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I work in the bicycle industry and often use chemicals, I then need to wash hands with hand cleaner (swarfega type things) which dry my skin, can't use moisturizer as also work with clothing which gets covered in "greasy" marks

Dear gordyfar

Thank you for your query.

I appreciate you are in a difficult situation. The regular contact with harsh chemicals and frequent hand washing not only will dry your skin by stripping away natural oils, but with time will damage the barrier function of your skin, making it more sensitive to irritants and allergens, and prone to developing eczema.

I would advise wearing gloves whenever possible at work - to minimise the direct contact between your skin and the harsh chemicals and therefore also reducing the frequency with which you need to wash your hands. When washing your hands try and use creams rather than soaps and perhaps consider a lighter moisturiser during the day which may be less likely to leave greasy marks, and leaving the heavier moisturiers at night.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes