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For Jennifer Etienne, 27, what began in her teens as irritation on her hands slowly became a painful, persistent condition that affected nearly every part of her daily life. Her hands often became swollen, blistered, and cracked — sometimes so raw that even light touch caused burning.
While Jennifer was diagnosed with eczema at 8 years old, she first noticed symptoms typical of chronic hand eczema (CHE) when she was about 15. After seeing a physician, she was told it was simply eczema. At the time, she didn't realize that eczema affecting the hands can sometimes present differently or become chronic over time.
"I didn't realize the eczema I was experiencing was actually CHE," Jennifer says. Although she was initially diagnosed with eczema, she didn't know that hand eczema can present differently — or that symptoms could persist, recur, or worsen over time.
Over the years, everyday tasks became increasingly painful. "Simple things most people don't think twice about — like washing dishes or using cleaning products — could be incredibly uncomfortable," she explains. "Sometimes it felt like anything that touched my hands made the irritation worse." Because hands are so visible, she often felt self-conscious meeting new people and shaking hands. During CHE flares, she avoided physical contact out of concern that fragrances or lotions worn by others might aggravate her symptoms.
"CHE is more than a skin issue," she says. "It also affects how you live, work, and connect with people."
For many adults, ongoing irritation on the hands may be attributed to frequent handwashing or exposure to soaps and other everyday irritants.1 But for some, these symptoms may signal something more serious: chronic hand eczema (CHE).
CHE is a persistent or recurrent form of eczema that affects the hands and wrists.1 It can cause redness, itching, swelling, painful cracking, blistering, and even bleeding.2 When symptoms last for more than 3 months or recur frequently they may indicate chronic hand eczema (CHE) rather than temporary irritation.1
Research suggests that approximately one in ten adults in the United States may be living with CHE,3 making it more common than many people realize.
Beyond visible symptoms, CHE can carry substantial functional and emotional burdens. Studies show that it may significantly impact quality of life, one's occupational choices, work productivity, and daily activities.4,5
Like many individuals with CHE, Jennifer relied heavily on moisturizers for years and went through periods without consistent medical guidance. Feeling dismissed early in her journey made it harder to seek follow-up care. Eventually, when her symptoms worsened again, she chose to pursue further evaluation by a dermatologist and learn more about her condition.
"Looking back, I wish I had known sooner that if hand symptoms are ongoing, recurrent, or interfering with daily life, it's important to talk to a dermatologist," Jennifer says.
Dermatologists note that because hand eczema can have multiple triggers and may resemble other skin conditions, it can sometimes be overlooked or misunderstood.1 Recognizing persistent or recurrent symptoms and discussing them openly with a healthcare provider is an important step toward proper evaluation.
To learn more about the symptoms and possible risk factors of CHE, visit www.LearnAboutCHE.com.
*In the photo above, Jennifer participates in advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill as a National Eczema Association ambassador.
References
- Thyssen JP, Schuttelaar MLA, Alfonso JH, et al. Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hand eczema. Contact Dermatitis. 2022;86(5):357-378.
- Molin S, Fargnoli MC, Crépy MN, et al. Real-world evidence of self-reported treatments, signs, and symptom burden in chronic hand eczema: Findings from the multinational CHECK study. Acta Derm Venereol. 2026;106:adv44493.
- Chovatiya R, Balu S, Bin Sawad A, et al. Prevalence of self-reported physician diagnosis of chronic hand eczema in adults: A cross-sectional study of more than 10,000 participants in the general population – Results from the CHECK study in the United States. Presented at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference 2025. Orlando, Florida. 06-08 Nov. Poster Presentation.
- Simpson E, Balu S, Bin Sawad A, et al. The impact of chronic hand eczema on occupation, work productivity, and activity impairment: Results from the CHECK study in the United States. Presented at the Fall Clinical 25 Annual Congress 2025. September 2025. Poster Presentation.
- Cortesi PA, Scalone L, Belisari A, et al. Cost and quality of life in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to standard therapy with topical potent corticosteroids. Contact Dermatitis. 2014;70(3):158-168.
