Analysis: Chronic Hand Eczema Affects 1 in 10 Adults

Key Takeaways

• Physician-diagnosed chronic hand eczema affects 9.6% of U.S. adults.

• CHE is more common in younger adults, urban populations, and men.

• The findings suggested a larger scope of the public health and economic burden of CHE.

A cross-sectional study of over 10,000 U.S. adults indicates chronic hand eczema (CHE) is more common than previously estimated, with nearly 1 in 10 reporting a physician diagnosis.

The data, presented in a poster by Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD nd colleagues at 2026 Winter Clinical Hawaii in Maui, were taken from the CHECK-US study assessing CHE prevalence and characteristics across socio-demographic groups. According to the data, 9.6% of respondents reported a physician-diagnosed case of CHE.

Among patients who were affected, 75.8% met chronicity criteria, and the majority (87.8%) reported symptoms involving the hands specifically. Prevalence was higher in males (10.5%) vs. females (8.7%), urban dwellers (10.4%) vs. rural (6.3%), and employed individuals (10.3%) vs. unemployed (7.8%) (all P < 0.01). The highest prevalence occured in adults aged 18 to 39 years (13.4%), with a drop in older adults aged 50 to 69 years (4.2%). Racial differences were reported but did not attain statistical significance. There were no meaningful geographic variations across U.S. regions.

“An understanding of prevalence is important to quantify the burden of CHE, as it highlights the potential financial impact of disease management,” the authors wrote. “Moreover, improved understanding can enable better planning and resource allocation.”

Source: Chovatiya R, Balu S, 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: 2026 Winter Clinical Hawaii, January 16-21, Maui.