Journal Digest: March 18, 2026

Contact Dermatitis | Effect of Delgocitinib Cream on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema

A pooled analysis of the phase 3 DELTA 1 and DELTA 2 trials evaluated the impact of delgocitinib cream 20 mg/g on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE). Across the two randomized, double-blind trials, 960 patients were assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive delgocitinib cream (n = 639) or vehicle cream (n = 321) applied twice daily for 16 weeks. HRQoL outcomes were assessed using the EQ-5D, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Hand Eczema Impact Scale (HEIS), including its Proximal Daily Activity Limitations and Embarrassment subscales. At week 16, patients treated with delgocitinib demonstrated significantly greater improvements across all HRQoL measures compared with vehicle (all p < 0.001). Improvements were evident as early as week 1. Additionally, a greater proportion of patients receiving delgocitinib achieved clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes and spent more time in an improved HRQoL state.¹

Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal | A Study Assessing Patch Test Results in Hand and Foot Eczema Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital

This prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India, evaluated the diagnostic utility of patch testing in 30 adults with hand and foot eczema over an 18-month period. Participants underwent patch testing using the Indian Standard Battery series, with readings taken at 48 and 72 hours according to International Contact Dermatitis Research Group criteria. The study population consisted primarily of men (60%), with most patients aged 41 to 60 years. Hand eczema was the most common presentation (63.3%), followed by foot eczema (20%) and combined involvement (16.7%). Pruritus (96.7%) and dryness (80%) were the most frequently reported symptoms, and bilateral disease occurred in 83.3% of cases. Occupational and environmental exposures were common, particularly gloves (50%) and detergents (30%). Patch testing identified at least one positive allergen in 43.3% of patients, with potassium dichromate (25%)—often linked to cement exposure—the most frequent sensitizer. However, 56.7% of patients had negative patch tests.²

Contact Dermatitis | Real-Life Workup of Chronic Hand Eczema Using a Dedicated Case Report Form: A SIDAPA Multicentre Study

A multicenter cross-sectional study conducted by the Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology (SIDAPA) evaluated 207 adults with CHE across 10 dermatology clinics between January 2024 and May 2025. Investigators used a dedicated case report form (CRF) to systematically collect demographic, clinical, etiologic, and quality-of-life data. Most patients were female (68.6%) with a mean age of 41 years. Moderate-to-severe disease was observed in 58.9% of cases, and 81.4% were refractory to potent topical corticosteroids. Etiologically, irritant contact dermatitis was the most common subtype (52.7%), followed by allergic contact dermatitis (24.2%) and atopic dermatitis (16.9%). Patch testing identified relevant contact allergies in 24.2% of patients, most frequently to methylisothiazolinone, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and p-phenylenediamine. Morphologic classification was possible in only 29% of cases, reflecting the heterogeneous clinical presentation of CHE. Quality-of-life impairment was substantial, with moderate to severe impact in most patients.³

Dermatology and Therapy | Efficacy and Safety of Benvitimod Compared with Halometasone in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Hand Eczema: A Prospective, Single-Center, Parallel-Group, Open-Label Randomized Trial

This prospective, single-center, open-label randomized trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical benvitimod compared with halometasone in adults with moderate to severe CHE. The study enrolled 64 patients, randomly assigned to receive 1% benvitimod cream or halometasone cream twice daily for 8 weeks, with outcomes assessed through week 12 and relapse monitored through week 24. Among the 59 patients who completed the study, treatment success at week 12 was similar between groups: 26.7% with benvitimod and 24.1% with halometasone. Both treatments produced significant improvements in disease severity and patient-reported outcomes, including reductions in Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), Patient Global Assessment, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Quality of Life in Hand Eczema Questionnaire scores, with no significant differences between therapies. Relapse at week 24 occurred in 25% of benvitimod responders versus 57.1% with halometasone, although this difference was not statistically significant. Adverse events with benvitimod included hyperpigmentation, pruritus, and dryness but did not lead to discontinuation.⁴

British Journal of Dermatology | Gut microbiome of patients with nonatopic chronic hand eczema (CHE) is distinct and enriched in immunomodulatory bacteria species compared with patients with atopic CHE and healthy individuals

In this metagenomic analysis, researchers investigated whether the gut microbiome differs among patients with CHE based on atopic status. Researchers performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing on fecal samples from 24 patients with CHE (15 with atopic CHE and 9 with nonatopic CHE), 28 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) without CHE, and 30 healthy controls. Results showed that the gut microbiome of patients with nonatopic CHE was distinct from both atopic CHE and control groups. Notably, nonatopic CHE was enriched with immunomodulatory bacterial species, suggesting unique microbial signatures linked to this subtype. These findings support the concept of a gut–skin axis, in which alterations in intestinal microbiota may influence systemic immune responses and skin inflammation through metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and bile acids. Further research is needed to clarify causal relationships and evaluate microbiome-based interventions.⁵

References

1. Bauer A, Guenther L, Woolf R, et al. Effect of Delgocitinib Cream on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema. Contact Dermatitis. Published online March 3, 2026. doi:10.1111/cod.70114

2. Balakumaran C, Sukanya G, Kumar NA, Megalai AS, Sankeerthana MP, Rajeev K. A Study Assessing Patch Test Results in Hand and Foot Eczema Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2026;33(2):285-288. doi:10.4103/npmj.npmj_167_25

3. Gallo R, Guarneri F, Hansel K, et al. Real-Life Workup of Chronic Hand Eczema Using a Dedicated Case Report Form: A SIDAPA Multicentre Study. Contact Dermatitis. Published online February 15, 2026. doi:10.1111/cod.70105

4. Chang Y, Tang G, Wu H, Liang X, Liu Y, Zhuo F. Efficacy and Safety of Benvitimod Compared with Halometasone in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Hand Eczema: A Prospective, Single-Center, Parallel-Group, Open-Label Randomized Trial. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). Published online February 13, 2026. doi:10.1007/s13555-026-01668-3

5. Bissonnette R, Salem Y, Palijan A, et al. The Gut Microbiome of Non-Atopic Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) Subjects is Distinct and Enriched in Immuno-Modulatory Bacteria Species compared to Atopic-CHE and Healthy Subjects. Br J Dermatol. Published online February 11, 2026. doi:10.1093/bjd/ljag048