Studies show that about 1 in 9 people will be diagnosed with some form of eczema in their lives. However, in many regions the vast majority of these cases are cases of “contact eczema”, ie eczema brought about by coming in contact with poison ivy or some such.
When people think of eczema, they are usually thinking of Xerotic eczema (the type that comes from excessively dry skin), also known as “Winter Itch”. This condition is extremely prevalent in cold climates and tends to disproportionately effect the elderly.
As for the appearance of eczema on the hands, while it is not the most common place, it is not at all uncommon since the hands are most often exposed to the air.