Why does the skin of your hands crack?
The main cause of cracks is dry skin . Circumstances of dryness can be caused by external and internal factors.
We recommend reading more about dry skin here.
External reasons
1. Household chemicals - any aggressive products (liquid for washing plumbing fixtures, windows or floors) have a negative effect on the skin. When purchasing dishwashing detergents, make sure that they contain ingredients that protect the skin of your hands.
2.
Sudden changes in temperature - sensitive skin reacts to cold and frost.
The skin becomes dry, cracks appear around the nails. If no measures are taken, the wounds become larger and deeper. They hurt, bringing discomfort to a person. During the cold season, you should pay extra attention to the skin of your hands.
3. Mechanical injuries - cracks appear in people who often work with sharp equipment. They can often be seen on the hands of gardeners or gardeners, and among production workers.
When interacting with soil or water, the skin becomes dry and cracked, which causes cracks around the nails.
4. Insufficient hand skin care - this may be the use of expired or inappropriate cosmetics, rare and irregular hand washing, etc.
5. Long interaction with water - hard water dries out the skin.
Attention! If you work with water for a long time without gloves and proper care, not only can cracks and ulcers appear, but also nail disease caused by Candida fungi may develop.
Read more about nail candidiasis here
Internal factors
1. Disruption of the thyroid gland - if a person has an abnormal metabolism, then many systems of the body suffer. The skin of the hands also begins to crack, and deep and painful wounds appear near the nails. Hormonal disorders include: diabetes, hypothyroidism and other diseases of the endocrine system.
2. Lack of vitamins and mineral elements - cracks in the hands indicate a lack of vitamin A, B7, E, Omega-3 and magnesium. Using alkaline soap in these cases will only make the situation worse.
3. Skin diseases - they can be infectious (fungal infections) and non-infectious (eczema or psoriasis) in nature. Diseases of the skin lead to the appearance of deep cracks around the nails, between the fingers, and on the palms.
4. Helminthiasis - the presence of any parasites inhibits physical development when it comes to a child. Adults cannot gain weight if they have an increased appetite. In addition, helminths can lead to allergic reactions, rashes and dry skin. All this causes cracks to appear on the hands.
5. Chronic diseases - pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, cholecystitis), neurological diseases (neurosis, depressive states) suppress the immune system. One of the main symptoms is the appearance of cracks around the nails.
As a result of internal factors, the skin of the hands is affected. Cracks and ulcers appear not only around the nails, but also on the palms, between the fingers, and on the phalanges of the fingers. Wounds cause pain, especially when interacting with water or chemicals, or due to temperature changes. Often, ichor can be seen on the affected areas.
It is important! The use of cosmetics in this case will only reduce pain and partially eliminate unpleasant symptoms. But for a complete recovery you need to undergo treatment. It is individual and depends on what the person is sick with.
Treatment of dry skin around nails
Depending on the cause, getting rid of this unaesthetic problem will be quite easy. That is, if it is not a hormonal imbalance or a gastrointestinal disease, you can use the following remedies:
Cream "Zorka"
Active ingredients: floralisin, petroleum jelly, pentol, sorbic acid. The cream is effective for deep cracks in the skin of the fingers near the nails.
Tea tree oil
They can both soften the skin around the fingernails and eliminate fungal infections. The oil has an antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal effect.
Medical glue BF-6
Sold in pharmacies. Prevents infection of cracked skin on the hands and around the nails. Method of action: the drug seals cracks in the fingers and promotes their healing.
Sea buckthorn oil
Recommended as an aid for dermatitis and various types of psoriasis. The oil eliminates peeling, has a wound healing and antipruritic effect.
Treatment at home
For effective therapy, you need to find out the cause of cracks in your hands. The examination is carried out by a dermatologist. In addition to directly treating the underlying disease (if any) and using ointments and creams, harmful factors should be avoided. During therapy, try not to interact with water and household chemicals for a long time. Keep your hands warm at all times. The key direction of treatment is regularly moisturizing dry skin and saturating the body with missing vitamins.
Clarification!
If cracks appear as a result of external factors, then they can be treated with traditional methods.
If internal reasons are to blame, then folk recipes are used as additional remedies.
Ointments
1. Mix glycerin and water, taken forty grams each. Put twenty grams of honey and a little flour into the mixture . Apply the ointment to clean skin before going to bed, put on cotton gloves. Leave the ointment on overnight.
2. Egg ointment helps in treatment. Break one egg, removing the white from it. Grind the yolk with half a teaspoon of sunflower oil and two spoons of cottage cheese. Stir until you get a homogeneous mass. Apply the ointment to your hands, it will help heal wounds and cracks.
3. Celandine ointment : take three tablespoons of dry crushed plant. Add a glass of sunflower oil, bring to a boil and cool.
Place twenty grams of beeswax into the resulting ointment and heat until it completely dissolves. Immediately pour the mixture into a glass container and store in the refrigerator. Regularly lubricate the wounds with ointment. They will heal quickly.
4. Traditional medicine specialist S. A. Petrovsky says: “Mumiyo will help get rid of itching and pain.” Dissolve two tablets in water and apply the ointment to your hands. Wait until it dries completely without wiping it off.
