Peeling skin around the fingertips is a very common problem. The skin around the fingers is gentle and sensitive and if proper care is not taken, you can suffer from peeling fingertips. This problem can cause a lot of discomfort and can be embarrassing, too.
There are several reasons behind this skin problem. Some of the known causes are dry skin, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, cold and dry weather, frequent washing of hands, use of harsh chemicals, and allergies.
Infections such as some types of staph infections, fungal infections, vitamin deficiencies and some other conditions may also contribute to this problem.
Peeling fingertips is usually a temporary problem and will heal in a few days when new skin is generated. However, if peeling fingertips is causing a problem for you, there are some natural treatments that you can try at home to speed up the healing process.
Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of peeling fingertips.
1. Warm Water Soak
Soak your hands in warm water for about 10 minutes every day to deal with peeling fingertips. There are two benefits of this simple remedy. First, the skin around your fingertips will become supple, and secondly, the dry skin will start falling off.
For best results, add some honey and lemon juice to the warm water before soaking your hands in it. After soaking, pat dry your hands and put on some good-quality moisturizer, or simply vitamin E oil. You can also apply some olive oil to maintain the moisture level of your hands.
2. Cucumber
Cucumber can also be used to treat peeling fingertips. It will help keep your skin fresh, moisturized and smooth.
- Cut a fresh cucumber into thick slices. Gently rub the slices on the affected skin so that the juice absorbs well into the skin.
- You can also apply grated cucumber over the affected skin for about 30 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Repeat daily until you are satisfied with the results.
3. Oats
Another kitchen item that can be used to treat peeling fingertips is oats. This remedy will effectively remove dead skin cells from your fingers and make them soft and smooth.
- Mix a handful of powdered oats in a large bowl of warm water.
- Soak your fingers in it for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Wash your hands with clean water and pat dry gently using a soft cotton towel.
- Apply a gentle moisturizer.
- For best results, follow this remedy daily before going to bed.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an excellent home remedy for a number of skin problems including peeling skin. It moisturizes your skin and keeps it soft and supple.
It contains medium chain fatty acids that allow it to penetrate quickly into the skin. Thus, it combat dryness, itching and flaking. Plus, its antifungal and antibacterial properties protect against infections.
Simply apply coconut oil generously on your peeling fingertips several times a day. For best results, leave it on overnight and wash it off the next morning.
5. Milk
Milk is a luxurious treatment for peeling fingertips. Before going to sleep, drink a glass of warm milk with some honey. This will help you to enjoy better and relaxing sleep while also treating skin dryness.
As milk is a natural skin moisturizer, you can also apply milk on the affected skin. For this remedy, use milk with higher fat content.
- Mix two tablespoons of milk and one tablespoon of honey. Apply this mixture on the skin and massage gently. This will help the skin hold in moisture.
- Another option is to soak your fingers in warm milk for 10 minutes daily and then wash it off with water. Follow up with a moisturizer or just vitamin E oil.
6. Aloe Vera
A simple remedy for treating peeling fingertips is to use pure aloe vera gel. Aloe vera has cooling and soothing properties that will help treat dry, painful or irritating peeling fingertips. It will also lock in moisture and protect the skin from different types of infection.
- Extract the succulent gel from an aloe vera leaf and apply it on the affected skin a few times a day.
- You can also drink two tablespoons of aloe vera juice daily.
Note: Drinking aloe vera gel may have a laxative effect so not drink in excess. Plus, women should not drink it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
7. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a great moisturizer for dry skin. Soaking your fingers in warm olive oil will deeply moisturize and nourish your skin. Being rich in vitamin E, it will also promote skin healing.
- Slightly heat one-half cup of extra-virgin olive oil in a microwave or double boiler.
- Pour the warm oil in a bowl and add three drops of lavender essential oil.
- Soak your dry fingertips in the warm oil for 10 minutes.
- Gently rinse your hands with lukewarm water, pat dry and then apply some moisturizer.
8. Honey
Honey has healing and moisturizing properties that can help soothe and protect peeling fingertips. Being a natural antibacterial, it will also prevent infection.
- Rub a small amount of pure honey on the affected skin. Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
- Another option is to prepare a mixture of honey and olive oil and apply it on to the skin daily in order to keep it soft and supple.
- You can also make a mixture of two tablespoons of sandalwood powder, two or three teaspoons of rosewater and some honey and apply it on the affected area. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with warm water and a mild soap.
