Can You Get Eczema From Working On Cars

September 18, 2025

Working on cars can take a toll on your skin, leaving many wondering, “Can you get eczema from working on cars?” Car repair workers often face exposure to irritating substances like oils and chemicals that harm the skin. This blog will explain how these exposures may lead to conditions like irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. Keep reading to learn how to protect your skin and prevent long-term damage.

Key Takeaways

Car repair workers often develop irritant or allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to oils, chemicals, and solvents. Only 15.7% regularly wear gloves, increasing their risk of skin issues like eczema.
Irritant contact dermatitis affects 19% of mechanics, causing dry skin, redness, swelling, or blisters. Prolonged exposure to industrial products damages the skin barrier and can lead to infections.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs due to allergens in cleaning agents, engine oils, and tools with nickel or epoxy hardeners. Symptoms include itching and blistering that may appear hours or days after exposure.
Protective measures like wearing PVC gloves (not latex) and using barrier creams reduce risks of occupational eczema. Regular moisturizing also helps prevent flare-ups.
Effective treatments include over-the-counter hydrocortisone for mild cases or prescription medications like corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors for severe symptoms.

Get Help for Your Skin Issues

If you’re struggling with eczema or persistent skin irritation, don’t suffer in silence—effective treatment options are available to help you feel comfortable in your own skin again. The experienced medical professionals at MyInstantMD can provide personalized care and treatment plans tailored to your specific skin concerns.

Reach out to MyInstantMD today to take the first step toward healthier, more manageable skin.

Common Skin Conditions in Car Repair Workers

Car repair workers often develop skin problems due to exposure at work. These conditions result from frequent contact with irritants and allergens.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis affects 19% of car repair workers. It often causes dry, flaky skin, redness, swelling, or blisters. These symptoms mainly appear on the hands and can become chronic with repeated exposure.

Direct contact with industrial chemicals, oils, heavy metals, and UV radiation damages the skin barrier. Prolonged contact with soaps or detergents worsens irritation. Broken skin increases infection risks like impetigo.

Only 15.7% of workers use suitable gloves regularly to reduce these occupational skin issues.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs through the immune system’s reaction to allergens like cleaning agents, engine oils, and solvents. Car repair workers handle these daily, which increases their risk of developing occupational dermatitis. The allergic reaction can manifest not only near the primary skin contact site but also in secondary areas. Symptoms include itching, flaking, blistering, or splitting of the skin.

These reactions may appear hours or even days after exposure.

Patch testing helps confirm if a specific substance causes this condition. A history of atopic dermatitis further raises the risk for car mechanics; 48.3% with hand dermatitis report having this pre-existing condition.

Even tools containing nickel or epoxy hardeners can trigger delayed reactions after years of apparent tolerance to them. Eliminating exposure to identified allergens is necessary for recovery and protecting long-term skin barrier function.

Acneform Rashes

Acneform rashes often develop in car repair workers due to exposure to industrial oils and cooling agents. These occupational skin diseases typically appear as oil folliculitis or comedones on the forearms and thighs.

Mechanics and transmission technicians face the highest prevalence of dermal exposure, increasing their risk significantly. Unlike classical acne, these rashes result directly from workplace exposures.

Prolonged contact with oils and lubricants triggers irritation that can worsen over time without proper protection. Studies reveal an 18.4% prevalence of occupational skin problems among car repair workers compared to only 3.9% in other groups.

Acneform rashes may also contribute to hand dermatitis statistics within this field, highlighting the need for preventive measures like wearing gloves or using barrier creams during wet work tasks.

How Skin Exposure Occurs in Car Repair Work

Car repair workers handle various substances that can harm the skin. They often face direct contact with chemicals, oils, and other irritants.

Prolonged Contact with Irritants

Prolonged exposure to irritants like oil, grease, solvents, and chemical products increases the risk of occupational contact dermatitis. Mechanics often handle these substances daily without adequate skin protection.

Studies show that 57.5% of car repair workers do not wear protective gloves. This lack of safety measures contributes to symptoms like dry skin, swelling, flaking, and blistering.

Workers with prolonged dermal contact face increased rates of hand dermatitis due to frequent exposure over long hours. Transmission technicians and mechanics have the highest average dermal exposure scores at 44.64 and 44.85 respectively.

Regular use of rubber gloves or barrier creams can help minimize this risk during work tasks involving direct handling of irritants.

“Increased frequency and duration of irritant exposure lead to higher rates of skin issues in automotive workers.”

