Chronic, "infectious" hand dermatitis in its most typical site: the distal part of the palm. Extension tends to occur from the fingers to palmar skin. Repeated vesicular eruptions are very itchy, followed by a scaly, possibly fissuring stage. Mostly no specific reason is found, but an atopic background is common. Topical corticosteroids may be combined with long courses of oral tetracyclines in therapy-resistant cases.