LEO Pharma Inc. has launched Talk to the Hand, a disease awareness campaign for healthcare providers that highlights the risk factors, symptoms, and physical and emotional impact of chronic hand eczema (CHE).
Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is defined as hand eczema (HE) that lasts for more than three months or relapses twice or more within a year. CHE is a heterogeneous, fluctuating, inflammatory skin disease with key symptoms of itch and pain. Its pathophysiology is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, skin inflammation, and skin microbiome alterations. The condition can have a high psychological, social, and occupational burden. More than 50% of patients with CHE have one or more additional diagnosed subtype.
“As a dermatologist, I’ve seen first-hand the impact CHE has on patients. Many patients with moderate-to-severe CHE say holding, or even just touching, everyday objects can be difficult and frustrating,” said Omar Noor, MD, FAAD, Co-Owner of Rao Dermatology in New York, NY in a news release. “Our hands are a part of everything we do and who we are — It is essential for healthcare providers to understand that CHE is not just atopic dermatitis of the hands. We need to recognize the unique challenges of CHE so that we can more effectively diagnose and care for those across the U.S. living with this condition.”
CHE has a prevalence rate of approximately 4.7%. However, it can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life, psychological well-being, daily life, physical functioning, and ability to work. In addition, CHE poses unique physical and psychological challenges, impacting mood and social activities for a significant majority of patients. Approximately 79% of patients stated CHE had a negative effect on their mood, and 76% reported that it affected their social or leisure activities. In addition, 38% of patients feel CHE impacts their engagement in activities.
“LEO Pharma is proud to launch the Talk to the Hand campaign as part of our commitment to make a fundamental difference for patients living with skin disease,” adds Brian Hilberdink, EVP and President, Region North America, LEO Pharma. “We are committed to improving the standard of care in medical dermatology and patient voice is an essential part of the equation. Our hope is that this campaign will help healthcare providers more easily recognize and diagnose CHE and provide patients with the answers they need to manage their skin condition and take back their lives.”
The Talk to the Hand campaign highlights the impact to patients and provides illustrations that explain the impact of CHE through www.TalkCHE.com. Healthcare providers can learn more about CHE risk factors and symptoms and stay up to date on the latest CHE news to facilitate better conversations with their patients and help them access information about treatment options.
“We’re excited about LEO Pharma’s the Talk to the Hand campaign to help shed light on the unmet need for the diagnosis and care for patients living with chronic hand eczema,” shares Kristin Belleson, President and CEO National Eczema Association (NEA). “We are optimistic that through continued research and heightened awareness, we will find better and faster ways to determine the root cause of CHE to improve patient outcomes.”
