Skip to content
Skin peeling on your hands is usually because of the environmental factors and other irritants that our hands come in contact with. It is quite common and quite easily treated using home remedies. Hence it is not a problem one need stress about greatly. However, if the peeling of skin does not stop after treating it with home remedies, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Few of the common causes for skin peeling on hands are
1. External Or Environmental Factors For Skin Peeling
These factors are completely external and sometimes just can’t be controlled.
Dry Skin
Although the dry skin is predominant during the colder months of the year, it truly depends from person to person and their reactions to climatic changes. Symptoms include itching, red skin, tight or stretched feeling on the skin.
Sunburn
Excess and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during a hot summer can lead to a sunburn. Peeling of skin off your hands is the most common symptom of a sunburn. Your skin also looks reddish and tender to touch.
Frequent Hand washing
Washing your hands frequently with soap can lead to skin peeling off your fingertips. This is because frequent washing with chemicals can wear off the lipid barrier on your skin, leading to the soap to get absorbed into the more sensitive, inner regions of your skin. Hot water, lack of moisture and using dry paper towels can cause irritation to your skin.
Using Harsh Chemicals
Many a time, we unknowingly overuse moisturisers, fragrances, hand washes and detergents, that lead to peeling fingertips, due to the presence of certain chemicals in them.
Reaction To Hot Or Cold Weather
Dry climates like cold winters or the other extreme- hot summers can cause the skin around the fingers to start peeling.
Finger Sucking
Thumb or finger sucking can be a cause of skin peeling on hands too. This is most predominantly seen in kids with this habit. While many kids grow out of it naturally, some might need an intervention. It is advisable to consult a doctor if this habit causes finger peeling in your child.
2. Medical Problems Or Diseases leading To Skin Peeling
While we have understood the external and environmental factors for peeling fingertips, there are a few medical conditions that can also cause this.
Allergies
Sometimes you can get an allergic reaction or an infection due to something you touched. This could lead to redness, itchiness and in some cases, peeling of skin off your fingertips. People can be allergic to latex or even the nickel found in jewellery. This will lead to an initial redness followed by blistering and then skin peeling off the affected areas.
Hand Eczema
While this condition can be caused by certain chemicals, your genes also play an important role. A few other symptoms include itchiness, redness, blistering and tenderness in your hands.
Buy ThriveCo Skin Expert Skincare Oil For Eczema
Psoriasis
Peeling of skin from the fingertips can be a symptom of Psoriasis. It is a chronic disease that appears as lesions on the skin. If you have been diagnosed with psoriasis, it is advisable to continue with your treatment plan. If you are experiencing symptoms and haven’t been checked for this skin disease, consult a doctor immediately.
Also Read : 8 Most Effective & Natural Treatment for Psoriasis
Kawasaki Disease
It is a rare disease that manifests in children under the age of five. The symptoms roll out in three stages. The first stage includes high fever, while the second stage symptoms include peeling of skin from the fingertips and the last stage includes swelling and redness of limbs.
Vitamin A toxicity
Excess or deficit of vitamin intake can also lead to bodily imbalance manifesting through symptoms that include skin peeling off your hands. Some other symptoms include nausea, fatigue and headaches. If you are experiencing issues on these lines, visiting a doctor is advisable.
Exfoliative Keratolysis
This condition often occurs during the hotter months (summer). It causes blistering, redness and itching which eventually lead to peeling of the skin.
Natural Ways To Deal With Peeling Skin
Peeling fingertips are way more common than one would think it is. Hands are the parts of our body that most often make initial contact with any object. But when it comes to taking care of them, we often neglect it. Our negligence sometimes leads to problems like peeling fingertips- which isn’t painful, but highly uncomfortable. Here are a few natural, home remedies to help with peeling skin.
Also Read : Skin Peeling on Face - Causes and Remedies
1. Cucumber
Not only do cucumbers treat peeling skin, but also makes our hands softer and fairer. Slice a few pieces of cucumber and rub it on your palms and the affected areas. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
2. Honey And Lemon
One of the most effective methods to treat peeling fingertips is by using a honey and lime mix. Add Honey and lemon juice to lukewarm water and mix it well. Soak your hands in this solution for about 5-10 minutes. After soaking, pat it dry and moisturize your hands with olive oil.
3. Aloe Vera
Take one stalk of aloe, scrape off its gel and apply it directly to your affected areas. Being a wonderful cooling agent, it will not only treat peeling fingertips but also help with the irritation and burning sensation. Apply the aloe vera gel twice a day for observing the best results.
