Hands are your constant companions, tirelessly navigating a world filled with sunlight, diverse chemicals, soaps, and fluctuating environmental conditions. Considering their daily workload, it’s no surprise that they sometimes become dry and experience peeling. However, peeling skin on your hands can also signal underlying health issues or medication side effects that warrant attention.
This article explores 12 common reasons behind skin peeling on hands, detailing potential treatments for each cause and offering preventative measures to maintain healthy, smooth hands.
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Sunburn
One of the most prevalent culprits for peeling skin on your hands is sunburn. Initially, sunburn presents as skin that is hot and red. Often, the skin damage occurs unnoticed while you are enjoying time in the sun, with the burn becoming apparent once you are indoors or in the shade.
Within a few days of a sunburn, especially a more severe one, the peeling process begins. This is your body’s natural mechanism to shed damaged skin cells and regenerate new, healthy skin. In more extreme cases, sunburns can even lead to sun blisters, which are a more severe form of skin damage.
Treatment
Mild sunburns often heal without specific medical intervention. To alleviate discomfort and support healing, applying a soothing moisturizer like aloe vera gel can be beneficial. Staying well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water is also crucial. Protect the sunburnt areas from further sun exposure while they are healing to prevent additional damage and promote recovery.
It is crucial to resist the urge to pop or squeeze any blisters that form, as this increases the risk of bacterial infection. Similarly, avoid peeling off the dead skin yourself. Premature peeling can harm the underlying, still-healing skin tissues and may result in scarring.
Climate and Temperature Changes
Fluctuating temperatures and seasonal weather shifts are significant environmental factors that can trigger dry, peeling skin. Many individuals observe increased skin dryness, redness, and roughness, particularly during the fall and winter months.
Cold air naturally contains less moisture than warm air. Consequently, humidity levels drop, and the air becomes drier in winter. Indoor heating systems, while providing warmth, often exacerbate the problem by further drying out indoor air. This combination of cold outdoor air and dry indoor heating creates an environment conducive to skin dehydration.
Research has demonstrated that low humidity and temperatures compromise the skin’s natural barrier function. This weakened barrier makes the skin more susceptible to irritants and allergens present in the environment, increasing the likelihood of dryness and peeling.
Treatment
If you reside in a climate known for causing dry skin, consistent moisturizing is key to preventing dryness and peeling, especially after each instance of hand washing.
An effective nighttime treatment involves applying petroleum jelly to your hands before bed. Due to its potentially messy nature, wearing cotton socks or gloves over the petroleum jelly can help lock in moisture overnight and prevent residue on bedding.
For those who rely on indoor heating during colder months, using a humidifier can significantly improve skin hydration. Humidifiers add moisture back into the air, counteracting the drying effects of heating systems and helping to maintain skin moisture balance.
Chemical Irritants
Exposure to certain chemicals can severely irritate the skin on your hands, potentially leading to dryness or even chemical burns, and subsequent peeling. These chemicals can strip the skin of its natural oils and protective barrier, resulting in damage and peeling.
Occupational exposure to chemicals is common in various professions, including:
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Service industries like cleaning and auto repair
- Transportation and airline sectors
- Construction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that skin problems and diseases are the most frequently reported non-injury-related health issues among workers, highlighting the significant impact of chemical exposures in the workplace.
Treatment
The appropriate treatment for chemical exposure varies depending on the specific chemical and the extent of the exposure. In some instances, simply avoiding further contact with the irritant is sufficient for the skin to recover. However, more severe exposures, such as chemical burns, require immediate medical attention. In case of a chemical burn, it is crucial to call emergency services (911 in the US).
While awaiting medical help, remove any clothing that has come into contact with the chemical. Rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean, cool water for at least 20 minutes to dilute and remove the chemical. Avoid rubbing or wiping the area, as this can further irritate the skin and spread the chemical.
