Peeling skin on the hands: pathology or temporary discomfort

If the face is our passport, then the business card is our hands. When your hands dry out and crack, even with an impeccable manicure, the overall impression of the whole “picture” deteriorates. Dry hand skin is a problem that almost every woman tries to cope with with varying degrees of success. Very dry hand skin is a cause for serious concern. If the skin on your hands dries and cracks, and deep cracks from which blood sometimes comes out create discomfort, then it’s time to sound the alarm. Let's find out how to get rid of dry skin on your hands and what to do if the skin on your hands is cracking.

Why do cracks appear?

The skin of the fingers protects the muscles, blood vessels, and nerve endings, which are so important for performing delicate work. It is in this part of the body that this organ is exposed to the greatest mechanical, temperature, and chemical influences. The cells of the epidermis are so organized that they are able to compensate for the influence of unfavorable factors for a long time. However, in the presence of somatic pathology, a lack of vitamins, microelements, or an imbalance of water balance, the skin ceases to recover quickly. Impaired blood supply and cell nutrition leads to the appearance of painful, difficult-to-heal cracks.

External causes of skin cracking

The reasons why the skin becomes very dry, the corners and bends of the fingers burst, may be different for men and women. Among the former, a neglectful attitude towards hands prevails, combined with harmful work in the fresh air. The latter have exposure to household chemicals, frequent and prolonged contact with water, and somatic pathologies.

All external factors that cause the skin to dry can be presented in the form of a table.

If the reason why your hands are cracking lies in external factors, the wounds are located on the back of the hand, do not appear in the leg area, and heal quickly.

What diseases lead to cracking of the skin?

The dominance of internal factors leads to the formation of cracks around the nails, at the tips and on the bends of the fingers. In the presence of a somatic disease, not only the hands dry out, but also the heels, elbows, legs, back, and stomach. The resulting cracks are extremely painful and take a long time to heal.

If the skin on your fingers often bursts, the causes should be sought in the following diseases:

1. autoimmune pathologies
   : Sjogren's disease, psoriasis, eczema;

2. endocrine disorders
   : diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism;
3. infectious diseases
   : fungal infections, streptoderma;
4. hormonal changes
   : pregnancy, menopause, taking oral contraceptives, different phases of the menstrual cycle;
5. allergic reactions
   : atopic dermatitis, allergic eczema;
6. lack of vitamins and microelements
   : malnutrition, gastrointestinal diseases leading to impaired digestion and absorption;

7. changes in water and electrolyte balance;
8. natural age-related changes in the body;
9. hereditary diseases: ichthyosis, keratoderma.

The appearance of cracks in a child also indicates the need for a medical examination, since in healthy children the epidermis heals quickly.

If internal factors predominate, it is better to entrust the treatment of such injuries to a doctor. The first step is to contact a therapist, who will prescribe a blood test, conduct an external examination, and write a referral to other specialists. At the next stage, the patient will visit an endocrinologist and dermatologist.

Forecast

The prognosis for eczema is most often favorable.
If you start proper treatment in time, you can curb the disease and get rid of its consequences. With adequate therapy, itching and elements of the old rash disappear, a new rash does not appear. Eczema is a chronic disease, so it is worth adhering to preventive measures and maintaining a state of remission. However, the timing of relapse is still unpredictable. Doctors give the most favorable prognosis for acute eczema. Recovery may be worse if eczema develops in young children, the elderly, or people whose bodies are weakened by infection. To enhance drug treatment, a hypoallergenic diet, physical activity, walking and hardening will help.

What cream will help with cracked fingers?

The first remedy in the fight against skin damage is a properly selected cream. The product should eliminate dryness, nourish the skin, and protect from harmful influences. Creams are divided into two categories: pharmaceutical and cosmetic.

Medicines are an ointment with medicinal substances:

1. Bepanten
   - effective ointment No. 1 for rapid healing of wounds. Contains dexpanthenol, which stimulates active restoration of the epidermis.
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2. Solcoseryl
   - an ointment containing an extract from the blood of calves. Saturates cells with oxygen, stimulates metabolism.

3. Balm "Ambulance"
   — contains plant extracts, disinfects, anesthetizes the wound, accelerates healing.

4. Vitamin-containing medicines
   for external use: Radevit with vitamins A, E, D3, Aekol with vitamins A, E, K and carotene.

5. Actovegin ointment
   : in composition and mechanism of action it is similar to Solcoseryl.

6. Balm “Rescuer”
   , containing liposomal-emulsion complex No. 6. Its advantage is that it penetrates deeply into the cells and does not irritate the skin.

You can apply cosmetic hand creams several times a day. There are many inexpensive but effective products in this category: “Vitamin-Vaseline” cream, “Velor Chic”, “Velvet Handles”. You need to choose the cream whose tube says that it is intended for dry skin and performs the function of nutrition and protection.

What is maceration?

On hot summer days, almost all the feet sweat. One of the purposes of sweat is to cool the body, and therefore it is completely natural in the summer. Then the whole body, and therefore the feet, cool down. After all, there are over 500 sweat glands on the soles of our feet.

However, too much sweat on the feet can cause maceration, that is, softening of the epidermis. The macerated epidermis loses the features of vital tissue and becomes dead tissue.

Maceration in the interdigital spaces appears as cracked, uneven whitish epidermis. If this occurs on skin with hyperhidrosis, the skin around the maceration becomes intensely red and noticeably moist.

Masks to eliminate dry hands and heal wounds

When cracks appear on the fingers, they are treated in various ways, including traditional methods: baths, masks, oils. There are several proven recipes for hand masks that are easy to prepare at home:

1. 1 boiled potato is mixed with 1 tablespoon of milk. The mixture is applied to the wounds, paying special attention to where the fingers peel the most. The mask is used as a compress: wrap your hands in cellophane for half an hour.