4. Milk
Milk is a lavish and luxurious treatment for healing peeling fingertips. As a natural moisture retainer, a topical application is encouraged. Use milk with a higher percentage of fat content for this treatment. Mix one teaspoon of honey in two teaspoons of milk and apply it on the affected areas. Follow this routine on a daily basis till the skin heals.
5. Moisturiser
Washing your hands regularly during the day alone isn’t enough. It has to be followed up with a moisturising routine. Moisturisers contain natural and organic properties are very useful. Petroleum jelly is also a very effective alternative. Make sure you follow up every handwash with a moisturiser to prevent peeling fingertips.
Also Read : Top 15 Homemade Moisturizers For Dry, Oily And Sensitive Skin
6. Oats
Another ingredient that you can borrow from the kitchen would be oats. Add oats to a bowl of warm water and soak your hands in it. Stay put for about 10-15 minutes before you pat your hands dry. Apply a gentle moisturiser afterwards. Try this procedure out on a bi-weekly basis.
7. Nuts
Consuming nuts on a daily basis has proven to be very beneficial in multiple ways. Nuts contain Omega 3 and Fatty Acids, very important nutrients that help speed up the process of healing peeling skin.
8. Proteins
Higher levels of protein in your diet implies a better rate of metabolism in the body. Proteins help in faster healing, rebuilding and regeneration of skin cells. Protein intake through meat, egg or pulses are the best choices. So include adequate amounts of protein to your daily diet to see the changes.
9. Olive Oil
Olive oil is rich in good fats like omega 3 that act as a catalyst in the healing process of peeling fingertips. Heat one cup of extra virgin olive oil and add three drops pf lavender oil to this mix. Soak your fingertips in this mixture for about 5-10 minutes before washing it off with a mild soap. Rinse your hands with lukewarm water and pat them dry.
10. Rosewater and Sandalwood
Add two tablespoons of sandalwood powder to three tablespoons of rosewater and honey. Apply it on your fingertips and leave it on for about 20 minutes before you wash it off with a mild soap.
11. Coconut Oil
One of the age-old techniques in retaining moisture is using coconut oil. It prevents skin from dryness, itching, blistering and peeling off. Apply coconut oil generously on the affected areas on a daily basis before going to bed.
12. Warm Water Soaking
Water surprisingly has properties that help with skin conditions like skin peeling. Soak your hands in a warm water bath for about 10 minutes every day, to see wonderful results in a short span of time.
13. Drinking Water
Peeling fingertips might be a sign of dehydration, in which case the best thing to do would be to drink plenty of water. Drinking enough water will ensure regular flushing out of toxins and also is a sure-fire technique for treating peeling skin.
14. Mint
Amidst the various other medicinal properties of mint, it is also used for healing peeling fingertips. This treatment is also useful in the case of other skin conditions. Extract the juice from some fresh mint leaves and apply this mixture on your fingers before you go to bed, every night.
15. Vitamin E
You can pop a Vitamin E capsule and apply the oil inside on your peeling skin. Use more if one pill doesn’t suffice. An alternative to this would be to use natural Vitamin E oil instead.
16. Petroleum Jelly
Right after oil, petroleum jelly is the second best alternative to reverse dry, flaky and peeling skin. It helps deep moisturising the affected areas. Apply it on your fingertips and wear gloves overnight. You’ll be surprised to see the softness in your skin by morning.
17. Banana
While one option is to use the banana alone, the other is to try packs that really help with peeling fingertips. To banana pulp, add sour cream, sugar and olive oil to help with quicker healing of the skin. Apply this mix on for about 30 minutes before you wash and pat your face dry.
18. Covering Peeled Hands
Unlike the other points we’ve covered so far, this is more of a preventative measure. But if you want all the above techniques to work on your skin, you need to cover and protect your hands from harmful chemicals. It is because of exposure to various irritants that you are in suffering from this problem in the first place! So wear gloves.
When To Consult A Doctor
Peeling fingertips can be symptoms to various problems. If they are mild symptoms, following natural, home remedies will suffice. But, if you are experiencing severe symptoms and excruciating pain, burning sensations or even difficulty in breathing, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Also, if the peeling doesn’t go away in a week’s time after trying out the remedies mentioned in this article, seeking medical attention would be the wise thing to do.
Disclaimer: All the content on www.anveya.com/blogs/top-tips is solely for information. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health care provider. The information, suggestion or remedies mentioned on this site are provided without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied.