9. Mint Juice
Mint juice has many medicinal properties and can be used to treat peeling fingertips. It also works as a great natural moisturizer. This remedy helps treat skin dryness and other skin conditions like eczema.
- Extract the juice out of some fresh mint leaves.
- Before going to bed, apply this mint juice all over the affected skin.
- Leave it on overnight.
- The next morning, wash the skin with lukewarm water.
10. Banana
Banana pulp can also be used to help heal peeling fingertips as it is another great ingredient for moisturizing the skin. You can combine it with sour cream, sugar and olive oil to help your skin heal faster.
- Mix together the pulp of a ripe banana, some sour cream, a pinch of powdered sugar and one tablespoon of olive oil. (Instead of banana, you can also use the pulp of a ripe avocado.)
- Apply this mixture on the affected skin for at least 30 minutes.
- Wash and pat dry your hands thoroughly and apply some moisturizer.
- Do this daily for a few days.
Additional Tips
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated.
- Moisturize your peeling skin with a moisturizer, hand lotion, or just vitamin E oil after every wash.
- Do not wash your hands too often.
- Protect your hands by wearing cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes or doing other chores that expose your hands to harsh chemicals.
- Include more vitamin A, C, and E rich foods in your diet; dry, rough skin is often a sign of vitamin A deficiency.
To conclude, these remedies will help treat a temporary problem of peeling skin on your fingertips. However, if the problem is severe or lasts for more than one week, it is best to consult a doctor.
very useful and informative.
I to had this problom omce i started to jerk of but now i dont do it without lotion now it feels better and my skin dosnt peel no more so yea jerk off with lotion feels way better and it helps heel ur finger
Thanks for that John Salchichon. Yep, can see now, your a real wanker!
It is not my fingertips thst are peeling, it is all over my fingers.
the Same as min ! i dont know how to make it better !
Check your shampoo, conditioner and body washes for an ingredient called: METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE
This stuff is known to cause contact dermatitis!
After using bar soap for years I switched to body wash and started breaking out in a rash. I happened to randomly come across an article about it one day and then checked my bath products and it was in all of them.
Well this is Not in my liquid soap, thank God, I use Dr Woods Almond liquid soap BUT it is in my natural (?) dish washing liquid that I have been using for years and I have had this problem for years. That is Seventh Generation Dish Wash Liquid, I just ordered 2 more of them this morning and too late to cancel so will have to use gloves till I can find one without the METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE.
Still need to check my shampoo/conditioner. Thank you for this Benji, finally a reason why
Thanks for the tip! I found that shampoos, conditioners and even the dishwash liquid I buy are rid with that stuff!
I am having peeling skin on my 10 fingers tip.These problem will getting badly once I usedto raise my cloths without glove.
Every day I am using the Petroleum Jelly but some time it work some didn’t. I am going to follow your advices.
Thank you
Ranee
i have had a bad reaction to antibiotics and the skin started peeling off fingertips, tried the avacado, it worked quite well
I had a bad reaction to an antibiotic last February and I had rashes all over my face and chest as well as peeling fingertips. The rashes have just gone but my fingertips are still very sore and peeling, I use cotton gloves for everything even inside rubber gloves for housework. I will try some of these remedies, thank you
Anne
i think u should daily use warm water for about 5 to 10 minutes and then use moisturiser
this is helpful to you
I use burt’s bee’s hand salve every night before bed. Spread it all over your fingertips and let it soak in. After about a week my fingertips were no longer peeling!
really ?
I’ve had trouble with this for 10 to 15 years and have tried everything I hear about. What has helped me most is drinking 2 tablespoons of organic aloe vera juice daily. I use Lily of the Desert – “inner Filet” in a glass gar. I take one tablespoon in the morning and one tablespoon at night. You can mix with juice if you don’t like the taste. It can be applied topically but I haven’t tried doing that. I use Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go by OPI several times a day topically. The skin hasn’t completely stopped peeling but since starting these two treatments a couple of weeks ago they are much better and I feel like this is finally going to be the answer. Aloe Vera juice is good for so many things. My husband takes it for acid reflux and has had great results.