Recommended reading:
- 20 excellent ointments for cracked hands with a healing effect
Baths
1. Take one medium lemon and squeeze the juice out of it. Add to it forty grams of olive oil, a couple of drops of vitamins A and E, they can be bought without a prescription at any pharmacy. Place the mixture in a water bath and heat to a comfortable temperature. Dip your fingertips into the bath and hold for 15 minutes. Then blot your fingers with a napkin.
2. Cook oatmeal . Put a teaspoon of honey and the same amount of vegetable oil into it. Dip your fingers into the mixture and hold for 15 minutes, then rinse.
Nutrition
A proper diet is the main principle of maintaining immunity. Nutrition plays a key role in the formation of healthy skin. The menu should be balanced and varied.
For cracked hands, you should include butter, cereals, fatty fish, and seafood in your diet. It is necessary to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, limit the amount of sweet and starchy foods.
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Medicines and pharmaceutical glue
Medicinal ointments, creams and other drugs have proven themselves in the fight against cracks. They can be bought at any pharmacy. They are aimed at restoring the skin and disinfecting affected areas.
Moisturizes very dry hand skin. Doctors recommend using Panthenol, F-99, and Boroplus.
The skin of the hands is healed with a special pharmaceutical glue “BF-6”. The product helps speed up the healing of the skin. It is necessary to apply a couple of drops of glue to the cleaned affected areas. It hardens quickly, sealing the cracks.
Attention ! Nutrition should replenish the body's deficiency of magnesium, Omega-3, vitamins A, E and B7
Folk remedies
When the skin around the nail cracks and peels, home methods will help:
Glycerin and honey mask
Ingredients:
- Honey – 20 gm.
- Glycerin – 20 gm.
Mode of application:
- Heat honey and mix with glycerin,
- Dip your fingers into the warm solution
- Keep for 10-15 minutes.
Cottage cheese and sunflower oil mask
Ingredients:
- Cottage cheese – 20 grams.
- Oil - one tablespoon.
Cooking method:
- Heat the oil
- Mix with cottage cheese
- Dip your fingers into the mixture or simply lubricate them (whichever is convenient),
- Keep the mask on your fingers for 10-20 minutes,
- Wash your hands with warm water,
- Apply any moisturizer to them.
Hand baths with olive oil
Ingredients:
- Olive oil – 20 ml.
- Water – 500 ml.
How to use:
- Mix ingredients and heat
- Pour into a small plate
- Wash your hands with soap,
- Soak in the bath for 20 minutes.
Oatmeal jelly bath
Ingredients:
- Oatmeal – 100 gm.
- Water – 500 milliliters.
How to cook:
- Pour water over the cereal
- Cook for 10-15 minutes,
- Pour the resulting jelly into a free container.
How to use:
- Dip your fingers in warm jelly for 10-15 minutes,
- Wipe with dry cloths.
Calendula oil compress
Cooking method:
- Heat the oil (20 ml) in a small bowl,
- Dip five or ten cotton pads into it,
- Put them on your nails
- Secure with a bandage or plaster,
- Keep for 30-60 minutes.
This method is always effective if the cuticle and skin around the nail are dry.
If the skin around the toenail is inflamed, this is most likely the result of a manicure or an infection in the crack. An equally common cause of trouble is an ingrown toenail. In this case, you should arm yourself with antiseptics (iodine, brilliant green, alcohol) and painkillers (rescuer, healer, bepanten).
We recommend reading the article about methods of treating and removing hangnails on the fingers at the link https://moninomama.ru/zausentsyi-na-paltsah-ruk.html
The problem of ingrown toenails can be solved at home. To do this, you need to steam your finger in hot water, lift the part that has grown in with scissors and put a piece of cotton wool under it. In particularly advanced cases (swelling, pain, suppuration), you should consult a doctor.
The appearance of cracks on the fingers and around the nail usually indicates dermatitis, fungus or psoriasis. The fungus can be cured at home with remedies such as Nystatin and Clotrimazole, but it is better to find out the causes of dermatitis and psoriasis from a dermatologist. Typically, these diseases are treated with diet, namely by eliminating alcohol and confectionery from the diet.
Preventive measures
The appearance of cracks can be avoided by following a number of simple rules.
- When washing, use only soft water; if necessary, regular, hard water should be softened. Use mild soap. Dry your hands thoroughly after washing, especially paying attention to the space between your fingers. Don't forget to regularly lubricate your skin with nourishing cream.
- When using household chemicals, do not forget to wear protective gloves. They should also be worn while working in the garden, while cleaning the apartment or making repairs.
Don't forget to wear gloves. When it's cold, your hands should be kept warm.
Pay special attention to your hands in cold weather.- in a timely manner , do not delay visiting a doctor if even minor symptoms bother you.
- Follow a proper diet and regularly take a complex of vitamins, based on your gender and age. The menu should be as varied as possible, rich in vegetables, fruits, and protein products.
Cracks give your hands an unkempt appearance. They cause pain and discomfort to a person. Wounds can appear as a result of internal and external causes.
In the first case, the person will have to undergo complex treatment. In the second situation, it is enough to follow preventive measures by regularly caring for the skin of your hands.