Frequent Handwashing
Certain professions necessitate frequent handwashing as a critical component of hygiene and safety protocols. These professions include:
- Housekeepers
- Healthcare professionals
- Cleaners
- Chefs, bakers, and caterers
- Construction workers
- Fishermen
- Hairdressers
- Farmers
While handwashing is essential for hygiene, excessive handwashing, or overly vigorous scrubbing, can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, leading to irritation and peeling, particularly on the hands. Moreover, many commercially available soaps contain harsh ingredients like fragrances, preservatives, and alcohol, which can further exacerbate skin irritation and dryness.
What Causes Skin on the Fingertips to Peel?
Frequent handwashing is a common cause of dry, peeling fingertips. Exposure to harsh ingredients in soaps, cleaning agents, and other substances can strip the natural oils from the delicate skin on your fingertips, leading to peeling. Sunburn and certain infections can also cause fingertip peeling. If you experience peeling fingertips and are unsure of the cause, consulting a healthcare provider is recommended for proper diagnosis and guidance.
Treatment
Opting for hand soaps enriched with humectants like glycerin can mitigate dryness. Glycerin helps attract and retain moisture in the skin, counteracting the drying effects of frequent washing. If your workplace provides soap, consider requesting glycerin-based options or bringing your own gentle soap.
Following each handwashing session with a generous application of a thick, therapeutic hand salve is crucial. Look for salves containing ingredients such as shea butter or cocoa butter, known for their skin barrier-strengthening properties. It’s advisable to avoid moisturizers that contain added fragrances, as these can further irritate sensitive, frequently washed hands.
Acral Peeling Skin Syndrome
Acral peeling skin syndrome is a rare genetic skin disorder characterized by the peeling of the top layer of skin, sometimes accompanied by blistering. The peeling primarily affects the skin on the hands and feet but can also extend to the arms and legs in some cases. Symptoms typically manifest from birth or early childhood.
Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for acral peeling skin syndrome. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and minimizing triggers that exacerbate skin peeling. Avoiding heat, humidity, pressure, friction, and any form of trauma to the skin is crucial in managing this condition.
Regular application of therapeutic skin moisturizers can provide relief for some individuals with acral peeling skin syndrome. Moisturizers containing ingredients like lanolin and glycerin are particularly beneficial due to their hydrating and skin-protecting properties.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis, broadly defined as skin inflammation, encompasses a wide range of conditions with diverse causes and presentations. Several types of dermatitis exist, including atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition that often begins in childhood but can develop at any age. It manifests as rashes characterized by inflamed, red, and intensely itchy skin. Scratching the itchy skin can lead to swelling, cracking, and oozing of clear fluid. The affected skin may also become flaky, crusty, and prone to peeling. Hands are frequently affected areas in eczema.
Treatment
While there is no known cure for atopic dermatitis, treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Identifying and avoiding personal triggers, such as fragrances in cleansers and moisturizers, is a crucial first step in minimizing skin irritation and flare-ups.
For mild to moderate dermatitis, healthcare providers often recommend topical treatments, such as corticosteroid ointments, to alleviate itching and reduce inflammation. More severe cases that do not respond adequately to topical treatments might require oral steroids like prednisone.
Light therapy (phototherapy), which involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet (UV) light under medical supervision, can be beneficial for individuals experiencing frequent dermatitis flares. UV light helps reduce skin inflammation by slowing down the overproduction of skin cells that contributes to eczema symptoms.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes raised, scaly, and inflamed skin patches. These patches commonly appear on the hands, among other areas of the body. Psoriasis follows a relapsing-remitting course, with flares lasting weeks to months followed by periods of remission where symptoms subside. The exact cause of psoriasis remains unclear, but it is understood to involve an overactive immune system that triggers accelerated skin cell production.
Treatment
Psoriasis has no cure, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving skin appearance. For mild to moderate psoriasis, topical treatments, such as corticosteroid creams, are often prescribed to reduce skin inflammation and scaling.
