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10 Effective Home Remedies To Stop Peeling Of The Fingertips

A list of the best solutions to soothe, rejuvenate, and prevent painfully peeling skin.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Priya Gill, MBBCH, MRCP
Written by Kushneet Kukreja

Edited by Ramona Sinha, Certified Skin Care Coach

Fact-checked by Monomita Chakraborty, Certified Skin Care Coach • Jul 7, 2023

10 Effective Home Remedies To Stop Peeling Of The Fingertips

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You use your fingers for pretty much everything while going about your daily chores, and all the grooming, cleaning, and washing may take its toll and leave you with peeling skin on your fingertips. A soothing hand lotion or salve might not always be readily available for you to apply on peeling fingers. Thankfully, there are some simple home remedies for peeling fingertips that you can apply to provide finger protection. These remedies focus on eliminating the burning or irritating sensation associated with peeling skin and effectively removing the dried, flaky and cracking bits to speed up recovery. However, you must follow the guidelines to apply the remedies for effective and quick results. So, let’s dive in to see what these home remedies are and how you can use them. Scroll down!

In This Article

Home Remedies To Stop Peeling Fingertips

1. Cool Off With Aloe:

Peeling skin around the fingertips can cause a burning sensation, irritation, and pain for which the application of fresh aloe gel is the best remedy (1). Simply take a stalk of aloe, scrape out some of its gel, and apply it to the affected area at least twice a day. Let it remain till it dries. It works as a soothing lotion that subsides the burning sensation.

2. Soothe With Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil to soothe peeling fingertips

Image: Shutterstock

In times gone by, when we didn’t have moisturizers and chemically-laden creams, coconut oil was the one-stop solution for all sorts of skin problems – dryness-prone skin, patchy skin, and also pimples (2).But not everyone is comfortable with the stickiness it brings, which is why it has been relegated to the back seat. Bring it back in action and use this natural hand serum to get rid of all that peeling, dry, flaky skin, and ace your hand care routine. Apply it and wear cotton gloves. Do this twice a day – once overnight – and watch how your hands come back to normal in a week. If you’re not comfortable with coconut oil or don’t have it, using almond oil or olive oil as your hand oil will also work.

3. Moisturize With Honey:

Honey is another great moisturizer for the skin (3). All you need to do is apply some to the affected areas and leave it on for half an hour. It goes without saying that you can’t do much when you have this on, but it is a remedy worth the trouble as the emollient in honey makes it the best treatment for skin protection.

4. Don’t Eat Them, Apply Milk And Oats:

Make a thick mixture of oats and milk and apply it to your fingertips. The milk moisturizes and the oats form a hand scrub that peels away the flaky bits of skin that may be causing trouble and irritation (4). This hand mask exfoliant is suitable for skin with high sensitivity.

5. Sip Away All Day:

Drinking water to hydrate peeling fingertipsc

Image: Shutterstock

You may have heard this a million times, but it still has to be repeated: drink as much water as you can in a day. And by that, we mean at least 10 glasses. It keeps you hydrated and takes care of most skin problems, including dry skin and peeling skin on the fingertips (5). They are an important part of your hand hygiene, cuticle care, and nail care. You can also use water as a hand soak by putting your hands in warm water with squeezed lemon. You can gently scrub your hands with lemon peel and let them soak for 10 minutes.

6. Eat And Drink The Good Stuff:

Do you know that more than half of skin problems are caused due to poor nutrition? They are an underrated therapy for your skin. Consumption of nourishing foods and juices such as mixed vegetable juice, plain yogurt, and protein-rich foods such as beans, lean meats, etc. will help your skin and body return to their original healthy state (6).

7. Remember Petroleum Jelly:

Petroleum jelly to moisturize peeling fingertips

Image: Shutterstock

If there’s one thing after oil that can really help dry, flaky skin, it is petroleum jelly. Of course, it is sticky, but those sensitive fingertips need that deep moisturizing to get back to normal. Apply it at night as a balm, wear gloves, and notice the softness in the morning. This jelly has been used as a hand salve for years as hand therapy.

