Many people living with hand eczema know how stubborn and disruptive it can be. Recent studies found the oral medication upadacitinib (Rinvoq) may provide meaningful relief for chronic hand eczema. The drug is already approved for treating atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.

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What Is Upadacitinib?

Upadacitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor taken by mouth as a pill. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 for rheumatoid arthritis and later for atopic dermatitis (in 2022), it works by blocking overactive immune signaling paths that drive inflammation. By reducing this inflammation, the drug helps ease symptoms such as skin discoloration, itching, and thickening.

What the Study Found

In phase 3 trials, people who took upadacitinib once daily saw improvements in the severity of their hand eczema within the first week. By week 8, 83 percent of participants had a 75 percent reduction in their symptoms, compared to 4 percent of people who received a placebo (an inactive treatment). Some individuals experienced visible relief in as little as 48 hours.

In real-world reports, people across different ethnicities and with different types of chronic hand eczema — including atopic, irritant, and allergic contact dermatitis — showed marked improvement in their symptoms, with one person reaching complete clearance in four weeks.

According to Dr. Christopher G. Bunick, an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine and one of the study authors, upadacitinib has an “incredibly reassuring” safety profile for atopic dermatitis.

According to the drug’s prescribing information, the most common side effects for people with atopic dermatitis include acne, upper respiratory infections, headache, nausea, fever, and increased cholesterol levels. Rare but serious side effects described in the boxed warning include a higher risk for certain infections (such as shingles or tuberculosis), blood clots, cardiovascular events, and some cancers.

Why This Matters for People With Hand Eczema

Chronic hand eczema often does not respond well to standard treatments like topical steroids, moisturizers, or phototherapy. Topical JAK inhibitors (such as delgocitinib, which is still being studied) have shown improvement for some people. Some people find relief from at-home remedies, including applying moisturizers, using fragrance-free products, avoiding triggers, and wearing protective gloves.

For people living with persistent or severe hand eczema, these findings represent hope for a more convenient and faster-acting treatment option. While upadacitinib is not currently FDA-approved specifically for hand eczema, it is approved for atopic dermatitis generally.

If you live with hand eczema that doesn’t improve with current treatments, talk with your dermatologist. They can help you weigh the risks and benefits of different options.

Learn how to manage burning and itching that comes with hand eczema.

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On MyEczemaTeam, people share their experiences with eczema, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What treatments have (or haven’t) worked for your hand eczema? Let others know in the comments below.