Thick scaly skin patch

You may have more than dry skin. Hand eczema could be the culprit. Because it often looks like dry skin, hand eczema can easily be mistaken for dry skin. Unlike dry skin, you need more than a good moisturizer to get rid of hand eczema. Effective treatment begins with finding the cause. Anything that irritates your skin can cause hand eczema. Even something as harmless as water can irritate your skin if you often have wet hands.

Many people who frequently have wet hands throughout the day, such as nurses, hair stylists, and plumbers get hand eczema. Working with chemicals like solvents, detergents, or cement also increases the risk. Hand eczema is common among construction workers and machinists. For example, whenever this chef handles garlic, hand eczema develops.

Hand eczema can also be caused by an allergic reaction. Some health care workers get hand eczema from wearing latex gloves. You also have a higher risk of developing hand eczema if you had atopic dermatitis often called eczema as a child. Because so many things can cause hand eczema, finding the cause can be tricky. Until you find the cause and avoid it, hand eczema can worsen. A rash covered the back of his hands and some of his forearms. The only time Mark felt some relief was when he was away from work for a week.

By talking with Mark, his dermatologist learned that Mark worked as a printing press operator. On the job, Mark was exposed to many chemicals, but he wore gloves to protect his hands. Because Mark was exposed to many chemicals, his dermatologist started by testing him for allergies.

So his dermatologist asked Mark about all the tasks he performed at work. One task stood out. People can treat mild forms of scaling with thick ointments or creams. More severe forms of scaling may require medical attention. Doctors may prescribe antifungals to treat ringworm or antihistamines to treat allergic reactions.

Treating severe eczema can be challenging, but certain intensive treatments can help reduce symptoms. Learn about what doctors can do for severe…. Lichen planus is an inflammatory skin condition marked by an itchy, bumpy, pink or purple rash on the arms and legs. Specialists believe that may be…. Ichthyosis vulgaris is a condition affecting skin that causes dryness and a scaly appearance. Learn to recognize ichthyosis vulgaris and how to treat….

Actinic keratosis is a skin condition caused by bumpy lesions and rashes that usually occurs in people over the age of 40 years. It is considered a…. How to identify and treat scaling skin: A picture guide. Pictures Causes Treatments Complications Seeing a doctor Outlook We include products we think are useful for our readers. Pictures of scaling skin.

Causes of scaling skin. Share on Pinterest Eczema can cause itchy, dry patches of skin. Treatments for scaling skin. Share on Pinterest Ointments and creams may help treat the cause of scaling skin. When to see a doctor. New biomarker may help improve depression treatment. Dementia cases set to triple by Related Coverage. How to treat severe eczema. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Some therapies may be effective in resolving itching and lichenification due to underlying conditions.

These include:. There are a number of things you can try at home. These home remedies are aimed to either keep common causes of itching at bay or prevent you from scratching. Scratching makes lichenification worse and increases itchiness.

The best thing you can do is force yourself to break the cycle. Lichenification of the skin can be very uncomfortable. The itchiness might be intense, but scratching will only make it worse. Overall, the outlook is good and the condition is often temporary. Research suggests that lichenification can be treated quickly and effectively with a topical fluticasone propionate ointment. Treating the underlying cause may be necessary to prevent future recurrences.

Talk to your doctor about developing a treatment plan. In the meantime, there are many things you can do at home to treat the symptoms of lichenification and prevent it from getting worse. Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that can cause skin irritation, oozing blisters, and itchy rashes.

It can also result in leathery skin…. Read about different ways to treat contact dermatitis. How can you treat dry skin from the comfort of your home? Stress can affect both your physical and emotional health.

Experiencing stress is both common and normal, and many people will experience a stress…. Benadryl is not an effective treatment for eczema or contact dermatitis. Taking Benadryl may help you sleep if itching is keep you awake.