"I've had eczema since birth. I still use cortisone. But last Sunday I drilled tile without thinking about my hands."

I'm 47. I can't pick up a hammer and hammer a nail in without my skin breaking. I've had eczema on my palms since birth and have spent 47 years planning every physical task around it. In April 2025 I stumbled across DRYE on a forum thread and ordered a pair. This is what changed.

Eczema since birth

Tips of my toes to my chin.

As a child I was fully wet wrapped apart from my head daily to help my skin retain moisture. Luckily I can't remember.

The only place I have it now is the palms of my hands. But the skin gets so dry that when I make a fist, the eczema around my knuckles and fingers splits open and bleeds. Same on knees and elbows when they're bad.

Creams have been daily for as long as I can remember. A normal moisturiser. A thick balm. A steroid base. Daily.

My skin was for a long time always cracked in a sense, especially my hands. It got so bad that as a child when I was getting change from a purchase I would hide my hands. People didn't understand eczema.

As a child it stopped me from sports. Swimming. Riding a bike.

Every job, the same circle

Adult life didn't change the underlying problem. It just changed what was at stake.

Every job I've had, at some point my hands have broken out and I haven't been able to work. Most employers have given me a week or two to sort my hands out — which means really abusing steroid cream to try and fix things, otherwise I'd lose my job. A constant circle, because there's basically no jobs that don't require the use of your hands.

The worst stretch was a hospital A&E department. Four years.

My hands broke many times. But got bad enough I couldn't work around twice a year. The hospital gave me a week or two to sort them out, otherwise they'd be looking to dismiss me. My last year there it got to the point they wanted me in front of a review board.

What DIY actually looks like

A simple task. Using a drill to make a hole in some bricks. Sounds easy.

For me it means sorting out the drill, getting two layers of gloves, getting everything ready beforehand to ensure the drilling is quick. Then drill the hole. Try not to put on too much pressure. Try not to take too long.

After 48 years of looking

I'd tried everything everyone with eczema tries. Daily moisturiser. Thick balm. Steroid cream. Cotton gloves under work gloves. My skin was for a long time always cracked in a sense.

Having eczema for 48 years, you tend to start looking things up more to see if anything new is about to try.

I actually stumbled across a post on a forum when I was searching for glove liners for people with eczema. That's how I found DRYE. I looked at the website and read what the gloves were about and it all sounded good. I didn't feel like there were big promises or a misleading sales pitch — which to me is a good thing.

End of the day I know there's no cure for eczema. Just management. And if the gloves could help with management, then it was honestly a "why not just try."

So I ordered a pair.

The fit I got — small — is probably one of the best fits I've had for my hands. They are small so generally I struggle to get good fitting gloves.

The first time I wore them — cutting the grass

Front and back garden.

Normally that would be cotton gloves and weight lifting gloves on top, for the padding. I'd cut maybe half the lawn and need to stop as my hands would overheat.

This time I put the DRYE liners on and my weight lifting ones over them and started cutting. I was just carrying on. But I was also waiting for my hands to feel off — too hot, sweaty, that burning sensation I know.

I finished the back garden. Took all the gloves off to have a drink and a little break. And it was at that point I looked at my hands and realised I'd cut all the grass and my hands felt ok.

Three weeks in

I used them across three different things in the first weeks. I wasn't writing a review. I was just using them.

For workouts (light weights): my hands didn't seem as hot or sweaty. Good improvement.

For DIY: the gloves felt comfy and kept my hands sweat free.

For gardening: my hands did start to overheat and I could feel a bit of sweat after a while. Knowing how bad my hands are, I know to take regular breaks. A quick break and the gloves still felt fresh, and I was happy to carry on gardening. Normally with cotton gloves I'd still end up with sore hands afterwards. With these I didn't.

A year later

Same pair. Washed regularly. Taken care of.

I've been using them for gardening, home DIY, and family DIY. I live in the UK so gardening is only a few months of the year and DIY isn't every day. I haven't felt the need to buy a second pair yet.

Day to day jobs that need anything more physical with my hands — pulling out a sofa, moving a large box — I'll put the DRYE liners on first, then my weight lifting gloves over them, do the job, and don't worry too much about my hands.

Sunday just gone I was invited to my sister's house to drill some holes in her bathroom tiles. We got a Sunday's lunch as payment. The tiles were drilled, cabinet put up, and I didn't even think about my hands overheating or having issues afterwards.

The gloves have helped enough that I can do the simple things without spending a week managing my hands afterwards.

What I'd say to anyone reading this

I've tried everything as well and just about nothing has helped. So having these gloves which are taking away issues is great for me.

They are expensive. Not something I could afford to purchase more than one pair a year. But for what they have offered me so far, I would buy once a year.

End of the day I know there's no cure for eczema. Just management. If the gloves help with management, that's enough.

Jon-Paul Eliot, 47, Newcastle, UK. Written and approved by Jon-Paul, April 2026. DRYE Asymmetric Liner use began April 2025.