Why does the skin on the fingers near the nails crack? Home treatment methods and prevention

The nail apparatus is an important part of the fingers. Nails protect the upper phalanges from damage and help do delicate work with your hands. Perform a supporting function. Also, a fashionable, neat manicure decorates a woman and emphasizes the beauty of her hands. But there is another meaning. Often nails inform about the health of the body, reflect certain disorders, the consequences of bad habits and lifestyle. If they suddenly change color, shape, delaminate or crack, this is an alarm bell.

Cracks in the nails or the skin around the nails are especially unpleasant. They look ugly, hurt, and provoke infection. Let's figure out why the nails on the fingers or toes crack? The reasons are varied: from the physiological manifestations of aging to internal pathologies.

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.

What to do if the skin around your nails is dry: reviews

Dry skin around nails: reviews

Daria: “I have a stupid habit of cutting the skin with my fingernail and picking out a piece of dried skin. As a result, the “dry” case ends with wounds that heal for a long time and painfully. I will listen to the advice of the article and regularly anoint my hands with oil!”

Tatyana: “A very good remedy is aloe concentrate. It helps not only heal wounds, but also soften the skin. You can buy it ready-made or simply tear off an aloe leaf from a living plant. Remember that aloe can only be stored in the refrigerator! Plus, the cool liquid is very pleasant to the skin!”

Valeria: “After I started going to the master for a manicure, I noticed that the skin grows around the nail much more intensely and faster than it was before. The master said that this is quite natural, because the cuticle essentially protects the nail, and therefore clearly fulfills its purpose! To prevent this from causing you discomfort, simply lubricate your skin regularly with cuticle oil!”

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.

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.
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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.

Internal reasons

If the skin around the nails cracks under the influence of internal factors, then, as a rule, long-term systematic treatment is required.

You can immediately determine whether cracks are pathological by the depth of the skin breaks. If the reasons lie inside the body, the damage is especially pronounced.

It is quite difficult to eliminate the problem with the help of cosmetic procedures - they can only reduce inflammation and reduce discomfort.

Deficiency of vitamins and Omega-3 fats

Vitamins

enter the body with food.
They are needed for the normal absorption of nutrients by the body, for the regeneration of cells and tissues.
And, although the daily requirement of vitamins is small, without it a person cannot exist normally. So:

• Vitamin A is responsible for the normal condition of the skin, its youth and elasticity. With its deficiency, early wrinkles, pimples and cracks appear, and a person suffering from vitamin deficiency has weak immunity and often looks older than his age.
• B vitamins are needed to nourish and restore skin cells. If there are not enough B vitamins, the skin begins to crack.
• Vitamin C – supplies the skin with oxygen, preventing its early aging. With a lack of this vitamin, the skin becomes pale and flabby, looking unhealthy.
• Vitamin E regulates the water-fat balance, so its deficiency immediately manifests itself in the form of dry and flaky skin, including on the hands.

Another valuable nutrient for the body is omega-3. It is part of the structure of cell membranes, a stabilizer of nervous, endocrine and metabolic processes in the body.

With a lack of this healthy fat, the skin begins to dry out and wither, peeling and cracks appear, since the natural moisturizing and protective lubricant produced by the body becomes insufficient.

Diseases of internal organs

If small tears are caused by internal pathologies, then they can be localized not only near the nails, but also between the fingers and on the palm itself. In this case, the cracks can be painful and even bleed.

Cracking of the skin is one of the symptoms of such diseases:

• Eczema During the period of exacerbation of chronic eczema, in addition to peeling and swelling, pronounced itching and large cracks appear on the palms and in the interdigital folds. The skin becomes thickened and hyperpigmented.
• Dermatitis With contact and allergic dermatitis, the skin on the hands dries and cracks until it bleeds. Contact dermatitis develops after direct contact with an allergen. In this case, inflammation and swelling, redness of the hands appear. Allergic dermatitis occurs without direct contact with an irritant. In addition to the above symptoms, it is characterized by the appearance of small blisters on the skin.
• Endocrine diseases, hormonal imbalance Disturbances in the endocrine system can disrupt the metabolic process of the epidermis.
• Diabetes mellitus It is characterized by local hyperkeratosis of the palms, wrinkling of the fingertips, dryness and cracks on the hands.

