hot water being used, which contributes to the irritant effect on the skin. See More About:  allergic skin rashes  atopic dermatitis  contact dermatitis Contact Dermatitis Contact dermatitis is an itchy, blistering skin rash typically caused by the direct contact of a substance with the skin. There are 2 types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. This difference is often difficult to tell apart, and is not usually an important distinction to make. Contact dermatitis results in 5.7 million doctor visits each year in the United States, and all ages are affected. Females are slightly more commonly affected than males, and teenagers and middle-aged adults seems to be the most common age groups affected. See More About:  itching  skin allergies  eczema Overview of Allergic Skin Rashes There are many types of itchy skin allergies and rashes. However, not all rashes that itch are related to skin allergies. The following are the most common types of allergic skin rashes... See More About:  allergies  itching  antihistamines Common Allergy Issues in Children Issues that are unique to children, or that are commonly seen in childhood are discussed. Sections focus on food allergies, possible prevention of allergies in children, and problems that the allergic child may face in school. Allergies Ads Children Allergies Allergies Food Allergies Allergies Shots About Food Allergies Featured Articles Food Allergies Allergies in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Drug and Latex Allergies Insect Allergies Anaphylaxis Allergy Shots and Drops (Immunotherapy)   More from About.com Free Children's Books How would you like to have access to a free online public library of books from around the world for kids 3 to 13? Read more...> Best Water Parks Better pack your bathing suit -- here are our recommendations for the funnest, wettest, splashiest water parks around. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies   Follow me on: Advertisement