Fingertips Peeling? Try These Derm-Recommended Remedies for Relief
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
“Why are my fingertips peeling” you ask? “We use our hands for everything,” says Dustin Portela, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon based in Boise, Idaho. And when those hands start showing signs of wear and tear—like peeling fingertips, for example—we’re quick to notice the disruption it brings to daily life. Dry, callused hands are a pretty common side-effect of brutal winters or working with your hands, but peeling fingertips, specifically, can sometimes indicate a bigger issue. If you’re wondering, “Why are my fingertips peeling?” Keep reading for a dermatologists’ answers.
Peeling fingertips causes and treatment
The spectrum of possibilities behind your flakey fingers is wide. So let’s break them down into a few categories.
Environmental
Sometimes the issue has more to do with habits or external factors than it does with what’s going on inside your body. Some examples are:
1. Frequent hand washing
“Our fingers come in contact with many substances which can cause skin allergy or irritation reactions,” explains Dr. Portela. “One of the most common irritant reactions is simply frequent hand washing. This inflammation can lead to peeling, or cracked fingertips.” Using hot water can exacerbate the issue.
To restore moisture to the hands, Ranella Hirsch, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Boston, recommends washing only when needed with warm, not hot water, and swapping traditional harsh hand soaps with gentle, fragrance-free cleansers like Vanicream Liquid Cleanser. Other derm favorites include gentle washes from Aveeno, Cetaphil, and Neutrogena. Follow each wash with a nourishing hand cream.
Instead of excessive hand washing, Dr. Portela adds that you can alternate time at the sink with a squirt of hydrating hand sanitizer, too.
2. Dry climate
Dr. Hirsch says dry climate (be it super cold or super hot) is another cause of peeling fingertips. She recommends seeking ambient humidity where you can, keeping a humidifier nearby whenever possible, and of course, moisturizing consistently. “Before bed it is a good idea to treat the tips of the fingers with Vaseline or Aquaphor and apply gloves or finger cots to lock in that hydration and allow the skin to heal,” Dr. Portela adds.
3. Sunburn
This one may seem obvious, but sunburn can cause peeling skin as it heals. In serious cases, sunburn blisters may form. To get rid of sunburn fast, try applying an anti-itch cream to alleviate discomfort, and slather on lotion and aloe vera to keep the area calm and moisturized.
4. Harsh substances or chemicals
Whether your job consists of working with harsh chemicals, your nightly application of face exfoliators has wreaked havoc on your hands, or you forgot to wear gloves while cleaning the house, any exposure to harsh products can cause irritation and peeling, also known as contact dermatitis. Dr. Portela recommends wearing gloves to protect them whenever possible, especially when cleaning and washing the dishes.
5. Friction dermatitis
“Friction dermatitis can occur when we use our hands for repetitive tasks like sorting paper or other abrasive surfaces that will wear the tips of the fingers,” says Dr. Portela.
Underlying medical conditions
There are various medical conditions and medications that include peeling skin as a side effect. The most common are:
6. Eczema
Some people are naturally more prone to eczema, a skin condition that weakens the skin’s protective barrier and its ability to stay moisturized, resulting in redness, inflammation, and peeling. Keeping symptoms at bay is all about knowing what triggers them, a conversation you should have with your dermatologist.
7. Vitamin deficiency
A severe vitamin B-3 or niacin deficiency, also known as pellagra, can cause dermatitis, including peeling fingertips. More serious symptoms include diarrhea and dementia. Pellagra is most commonly the result of poor diet and lack of nutrients, per the Mayo Clinic. You can get niacin through foods like potatoes, beets, rice, and oily fish like salmon and tuna. Vitamin B-3 supplements may also help, but should be approved by your doctor.
8. Kawasaki’s disease
Kawasaki’s disease is an inflammation of the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels that mainly affects children, and one of the symptoms, Dr. Hirsch says, is peeling fingers, which can be accompanied by hand swelling, per the Mayo Clinic. Other symptoms include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and extremely red eyes.
9. Exfoliative keratolysis
Dr. Hirsch names exfoliative keratolysis, a condition that manifests as blisters and peeling of the skin on the palms and fingers, as a cause of peeling fingertips. It often shows up in the summer months, per the Primary Care Dermatology Society, and is likely due to excessive sweating. Exfoliation and moisturizing creams can help.
10. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that appears as inflammation, redness, scaliness, and sometimes raised plaques on the skin, and peeling fingertips can be a symptom. At-home topical treatments for the condition include steroid creams, salicylic acid, and coal tar, per the National Psoriasis Foundation.
When to see a doctor
If you experience pain, infection, or your condition interferes with everyday life, it’s time to schedule a doctor’s appointment. Dr. Portela adds that if you’ve done the home treatment of moisturizing and wearing protective gloves for two weeks without improvement, that’s also a red flag.
“There may be an infection that needs to be treated before the skin can heal,” he explains. “In some circumstances you may need patch testing to determine if you are allergic to something in your environment. Sometimes a topical steroid is needed to decrease inflammation which allows the skin to heal.”
You Might Also Like