Can't HANDle it?: Tips to Optimize the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Hand Eczema
Recorded On: 06/26/2025
Chronic hand eczema (CHE) presents a significant clinical challenge due to its multifactorial etiology, impact on quality of life, and recalcitrance to standard therapies for atopic dermatitis. This lecture offers a comprehensive, evidence-based exploration of CHE, emphasizing the differentiation among atopic dermatitis (AD), irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) - conditions that often overlap in presentation but require distinct management approaches. Participants will gain insights into the nuanced clinical features that distinguish these dermatologic entities, including the role of patient history, lesion distribution, and diagnostic tools such as patch testing. The session will delve into current therapeutic strategies, encompassing steroidal and nonsteroidal topicals, systemic options including immunosuppressants and immunomodulators, and barrier restoring interventions. Emerging therapies, such as topical Janus kinase inhibitors like delgocitinib, will also be discussed in the context of recent clinical trials. By integrating patient-specific factors such as comorbidities, disease severity, and prior treatment responses, attendees will learn to formulate individualized management plans. The lecture aims to equip attendees with practical tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes for patients suffering from chronic hand eczema.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate the clinical presentation of atopic dermatitis (AD), irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)
- Evaluate current therapeutic options for chronic hand eczema, including topical, systemic, and barrier-based interventions
- Apply an evidence-based approach to treatment selection for patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic hand eczema, with attention to comorbidities, disease severity, and therapeutic response.
Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD
Professor and Chair of Dermatology
The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, is professor and chair of dermatology and serves as the director of the Residency Program, Translational Research, Hidradenitis Suppurativa and the Supportive Oncodermatology Programs in the Department of Dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC.
Dr Friedman has published more than 280 papers/chapters and 3 textbooks on both his research and a variety of clinical areas in dermatology, with an emphasis on emerging medical therapies and addressing gaps in inclusive education/care. He is also committed to resident and medical education, serving as senior editor of Dermatology In-Review, co-chair of the ODAC Dermatology, Aesthetic and Surgical Conference and the MedscapeLIVE! Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, founding director of Krazy Kodachromes and Core Crushers, and served as founding director of the Oakstone Institute’s Dermatology Board Review and Dermatology for Primary Care series. He also serves as President of Derma Care Access Network, a subgroup of the Alliance for Patient Access and Chair of the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting Poster Exhibit Task Force.
Dr Friedman has received multiple awards, including two AAD Presidential citations, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Rising Star - Clinical Practitioner Award, the Derma Care Access Network Advocacy Leadership Award, the American Dermatological Association Young Leader Award, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Cutting Edge Research Award, and the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology Innovations in Residency Training Award.
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