Natural Remedies

Peeling Fingertips: Why It Happens and What to Do About It

The skin on the fingertips can crack or peel, which can be both concerning and uncomfortable. Skin peeling on the fingertips is not very rare, as most instances of peeling skin occur on the feet, hands, or lips.

While skin peeling is generally not a cause for major concern, it can be linked with several medical conditions, so a timely diagnosis is necessary. Skin peeling on the fingertips may also be accompanied by other skin problems, such as itchiness, a rash, or dryness.

Causes of skin peeling on fingertips

Environmental factors or underlying conditions can cause skin peeling on the fingertips [1].

Environmental

Environmental causes of peeling skin are external instead of internal issues. This group can include the weather and finger-sucking in children.

  • Frequent hand-washing
  • Climate
  • Sunburn
  • Finger-sucking
  • Chemicals

Underlying conditions

An array  of underlying medical conditions can cause the skin on the fingertips to peel, including [2][3]:

  • Hand eczema 
  • Exfoliative keratolysis
  • Psoriasis
  • Allergic contact dermatitis
  • Kawasaki disease

Prevention

There are some simple lifestyle changes and tips a person can follow to prevent cracking or skin peeling on the fingertips. These include:

  1. using cleaning products or wearing gloves when washing dishes  
  2. washing hands with warm water rather than hot water
  3. wearing warm gloves outside during cold weather using a moisturizer after fingertips have been in contact with water
  4. Hand Creams for eczema, dry skin, and psoriasis are available for buying online, but you may wish to check first with a medical practitioner to make sure the one you get is suitable for you.

Home Remedies To Stop Peeling Fingertips

1. Soothe With Coconut Oil

In the past, when we didn’t have chemically-laden creams and moisturizers, coconut oil was the one-stop solution for all sorts of skin conditions – patchy skin, dry skin; it was even used as an antidote for pimples! But not all are comfortable with the stickiness it brings, which is why it has been ignored.

Bring it back in usage and use it to get rid of all that dry, peeling, flaky skin. Apply it and wear cotton gloves. Do this two times a day – once overnight – and watch how your hands come back to normal in just seven days! If you are not comfortable with coconut oil or don’t have it, using olive oil or almond oil will also work.

[Read: Benefits of Coconut Oil For Skin]

2. Eat And Drink The Good Stuff

Do you know that more than half of skin issues are caused due to poor nutrition? Consumption of nourishing juices and foods such as plain yogurt, mixed vegetable juice, and protein-rich foods such as lean meats, beans, etc., will help your body and skin return to their original healthy state.

3. Petroleum Jelly

If there’s one substance after oil that can really help flaky, dry skin, it is petroleum jelly. Of course, it is as sticky, but your sensitive fingertips need that deep moisturizing to get back to routine. Apply it overnight, wear gloves, and notice the tenderness in the morning.

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4. Vitamin E Pill

The oil inside vitamin E capsules is an excellent remedy for dry skin. However, we may have to use more than one capsule to cover all our fingers. If that’s extreme, use natural vitamin E oil on the area. It naturally heals skin peeling on the fingertips.

5. Bananas

Don’t throw away overripe bananas; simply mash one, mix a little milk and honey to it, and apply it on the dry fingertips. Do this frequently and watch the skin absorb all the lovely nutrients this very strong mixture has to offer.

6. Sip Away All Day

We may have heard this a thousand times, but it still has to be repeated: drink as enough water in a day. And by that, we mean at least ten glasses. It keeps us hydrated and takes care of most skin issues, including dry skin and peeling skin on the fingertips.

7. Moisturize With Honey

Honey is another brilliant moisturizer for our skin. All we need to do is apply little on the affected places and leave on for 30 minutes. It goes without saying that we can’t do much when you have this on, but it is a tip worth trying.

[Read Manuka Honey for Skin]

8. Oats And Milk

Make a thick mixture of milk and oats and apply it to the fingertips. The milk moisturizes, and the oats help scrub away the flaky bits of skin that may be causing irritation and trouble.

9. Aloe Vera

Peeling skin around the fingertips can cause burning and irritation, for which the application of fresh aloe gel is the best remedy. Simply take a stalk of aloe, scrape out some of its gel, and apply it to the affected places at least two times a day. Let it remain till it dries.

[Read: Aloe Vera for Burns]

Bottom Line

There are several reasons our fingertips may be peeling. Mild symptoms may be best treated with home remedies, time, and OTC moisturizers or creams. See your physician right away if you’re also experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or intense pain. You may have a severe medical issue that requires immediate treatment.

You should also see your physician if the peeling doesn’t improve within seven days. Your physician can help determine what’s causing the symptoms and develop a relevant treatment plan.

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