2. Honey-sea buckthorn mask: mix sea buckthorn oil and honey in a ratio of 3:1. The mixture is applied to the damaged areas for half an hour, after which it is washed off, then lubricated with medicinal ointment.

3. Oatmeal mask: pour boiling water over the required amount of oatmeal and wait until it swells. The mixture is carefully applied to the hands, trying to cover all areas: the space between the fingers, the skin near the nails. Fifteen minutes of exposure will be enough. After the procedure, you should lubricate your hands with any suitable cream.
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You should not use herbal decoctions to remove the mask, as they have a drying property. It is better to lubricate your hands with medicinal or cosmetic cream after rinsing with warm water.

A child has cracked skin on his fingers: is this dangerous?

If the cracks are small and shallow, they are not dangerous in themselves. However, they violate one of the main functions of the skin - protective. Therefore, if an infection gets into them, an inflammatory process may develop, followed by suppuration. This means that even the smallest areas of chapped skin cannot be left unattended. It is necessary to find out the reason for their appearance and begin appropriate treatment.

In addition to the possible penetration of infection, cracks in a child’s hands are dangerous for another reason. They hurt and cause discomfort; it may be difficult for the baby to bend his fingers and touch anything. They can also interfere with a child’s social adaptation, causing him psychological discomfort when communicating with peers, at school or in kindergarten.

Sources:

1. Smirnova G.I. Atopic dermatitis and skin infections in children, Russian pediatric journal, 2014
2. E.N. Saverskaya, Diaper dermatitis: answers to questions from pediatricians and parents in the light of current global trends, Medical Council magazine, 2019
3. I.I. Ryumina, V.V. Zubkov, Newborn skin care, Healthy Child magazine, 2017

Photos of eczema

Baths for healing cracks

Therapeutic baths should be done before using a mask or cream. A proper bath requires the following requirements:

• it should be warm (not hot);
• herbal decoctions with calendula, chamomile, and string should be used only in the presence of microbial inflammation;

• It is best to add a few drops of any oil to the bath;
• the procedure time should be limited to 10-15 minutes;
• After the bath you need to use a medicinal cream.

Before using any traditional method, you should make sure that there are no allergic reactions to the components.

It is better to treat cracked fingers with the help of the most effective baths. These include:

1. Mumiyo solution: dilute several tablets in warm water according to the instructions, use for 15 minutes.

2. Bath with flax seeds: pour 1 tablespoon of seeds with a glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour. After straining, add cream with a fat content of 20-30%. The procedure time is 10-15 minutes. The bath is suitable for daily use.

3. Bath with tea tree oil.

After the procedure, you should not work with your hands or come into contact with irritants. Therefore, it is better to take a bath before bed, and thoroughly lubricate the dried skin with cream.

Experts' opinion

According to the results of clinical studies conducted by the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, it was proven that when using a complex of TM LA-KRI products, the level of skin moisture decreased by 4% in comparison, and in the group that used placebo, the level of moisture decreased by 9%.

The conducted clinical study proves the high efficiency, safety and tolerability of products for daily skin care of children with mild and moderate forms of atopic dermatitis and during remission, accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life of patients. As a result of therapy, a decrease in the activity of the inflammatory process, a decrease in dryness, itching and flaking was noted.

It has been proven that La Cree cream for dry skin:

• eliminates dryness and flaking;
• retains the skin's own moisture;
• protects skin from wind and cold.

Nutrition for cracked fingers

If damage appears on the thumb in the corners of the pads near the nails, this indicates a lack of nutrients. This may be accompanied by brittle nails and hair loss. Eating the following products will help heal cracks:

• eggs;
• nuts;
• butter and vegetable oil;
• fatty dairy products;
• legumes;
• greenery;
• beef;
• vegetables;
• cereals

General and specialized vitamin and mineral complexes designed to improve the condition of skin, hair and nails should be added to the diet. These include:

• Merz special dragee;
• Lady-S Formula;
• Evalar “Beauty from within”;
• Doppelgerz Beauty Biotin;
• Solgar "Skin, hair, nails."

Complex vitamin and mineral supplements also help improve skin condition and strengthen the immune system. For men, the pharmacy sells separate drugs: Alphabet for men, Men-s formula “Active Day”, Duovit for men.

How to properly care for hands with frequent cracks

Even if there is no cracking of the fingers, special rules of hygienic care and handling of the skin should be observed. They are valid as an additional component of treatment during the presence of wounds and in their absence.

1. wash your hands with warm water;
2. use mild soap marked “cream soap”;
3. After washing your hands, apply nourishing cream;
4. minimize contact with irritants, especially hard, chlorinated water;
5. use gloves when working with chemicals and soil;
6. in the cold season, protect your hands with mittens and gloves.

Cracks in the fingers cause a lot of trouble: severe pain, aesthetic unattractiveness. However, with the help of ointments, masks, baths, and proper nutrition, they can be easily dealt with. If you follow the rules of hand care, your skin will crack much less often.

What is the difference between maceration and mycosis?

In contrast to maceration, mycosis is sometimes caused by Trichophyton rubrum or Trichophyton interdigitale. Mycosis on the feet differs from maceration in both appearance and smell. The smell of mycosis is very characteristic and is easily recognized by an orthopedist.

The appearance of mycosis is distinguished by its yellowish-brown color and the presence of additional, not yet cracked, microscopic bubbles that appear next to the already cracked and jagged ones. The vesicles are filled with liquid containing fungal spores. Often they are so small that only the experienced eye of a podiatrist can see them with a magnifying glass. Deposits of necrotic, fungal epidermis can stick together, becoming a threat to the formation of interdigital ulcers, which are very painful and difficult to remove and heal.