If topical treatments are insufficient to control psoriasis symptoms, healthcare providers may prescribe oral corticosteroids or other oral medications, such as methotrexate, which work by suppressing the overactive immune system. Light therapy may also be recommended, particularly when large areas of skin are affected by psoriasis.
COVID-19
COVID-19, the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is known to trigger a wide array of symptoms, including skin manifestations, due to the systemic inflammation it induces. Skin reactions related to COVID-19 are more commonly observed in children and young adults. Symptoms vary significantly between individuals, but reports include red, inflamed, itchy, and flaky skin patches, particularly on the hands and feet. Blisters may also occur in some cases.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19 itself, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms while the body mounts its immune response to fight off the virus. For skin-related symptoms like itching and inflammation, healthcare providers may recommend or prescribe topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Fragrance-free moisturizers can also provide soothing relief and help restore skin hydration.
Group A Streptococcal Infections
Infections caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, such as scarlet fever and impetigo, can lead to skin peeling on the fingers and hands as part of their symptom presentation.
Scarlet fever typically begins with symptoms like fever and strep throat, followed by a characteristic rash that starts on the neck and chest and then spreads across the body. This rash, which can last for a week or longer, is often described as having a sandpaper-like texture. As the rash fades, peeling of the skin may occur in some areas.
Impetigo presents as patches of red, itchy sores that may rupture and leak clear fluid. These sores then develop a distinctive crusty, yellow scab. Both scarlet fever and impetigo are more common in children, but can affect individuals of any age.
Treatment
Scarlet fever and impetigo are bacterial infections that require treatment with antibiotics to eradicate the bacteria and prevent complications. Mild cases of impetigo with only a few sores might be treated with topical antibiotic ointments. However, more widespread impetigo or scarlet fever necessitates a full course of oral antibiotics to effectively treat the infection.
Prompt treatment of scarlet fever with oral antibiotics is crucial to prevent a serious complication known as rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can cause inflammation and scarring of the heart valves, potentially leading to lifelong disability and even death.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by bacterial toxins released into the bloodstream. While most commonly associated with tampon misuse, TSS can occur in other contexts as well. TSS affects multiple organ systems, resulting in a diverse range of symptoms. One characteristic symptom of TSS is a skin rash that can lead to extensive peeling of the skin, particularly on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, often in large sheets.
Treatment
Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment for TSS infections. In many cases, antibiotics are administered intravenously (IV) for rapid action to combat the infection and prevent organ damage. For severe cases, treatment might include intravenous administration of purified antibodies obtained from blood donors who have developed immunity to the relevant toxins.
Kawasaki Disease (KD)
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute inflammatory illness that primarily affects young children. It can cause a characteristic rash accompanied by swelling and peeling of the skin on the hands and feet. The exact cause of Kawasaki disease remains unknown, although it is believed to be linked to an infectious trigger due to associated symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes.
The majority of individuals affected by Kawasaki disease are children under the age of 5, with most being younger than 2 years. While symptoms of Kawasaki disease often resolve spontaneously, prompt medical treatment is essential due to the risk of serious long-term heart complications, particularly affecting the coronary arteries.
Treatment
Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries. Therefore, children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease require evaluation by a cardiologist to assess for any signs of coronary artery abnormalities or damage.
The primary treatments for Kawasaki disease include low-dose aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which consists of concentrated antibodies from healthy donors. IVIG is administered intravenously during a hospital stay. While high-dose aspirin use in children and teenagers is associated with a risk of Reye’s syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, the low-dose aspirin used in Kawasaki disease treatment does not carry the same risk. However, it is crucial to never administer aspirin to a child or teenager without explicit direction from a healthcare provider.
Medications
Certain medications can induce skin peeling on the hands as a side effect, often due to their skin-drying properties. For example, some cancer treatments, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy, are known to cause skin peeling as a common side effect.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe, life-threatening skin reaction primarily triggered by certain medications, most frequently antibiotics and anticonvulsants. TEN causes widespread skin peeling, including on the hands, leaving raw, weeping patches of skin. This condition requires immediate hospitalization and intensive medical care.
