THE ECZEMA SHELF · ISSUE 01 · SUNDAY, OCT 25, 2026
"Unscented" isn't the same as fragrance-free. An unscented soap can still hide a masking fragrance, and fragrance is one of the most common reasons hands crack and itch this time of year. That one label trick, plus the sink routine, the overnight reset and the glove fix for dishes, is in this issue.
Eczema Honey didn't start with a business plan. It started with our kids.
They both had rashes when they were little, so we started making a cream in our kitchen. We handed jars to family and friends, and they kept coming back for more. Over a million jars and more than 500,000 customers later, the biggest lesson from that kitchen still holds: what helps most is rarely just the cream. It's the routine around it.
Right now, that routine starts with your hands. Heat on, air dry, everyone washing all day. Here's the dermatologist know-how worth saving.
1. The sink routine (and how much cream)
Lukewarm water, 20 seconds. Rinse between fingers, where soap hides.
Pat dry with a towel, leaving hands slightly damp.
Cream right away, into fingertips, knuckles and around nails.
Tube or tub, not pump. Thicker creams and ointments feel less irritating on chapped skin.
How much? Dermatologists use the fingertip unit: a line squeezed from the tip of an adult finger to the first crease. One covers about one hand, front and back.
2. The overnight reset
From the AAD: soak hands in warm water, apply a thick cream or ointment, then pull on cotton gloves. Run a humidifier overnight.
Cracked fingertip? Petroleum jelly right on the crack at bedtime, under the cotton glove.
3. Gloves, the right way
Cotton liners under vinyl or nitrile gloves for wet work. NEA suggests cotton or vinyl over latex.
Gloves on before hands get wet, and skip hot water.
Short stints; disposables get used once. Long glove wear irritates skin too.
Replace often. In one AAD case, a worker's gloves stopped protecting after about 4 hours; a fresh pair daily made the difference.
(AAD: dyshidrotic eczema self-care · NEA: hand eczema · Am J Clin Dermatol, 2026 · AAD: hand eczema)
4. Sanitizer vs. soap: the facts
Sanitizer is for when soap and water aren't around. It's very drying, so let it dry, then cream.
No evidence says sanitizer makes you catch germs more easily. Dry, cracked skin is what lets germs in.
If sanitizer flares your hands, ask your dermatologist to recommend one.
5. Kids at school
Send their own fragrance-free soap, and ask about paper towels instead of hand dryers.
A small labeled tube in the backpack, used after washing.
Bigger needs? A school health plan or 504 plan can cover access to moisturizer.
On the shelf: three picks, one job each
Affiliate links.
By day: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream. Light, fast-absorbing, fragrance-free, with ceramides. Carries the NEA Seal of Acceptance. Brand page
Fragrance-free, with ceramides; absorbs fast for daytime.
By night: plain petroleum jelly. Cheap, and a great seal for the overnight reset. Store brand is fine.
100% white petrolatum, fragrance-free; a thick bedtime seal.
The one we make: Eczema Honey Oatmeal Hand Cream (from our owner's brand, Eczema Honey). Awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. Rich and soft, with colloidal oatmeal, honey and shea butter to soothe and moisturize dry, overworked hands. Free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS. Product page
Colloidal oatmeal, honey and shea butter; made by our team.
Patch test anything new on a small spot first.
You asked: "What hand soap should I use for contact dermatitis?"
From a member of our Facebook community, reworded and kept anonymous.
First, which kind? Irritant reactions (soap, water, cleaners) usually sting within minutes. Allergic ones can take hours to days, which makes them hard to trace (NEA).
What to look for on the label:
"Fragrance-free," not "unscented." "Unscented" products can contain a masking fragrance. Fragrance is one of the most common skin allergens (AAD).
No methylisothiazolinone (MI or MCI/MI). This preservative is among the most common hand allergens, found in liquid soaps, dish soap, cleaners and wet wipes, even ones labeled "gentle" or "hypoallergenic." Parents have gotten hand rashes from baby wipes (Cutis · DermNet · kids' products survey · baby wipes study).
Skip antibacterial and deodorant soaps (AAD).
Eczema Honey Gentle Foaming Hand Soap (from our owner’s brand, Eczema Honey). Aloe, honey and oat; fragrance-free, dye-free, no MI on the label.
Still flaring? Ask about patch testing: patches on your back, checked at about 48 and 96 hours. It's the reliable way to find the one ingredient to avoid (NEA).
See a dermatologist if moisturizing all day doesn't help, or hands crack, bleed, blister or look infected. Prescription creams, including steroids of the right strength, are a normal, helpful part of the plan when your doctor recommends them (AAD).
Keep working with your (or your child's) doctor. We're here for everything that happens between appointments.
✂️ The sink card (screenshot this)
Lukewarm water, 20 seconds, rinse between fingers
Pat, leave damp
Cream right away: one fingertip unit per hand
Sanitizer? Let it dry, then cream
Dishes: cotton liners + vinyl or nitrile, gloves on first
Labels: "fragrance-free," no MI
Bedtime: soak, ointment, cotton gloves
Your turn
What's your best trick for getting yourself, or your kids, to actually use hand cream? Hit reply. I read every one, and the best tips (first name only, with your OK) go in a future issue.
See you next Sunday,
Minesh
Editor-in-Chief, The Eczema Shelf (and founder of Eczema Honey)
The Eczema Shelf is owned by Soothe Holdings, the company behind Eczema Honey. Some links are affiliate links. Nothing here is medical advice.