Peeling Skin on Fingertips

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.

When the upper layer of our skin, the epidermis, gets damaged, it can start to peel off. Whether you have damaged the skin due to sunburn or an infection, the condition itself can be discomforting and stressful. So, the first thing to do is find out the root cause in order to fix the issue. Which is why, we will be looking at some of the common causes.

Causes

As our skin is exposed to a variety of elements - wind, sun, heat, dust, pollution - it can surely irritate and/or damage it. And, if this continues for a longer time, it can lead to skin peeling. Here are some conditions that can cause it.

Atopic Dermatitis (eczema)
It is a condition that can make your skin red and itchy. In addition to it, skin becomes dry and scaly as a consequence of eczema.

Medicines
Certain medicines and course of treatment like chemotherapy can have a negative impact on your skin, leading to dryness and peeling. Another thing which can happen is if an ointment is used, like an acne cream, that is too acidic for your skin.

Kawasaki Disease
Most common among children, this disease happens when the artery walls flare up. Lymph nodes and mucous membranes are typically affected but skin is affected. This happens specially on palm and fingers.

Sunburn
If your skin is exposed to the sun for long periods of time, it can have severe effects. The skin on and around fingertips is very sensitive and thus, peeling due to overexposure of sun is not unheard of. But the good part is that the skin which is affected is peeled off, making way for new layer.

Excess Moisture or Extremely Dry Hands
While moisturizing the skin is essential, over-doing it is not beneficial and can lead to peeled fingertips and toes. Washing hands too frequently or sweaty hands over a period of time can also be the cause.

Infections and Allergies
Fungal infection targeting the hands and toes is another culprit in this whole affair. Sometimes, if you have an allergy from a medicine, that too can lead to peeling of skin.

Treatment

Moisturizing
If your fingers are dry and are not properly moisturized, then the first thing you can try to do is apply a good moisturizing cream. Ensure that you wash and dry your hands thoroughly before doing that.

A few items from your kitchen can help solve this issue. Honey, peeled and grated cucumber, fresh mint extract and honey, and turmeric and oil paste can work wonders. Olive oil too, can be amazing to heal this condition.

Oat'heal'
Again an item from your kitchen, oats are great to deal with this problem. Just dip your fingers in a bowl containing warm water and oats. Soak your fingers for a 10 minutes or until the skin absorbs the mixture and then pat dry. Applying a gentle moisturizer afterwards will do the trick.

Water Remedy
Dehydration can also be one of the factors. So, drink enough water on a daily basis to keep your skin hydrated. Moreover, our digestive tract will remain more toxin free, the more water we drink as it will flush the toxins out if that is the cause.

Apart from this, the course of treatment will depend on the reason behind skin peeling. Eventually that root cause would have to be targeted to cure this problem.