Exposure to Chemicals and Oils

Car repair workers face exposure to harmful substances daily. Oil, grease, solvents, industrial chemicals, and fuels cause skin damage over time. Waste engine oil and petroleum-based chemicals increase the risk of dermatitis and may lead to skin cancer.

Chronic use of these products for cleaning damages the skin barrier.

Only 15.7% of car mechanics regularly wear gloves while working with toxic materials. Latex or leather gloves are rare, as just 9.8% use plastic options during tasks involving irritants.

Poor protection increases occupational health risks like contact allergy or long-term rashes on hands and arms.

Preventive Measures for Avoiding Skin Issues

Workers can take steps to protect their skin while handling irritants. Consistent use of preventive practices reduces the risk of rashes and eczema.

Wearing Protective Gloves

Protective gloves protect car repair workers from direct contact with irritants and chemicals. Only 15.7% of these workers use gloves regularly, while 57.5% never wear them, increasing their risk of skin rashes or eczema.

Suitable glove options include PVC or rubber types with cotton liners. Latex gloves should be avoided as they cause 45.51% of glove-related complaints.

Prolonged use of gloves for over two hours daily can lead to glove-induced dermatitis. This condition often causes dry skin, redness, and itchiness in about 44% of cases each. Moisturizing the hands and limiting prolonged glove wear help maintain healthy skin integrity during work tasks involving oils and harsh substances.

Using Barrier Creams

Barrier creams protect the skin by maintaining moisture and blocking irritants. Mechanics can apply them before work to reduce the effects of oils, chemicals, and other harmful substances on their hands. These creams also make contaminants easier to wash off, keeping the skin healthier.

Frequent application during work enhances protection. Using barrier creams alongside gloves provides even better defense against irritants. While they help prevent occupational eczema, these creams are not a replacement for gloves but serve as an important supplement in reducing increased risk of skin issues.

Regular Skin Cleaning and Moisturizing

Wash hands with warm water before eating or using the restroom. Avoid cleaning your skin with solvents or fuels. Use mild, fragrance-free cleansers instead of harsh soaps to prevent irritation.

Limit baths to 5–10 minutes in warm water. Apply a moisturizing product immediately after bathing to lock in moisture.

Moisturize daily with lipid-replenishing creams, lotions, or ointments. Apply moisturizers after work and before bed to reduce eczema flares. Keep nails short and avoid wearing rings to minimize skin trauma.

Regular moisturizing can help decrease reliance on steroid treatments for occupational eczema care.

Treatment Options for Occupational Eczema

Explore effective treatments to soothe and manage occupational eczema.

Over-the-Counter Solutions

Topical hydrocortisone creams, ointments, and lotions help reduce irritation, itching, and inflammation caused by eczema. They are available without a prescription and can be applied 1 to 4 times daily for up to 7 days. Overuse may worsen issues like acne or dry skin.

Antihistamines like diphenhydramine can relieve itching linked to allergies. First-generation antihistamines may also improve sleep if eczema disrupts rest. Consistent moisturizing before steroid use can minimize the need for these treatments while protecting the skin barrier.

Prescription Medications

Doctors often prescribe topical corticosteroids in various strengths to manage eczema flares. These medications reduce inflammation and itching when over-the-counter solutions are not enough.

Protopic (tacrolimus) ointment and Elidel (pimecrolimus) cream, both calcineurin inhibitors, help control moderate cases without steroids.

Severe eczema may need systemic treatments like JAK inhibitors such as abrocitinib or upadacitinib. Injectable biologics or oral corticosteroids can also be prescribed for widespread symptoms but require careful monitoring due to possible side effects.

A proper diagnosis, sometimes through patch testing, ensures the right prescription therapy is chosen for effective management.

Conclusion

Working on cars can lead to eczema and other skin problems. Frequent contact with oils, grease, and chemicals irritates the skin. Protective measures like gloves and proper skincare reduce risks.

If symptoms arise, seek treatment early to avoid complications. Prioritizing prevention helps maintain healthy hands while working safely in this field.

FAQs

1. Can working on cars cause eczema?

Yes, working on cars can expose your skin to chemicals, oils, and grease that may trigger eczema or worsen existing skin conditions.

2. What causes eczema when working with cars?

Eczema can occur from contact with irritants like motor oil, solvents, or cleaning products used in car repairs. Prolonged exposure without protection increases the risk.

3. How can I prevent eczema while working on cars?

Wear gloves to protect your hands and use barrier creams before starting work. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling chemicals or tools.

4. Does everyone who works on cars get eczema?

No, not everyone gets eczema from car work; it depends on individual sensitivity and how often you are exposed to harmful substances without proper protection.