In addition to skin peeling, other symptoms of toxic epidermal necrolysis include fever and painful, red skin. TEN progresses rapidly and can become life-threatening within a few days of symptom onset. If you experience these symptoms, immediate medical evaluation is essential.
Treatment
Toxic epidermal necrolysis necessitates hospitalization for intensive care. Treatment typically involves IV fluids and electrolytes to address fluid loss, antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary infections, and potentially IV immunoglobulins to modulate the immune response. Most individuals with TEN recover with appropriate medical management, and the skin eventually heals spontaneously. However, in severe cases with extensive skin loss, skin grafts may be necessary to aid in wound healing and prevent complications.
If hand peeling is a side effect of chemotherapy, consistent use of a therapeutic hand cream is crucial to manage dryness and promote skin health. Specialized moisturizers formulated for individuals undergoing chemotherapy are available online and in some pharmacies. It is advisable to avoid topical products containing alcohol, as alcohol can further dry and irritate already sensitive skin.
Skin peeling on your hands that stems from an underlying medical condition necessitates targeted treatment of the underlying cause. Consulting a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis is crucial to receive the appropriate treatment plan.
How Is Skin Peeling on Hands Prevented?
While not every cause of skin peeling on your hands is preventable, particularly when it is linked to underlying medical conditions, several steps can be taken to manage and prevent peeling caused by dryness and environmental factors:
- Avoid hot water: Use lukewarm water when showering and washing your hands, as hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness.
- Wear gloves: Protect your hands by wearing gloves when washing dishes, gardening, or handling cleaning products and other chemicals that can irritate the skin.
- Keep your hands warm: In cold weather, wear gloves or mittens to shield your hands from cold air, which can contribute to dryness and peeling.
- Moisturize regularly: Apply a hand cream or lotion frequently throughout the day, especially after handwashing, to replenish moisture and maintain skin hydration.
- Use petroleum jelly overnight: Before bed, apply a layer of petroleum jelly to your hands to create a protective barrier and lock in moisture while you sleep.
- Avoid irritating soaps: Choose gentle, fragrance-free soaps and cleansers. Avoid products containing alcohols, sulfates, and fragrances, which can be harsh and drying.
- Use a humidifier: During winter months or in dry climates, use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air and combat indoor dryness.
- Wear sunscreen: Protect your hands from sun damage by applying sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher every time you go outdoors, even on cloudy days.
- Consult a healthcare provider: If you cannot identify the cause of your peeling skin or if home remedies are not effective, seek professional medical advice to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you notice skin peeling on your hands and are uncertain about the cause, you can initially try home care measures such as moisturizing and avoiding potential irritants.
However, if skin peeling is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider. They can help determine if you can manage the issue with a routine appointment or if emergency medical attention is necessary.
Seek medical advice if you experience skin peeling along with any of the following signs:
- Fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Pain that worsens or is severe
- Any signs of infection, such as pus, increased redness, warmth, or swelling
- Rash that is spreading or changing rapidly
A Word From Verywell
Peeling skin on the hands can arise from a multitude of causes, ranging from mild irritations to underlying systemic conditions. For mild cases, over-the-counter remedies like moisturizers, aloe vera gel, anti-itch creams, and topical steroids can often provide relief. However, if peeling persists, worsens, or becomes painful, seeking consultation with a dermatologist is advisable. The issue might extend beyond localized irritants, and systemic diseases could be contributing factors that require professional evaluation and management.
— William Truswell, MD, Medical Expert Board
Summary
Skin peeling on hands can be triggered by common factors like weather changes or frequent handwashing. It can also be a symptom of underlying health conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or infections.
If you experience skin peeling accompanied by concerning symptoms like persistent pain or fever, it is crucial to contact your healthcare provider for guidance. While home care strategies may be helpful for mild cases, professional evaluation is important to identify the root cause and ensure appropriate management.
