Hairdressers comprise a high-risk group for developing occupational hand eczema, for which a lifetime prevalence of 38.2% and a 1-year prevalence of 20.3% have been reported. Wet work and skin contact with irritants and allergens are the main contributing factors. Caused by work-related damage to the skin, the degradation of the epidermal barrier function combined with a pro-inflammatory skin milieu increases the risk of developing occupational hand eczema. As allergens penetrate the compromised skin barrier easier, initial irritant hand eczema easily progresses to allergic hand eczema. This is very concerning because hand eczema not only causes personal suffering but also presents a macrosocial issue due to, for instance, long-standing work absenteeism and increased medical treatment costs for social insurance systems. Further, hand eczema goes along with social repercussions like necessitating a change of occupation or, in worst-case scenarios, precarious employment or early retirement. Prevention and early treatment of hand eczema in hairdressers are thus of high importance.