Painful, cracked fingertips are usually due to dry skin.
Causes may include cold weather, harsh cleaning products, or excessive handwashing.
Peeling fingertips are a sign of very dry skin, known asxerosis.
Verywell / Sydney Saporito
Possibilities range from eczema and a skin infection to diabetes and cancer.
Skin Conditions
Painfully dry skin is associated with chronic skin conditions, includingeczemaandpsoriasis.
There may also be a ring-shaped rash on the back side of the hand.
Diabetes
People withdiabetesoften experience changes to blood flow in their extremities, particularly the hands and feet.
This can cause skin to become dry and cracked.
Dry skin as a result of diabetes usually affects the feet first.
These medications include:
Related Symptoms
Cracked fingertip skin can be superficial or deep.
Eczema, psoriasis, and ringworm can be diagnosed this way.
This can help determine whether you have psoriasis, eczema, athlete’s foot, or cancer.
Treatment
If youre experiencing dry, painful fingertips, you begin a regular moisturizing treatment at home.
If your peeling fingertips don’t respond to moisturizing, speak with your healthcare provider about other treatment options.
For example, apsoriasis soapmay be recommended if your cracked fingertips are due to a skin condition.
These special bandages seal the cut closed, reducing the risk of infection.
Prevention
The key to maintaining soft skin and avoiding cracked skin is to moisturize well and often.
Cracked skin results from environmental exposure and lifestyle factors as well.
Less commonly, it may be resulting from eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, or another underlying condition.
Cancer is another possibility, though a rare one.
Moisturizing your hands should help your cracked fingertips.
If they’re still dry, it’s best to speak to a healthcare provider about other treatments.
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