The skin on my hands are peeling and my friend thinks its a fungus but I don’t know this has happened to me in the past wen I was a little kid my hands always peeled and my skin is white and dead
I had small, painful cracks on my finger tips, fingers, and thumbs for over three years. it came on suddenly. My diet did not change. Went to 3 different dermatologists with no success “it’s dermatitis”, code for “we don’t have a clue”, tried all the creams, nothing worked. Prednisone (steroid) worked, but I did not want to stay on this. Researched this on sites such as this, and found the combination of things to stop this. It is gone. Very little soda, or diet soda. Zinc supplement twice daily, no disinfectant gels, mostly cold water hand washing, and another big one – non sulfate, paraben-free shampoo. It has been gone for over two years. Wanted to get this out there, as this has worked well for me. Hope this might shorten, for you, the irony I went through.
Name of the shampoo you use? Would appreciate it. Also, how many milligrams of zinc. Thank you
When my sis and I were little, my sis had peeling fingertips, and they told my mom to get the aerosol deodorant Arrid XX dry and spray on her fingertips and they should start getting better. It worked for her…..But it has to be the spray, not the solid or roll on. I hope it works for anyone who is willing to give it a try. I don’t remember how often to do it, because, like I said, I was little, I just remember I thought it was odd to put deodorant on her fingertips….
Most common cause of this skin peeling in our day to day life could be
Soap dettol
Vitamin e deficiency
Cig smoking
Ablution and application of cold water frequently.
Rubbing over the mosquito bitten area of skin .
Scalp itching
Groin itching
Applying bad company lotion on face via fingertips
These all can cause skin break of fingers
i hv also a problem of same from a month….when summer season get started….
In April 2014 immediately after burying a TV arial cable my left hand palm started drying out followed by the skin peeling in huge chunks (well half by astarting with the finger tip of the index finger. Once that had peeled my right palm did the same; I took it that there had been chemicals in the soil to which I had reacted – at least I had no finger prints left! Everything cleared up for nine months when exactly the same thing started afresh, left index finger tip through to right hand palm. Now it is starting afresh – the skin on my left finger tip is furrowed and the tip skin peeling….
There is no pain, I have been on unchanged anti-asthmatic and anti-histamine drugs daily for 13 years and this is not tied in to the rare times on which I have to take prednisilione (in short period small doses)
Need to share my story with you people that are having trouble with skin peeling, cracks , bleeding finger tips. I to suffered this problem for many years, went to doctor said it was exzema gave me cream for it, did nothing. Getting one breakout after another and so painful and only on my hands so I knew it was something that I was using very regular. The cream that the doctor gave me of course would do no good cause I was still using the soap that was causing the problem. Read the ingredients had methylisothiazolinone in it. Stopped using all products with this ingredient, have never had a breakout since, it has now been 4 months. What a horrible ingredient that is, so people suffering with peeling skin check soaps, shampoos etc. Many of the dish soaps do not list ingredients so need go online for that. Hope this helps even just one person that suffers with this.
Number 1works good I
Has anyone had a good result soaking 5 mins. in a cup of water and 1 spoon of vinegar?
Yes i agree what you said abt the ingredient found in the soap.., for now i am experiencing it after using body wash.., my first time to use this body wash then my first time suffering this peeling all over my palm and fingers.., so uncomfortable and embarrassing.., my regret trying this product.., i already stop using 3 weeks from then but still peeling and dryness still there gggrrr
I HAD 3RD DEGREE ON MY FORARM ON THE TOP SIDE,IT WAS DRAINING OR OOZING THIS TRANSPARENT LIQUID FROM WHERE THE BURNS WERE.SO MY FRIENDS TOOK ME TO EMERGENCY ROOM.THERE THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBED ME WITH ANTIBIOTICS LIKE CEPHALAXIN/,SULPFAMETH/.NAPROXEN AND BACTRIN OINTMENT BUT AFTER TAKING THE ANTIBIOTICS FOR ABT 5 DAYS I HAD A ALLERGIC REACTION ON MY SKIN I HAD RASH ON MY ARMS AND THE BODY SO I STOPPED TAKING THE A/BIOTIC AND STARTED TAKING BENADRYL TO STOP THE ITCH. NOW THE ITCH HAS GONE AWAY BUT NOT FROM THE ARM WHICH HAD THE BURNS ITS RED AND ITCH NEED HELP THANKS PAUL
Hello I get the cracked skin and peeling after sweating in hot yoga for an hour. Fingers are like being soaked in pool for hours. How can I prevent? I was taking a fish oil supplement then stopped recently for a different reason then hands got worse.