{"id":"14e4983f05006e5f11988c8b14ca8d7f","slug":"eczema-on-toddlers-hands-get-worse-from-handwashing","question":"Does eczema on my toddler's hands get worse from handwashing at preschool?","answer":"Handwashing itself won't worsen eczema, but the frequency and what's used matter. If your toddler is washing with harsh soap multiple times throughout the day, that can irritate already-inflamed skin. The research suggests that excessive handwashing—especially with standard soaps—may contribute to dryness and irritation in children with eczema.\n\nThe most practical fix is to use a gentle cleanser instead of regular soap when possible, and to moisturize right after handwashing while their hands are still damp. If preschool allows it, sending a mild soap or a fragrance-free cleanser along can help. You might also ask whether hand sanitizer is being used frequently; if so, switching to soap and water is gentler on irritated skin.\n\nTalk with your pediatrician about what cleansing routine and moisturizer work best for your toddler's specific skin, since eczema varies from child to child. Between the handwashing at school and your own care at home, keeping their hands well-moisturized is what makes the biggest difference.","sources":"[{\"pmid\":\"33620073\",\"title\":\"Fluctuating Palmar Erythema in a Toddler during COVID-19 Pandemic: Do You Know the Offender?\",\"journal\":\"Journal of tropical pediatrics\",\"year\":\"2021\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33620073/\",\"score\":0.8},{\"pmid\":\"38251315\",\"title\":\"Bathing in Atopic Dermatitis in Pediatric Age: Why, How and When.\",\"journal\":\"Pediatric reports\",\"year\":\"2024\",\"url\":\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38251315/\",\"score\":0.79}]","thread_json":null,"topic":"eczema-and-skin-allergies","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-10-24T20:00:43.845Z"}