Empathy for the Patient with Chronic Hand Eczema

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease defined as hand eczema that occurs for more than three consecutive months or relapses at least twice per year. For patients with CHE, quality of life can be negatively affected by the severity of symptoms, such as pain and itch, and the appearance of the affected skin on the hands and wrists which are highly visible. This article is coauthored by a patient who shares her lifelong journey with CHE. She details the physical, mental, and social impacts she experienced throughout her life with this chronic disease, as well as her struggles in navigating clinical care and finding an effective treatment. A dermatologist then reflects on the patient's story, highlighting five key lessons to clinicians regarding the burdens of living with CHE and the crucial role of empathy in guiding clinicians to provide more holistic care. Additionally, the current clinical understanding of CHE and treatment options are briefly discussed. Altogether, combining effective treatments with patient-centered holistic care can enhance the quality of life for patients with CHE, by not only improving the physical symptoms of CHE but also their overall well-being.