Infectious lesions

The fungus can appear in people of any age. The source of infection is usually mycosis of the feet, from where the infection then spreads throughout the body.

There are also certain professions whose representatives are at risk of hand fungus.

These are people who, due to the nature of their work, are forced to constantly expose their hands to aggressive external influences: builders, cooks, confectioners, dishwashers, field workers, etc.

As a result, the skin cracks and pathogenic microorganisms enter the body through the wounds.

Mycoses are dangerous because fungi, as a result of their vital activity, release toxic substances

, which slowly but constantly poison the human body. In this case, not only physical but also psychological discomfort appears.

External symptoms of fungal infection: dryness, mild itching and flaking and burning of the skin, layering of scales, wetting and discoloration of the affected areas, suppuration. When infected with candida, a white coating also appears in the lesions.

Genetics

The skin barrier is a mixture of fats, proteins and oils.

The condition of the skin depends on how well these substances work together and how well they perform their protective functions. The quality of this layer is also influenced by genetics.

If a person’s skin protective barrier is low, dermatological problems, especially in winter, become more pronounced every year: cracks and wounds are added to the primary peeling over time.

• What to do if the skin on your hands is cracking, causes and treatment of this problem.
• You will learn how to cure nail fungus with nail polish in this article.

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.

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.

The cuticle and skin around the nails are very dry: methods of treatment, moisturizing

Dry and rough skin around the plates should be treated based on the causes of the problem and the doctor’s diagnosis.

General recommendations for action if the skin around the nails is dry:

• Don't soar your fingers
• Try to keep your fingers in a hot environment (bath, shower, sink) as little as possible.
• Drink enough water per day
• Humidify the room you are in
• Do not injure dry skin even more (biting off hangnails, etc.)
• Moisturize your hands more often with creams, lotions, oils
• Take a multivitamin

Dry skin - aesthetic discomfort

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.

Drug treatment

If traditional methods are ineffective, a doctor should treat cracks in the hands. Indeed, most likely, in this case, the cause of the problem is a disruption in the functioning of internal organs and systems.

If a vitamin deficiency is established, a balanced and nutritious diet should be developed that can fully satisfy all the body’s needs. Sometimes it is advisable to take multivitamin preparations.

For fungal diseases of the skin and nails, if psoriasis or dermatitis is diagnosed, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist. And if the cause of cracks is diabetes or hypothyroidism, see an endocrinologist.

It should be remembered that the appearance of cracks on the hands near the nails should not be left to chance. Indeed, in the absence of appropriate treatment, surface cracks will very quickly turn into deep and painful wounds, which will be much more difficult to cope with, especially if they are accompanied by a bacterial infection.

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 to do if the skin around your nails is dry: home remedies and methods

What remedies will help you avoid cases where the skin around your nails dries out:

• A damp towel. Definitely warm. You can wet your fingers with it, relieving unpleasant symptoms. If the problem of dryness is not global, the softened cuticle skin can be cut off with nail scissors.
• Honey. Can relieve inflammation and relieve itching. You should apply masks to your hands for 20 minutes, completely exposing the “problem areas” with honey.
• Aloe. This plant has the natural property of relieving inflammation and softening the skin, as well as fighting infections. Good to use on affected areas or completely all over.
• Bleaching. Oddly enough, a weak bleach solution can have a very positive effect on your hands if there is fungus in them or the nail plates.
• Olive oil. Qualitatively eliminates dryness and gives a pleasant feeling to the skin.
• Nail and skin care. An important component of your health, so try to always keep them clean and beautiful.