Skin peels when the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, is partially shed by the body. Your skin uses the peeling or flaking process as a way to repair or recover from damage. Environmental factors, skin conditions, allergies, infections, or particular diseases and treatments could all be to blame for the damage.
Your epidermis is the area of peeling skin that you can see. The thinnest and outermost layer of your skin is this one. Even though it is thin, your epidermis is an essential component of your body’s defense against bacteria and germs. Additionally, it produces new skin cells to replace the countless ones that die off each day.
Causes of skin peeling on hands or fingers
- Consistent hand washing
Dry skin is a common condition that can cause peeling and cracking of the skin. Hand washing with soap on a regular basis can lead to dry skin.
Even though it’s crucial to frequently wash your hands to stop the spread of dangerous bacteria, using soap strips the skin’s natural oils. Following the loss of these oils, the skin is unable to retain moisture, leading to dry skin or soap dermatitis.
People who frequently wash their hands are advised to moisturize after washing, avoid drying the skin with rough paper towels, and wash their hands only when absolutely necessary.
- Climate.
Additionally, extremely arid weather can dry out the skin, resulting in peeling or cracking. This can occur in cold, dry weather, especially if the person is outside without wearing warm gloves.
- Sunburn.
UV (ultraviolet) rays from sunburn cause skin damage. Before it begins to peel or flake, the skin may become warm, sore, red, and tender.
Even though the majority of sunburns are minor and heal in a week or less, they can also raise a person’s risk of skin cancer.
If you have sunburned skin, you should avoid the sun and use aloe vera lotion to keep your skin moisturized while it heals.
- Finger-sucking.
Although it’s fairly common, finger- or thumb-sucking in kids can cause painful sores and peeling skin on the fingertips. Even though the majority of kids outgrow this habit, they might initially need encouragement and supervision.
Adults who habitually suck or chew their fingers while stressed or bored may also bite their nails.
- Chemicals.
In the United States, about 13 million people work in positions that could expose them to harmful chemicals. This covers work in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.
Chemicals in many soaps, solvents, and cleaning products can dry out or irritate the skin.
It is important for anyone who frequently comes into contact with chemicals to wear protective clothing, wash their hands frequently, and moisturize them.
- Exfoliative keratopathy
Peeling of the skin is a common symptom of exfoliative keratolysis. Young adults are frequently affected, and it tends to happen more frequently in the summer.
On the fingertips, superficial air-filled blisters may develop and then burst, leaving peeled areas behind. Then, although they are typically not itchy, these areas can turn red, dry, and cracked.
Exfoliative keratolysis may be made worse by contact with irritants like soap, detergents, and solvents, despite the fact that the exact cause is unknown. Using gentle, chemical-free soaps and staying away from some cleaning supplies may be advantageous.
- Psoriasis.
Skin patches that are red and inflamed are a symptom of psoriasis. Although it can occur anywhere on the body, it is more frequently found on the scalp, lower back, elbows, and knees than on the fingertips.
Because psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, healthy skin cells are mistakenly attacked by the immune system. It’s not spreadable.
When psoriasis flares up, a person may experience an aggravation of their condition. Numerous environmental factors, such as wounds, dietary choices, humidity, and stress, can cause flare-ups.
There is no known treatment for psoriasis, but it can be managed with topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, and specialized creams or ointments applied to the skin.
- Allergic contact dermatitis
When someone touches something they are allergic to, they can develop allergic contact dermatitis. For instance, if someone has a nickel allergy, touching nickel may cause their skin to itch, crack, or peel.
The same effect is also produced by some natural poisons, including poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
- Kawasaki disease.
The rare Kawasaki disease primarily affects children under the age of five. The most obvious symptom is a fever that lasts longer than five days. The fingertips may also experience skin peeling due to Kawasaki disease.
A quick diagnosis is essential because Kawasaki disease must be treated in a hospital and can have serious consequences. Approximately 5% of cases involve heart complications, and 1% of those cases result in death.
What are the best foods for preventing hand skin peeling?
- Cucumber
Peel and slice a cucumber into thick pieces. Don’t wash the affected hand for 10 to 15 minutes after applying the slices; instead, let it dry. After that, massage your palm with a quality moisturizer or vitamin E oil and wash it with warm water.
- Banana
Do you discard your overripe bananas that aren’t edible? If you notice that your fingers or palms are peeling, don’t. Apply it to your dry hands after mashing it and adding a little honey and milk to it. Your hands will appreciate your regular practice as your skin absorbs the wonderful nutrients that this potent mixture offers.
- Water
Drink as much water as you can each day, even if you’ve heard this advice a million times already. And by that, we mean ten glasses or more. It maintains your hydration and treats the majority of skin issues, such as dry skin and peeling skin on the fingertips.
- Coconut
Peeling skin is just one of the dermatological issues that coconut can treat. It functions by moisturizing your skin, which keeps it supple and soft. A specific type of fatty acids found in coconuts enable it to penetrate the skin quickly and deeply. It effectively prevents dryness, itching, and flaking as a result. Additionally, its antibacterial and antifungal properties guard against infections. Numerous times per day and at night, generously apply coconut oil to your peeling palms and let it sit there while you sleep. Clean it off the following morning.
- Use milk
One of the most crucial things to keep in mind is to frequently moisturize your hands, and the best way to do so is with milk. Milk, which is high in micronutrients, will soften your skin and stop it from further peeling. Honey should be added to a bowl of warm milk before you dip your hands in it. You will soon notice a change if you consistently practice this. You could also have a warm milk and nut beverage before bed. This will maintain your body’s temperature and moisturize your skin.
Conclusion
The sun, dry air, cold weather, and frequent hand washing are a few environmental factors that contribute to peeling hands. Allergies, eczema, psoriasis, infections, or acral peeling skin syndrome are a few medical causes of peeling hands.
Drinking lots of water and moisturizing the skin are the best ways to stop peeling skin on the hands.
