A cross-sectional study of clinical characteristics and risk factors for hand eczema in the general Chinese population

In the general population, there is limited evidence for the associations between hand eczema (HE) and lifestyle factors, and between the severity of HE and quality of life. This study aimed to estimate the risk factors for the incidence of HE in the general population and the risk factors for the severity of HE. A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 121 HE patients in a hospital from December 2018 to December 2019 in Wuhan. The severity of HE was significantly associated with working with wet hands more than 5 h per day and chapped skin. Sixty-seven patients have positive patch test results. Working with wet hands for more than 5 h per day and chapped skin were the most common and significant risk factors for HE. Working hours with wet hands per day was an independent risk factor for the hand eczema severity index and dermatology life quality index, and there was a significant positive correlation between chapped skin and the severity of hand eczema and higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The results also revealed a significant positive correlation between the severity of HE and the impact on quality of life and the severity of TEWL. Prolonged wet hand work can lead to a higher rate of severe hand eczema in the general population. HE can be relieved by reducing the wet hand working time and hand moisturizing.