Pruritus

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hand eczema is an inflammation of the skin of the hands that tends to run a chronic, relapsing course. This common condition is often associated with itch, social stigma, and impairment in employment. Many different interventions of unknown effectiveness are used to treat hand eczema.

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the effects of topical and systemic interventions for hand eczema in adults and children.

SEARCH METHODS:

We searched the following up to April 2018: Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, LILACS, GREAT, and four trials registries. We checked the reference lists of included studies for further references to relevant trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared interventions for hand eczema, regardless of handeczema type and other affected sites, versus no treatment, placebo, vehicle, or active treatments.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Primary outcomes were participant- and investigator-rated good/excellent control of symptoms, and adverse events.