Quick Tip

Always apply petroleum jelly after moisturizing the fingers. Petroleum jelly is occlusive. It acts as a barrier cream that traps moisture and ensures the skin stays hydrated.

8. Pop Open A Vitamin E Pill:

The oil inside vitamin E capsules is a great remedy for dry skin (7). However, you may have to use more than capsule for the serum to cover all your fingers and provide appropriate nail protection and hand protection. If that’s too much, use natural vitamin E oil on the area. It naturally heals skin peeling on fingertips.

9. Go Bananas:

Mashed banana, honey, and milk to stop peeling fingertips

Image: Shutterstock

Do not throw away overripe bananas, simply mash one, mix a little honey and milk to it, and apply it on your dry fingertips to use it as a hand exfoliant. Do this regularly and watch your skin absorb all the nutrients this very strong mask has to offer (8).

10. Always, Always Cover Those Hands:

This is more of a preventive measure than a home remedy, but if you want all those aforementioned remedies to work, you must avoid exposing your hands to harsh chemicals, like hand sanitizer with strong chemicals. In fact, one of the biggest reasons you may be suffering from this problem in the first place is the constant exposure to these chemicals! So do your hands a favour, wear gloves!

Quick Tip

Stay away from drying chemicals like nail polish, removers, and detergents as the fingers heal. Chemicals can further irritate the skin and even cause bleeding.

Now remember: If you have blisters, deeply cracked skin, or don’t see any difference with these remedies, please leave these remedies and visit your doctor. It could get infected and cause trouble.

Infographic: Tips To Manage Peeling Fingertips

Constant exposure to water, harsh chemicals, and the weather can leave your fingertips dry and peeling. The peeling skin can leave you with a burning or irritating sensation. While simple home remedies can speed up the recovery process, following a few tips can prevent your fingertips from peeling in the future.

Check out the infographic below to know more!

7 tips to manage peeling fingertips (infographic)

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Download Infographic

Peeling skin on fingertips may pose a challenge to daily tasks and are generally caused due to overexposure to harsh chemicals. To cool off the burning sensation and discomfort associated with peeling fingertips, you may use a different natural hand treatment such as aloe vera gel, coconut oil, a mixture of oats and milk, topical vitamin E, petroleum jelly, or bananas with honey that work as an effective ointment and cream for your hands. It is also important to keep yourself hydrated and have a diet rich in nutrients. To protect your hands and fingertips, wear gloves daily when working with chemicals. If you have deep cracks or blisters on your fingertips, or these remedies don’t seem to help, consult your healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes your fingertips to start peeling?

Extreme weather changes, excessively dry skin, exposure to harsh chemicals, infections, psoriasis, dermatitis, stress, certain medications, and vitamin D deficiency are some possible causes of skin peeling off fingertips.

Is Vaseline good for dry hands?

Yes, Vaseline is good for dry hands as it acts as a moisturizing hand balm and helps seal moisture in the skin.

Is finger peeling normal?

Yes, finger peeling can be a result of exposure to harsh chemicals or a medical condition that needs to be properly diagnosed or treated.

Can stress cause skin peeling on hands?

Yes, stress and anxiety can cause some individuals to chew on the skin of their hands and may lead to skin peeling.

When should I seek medical attention for peeling fingertips, and what should I expect?

If your skin does not improve after a week of proper care, it is recommended to consult a doctor to know more about the condition.

What are the symptoms of peeling fingertips, and how can I tell if it’s serious?

Symptoms of peeling fingertips may include dryness, itching, redness, swelling, inflammation, or rashes. If it does not heal after proper care in a week or two, it may be best to consult your doctor.

Key Takeaways

Exposure to harsh climatic conditions and chemicals is the leading cause of peeling and dry fingertips.
Using coconut oil and aloe vera gel may help soothe your irritated skin.
Using honey or Vitamin E capsule may also act as a good remedy for dry skin around your fingertips.
Consuming healthy foods and juices may help promote overall health.

Learn how to manage peeling skin on your hands effectively. Watch this video to get tips on how to keep your hands healthy and prevent skin peeling.

Sources

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