Imagine this: you’re in a high-stakes situation — a job interview, a date, or perhaps a meeting with a client. You’re speaking animatedly, gesturing for emphasis when you catch sight of your hands. The skin around your nails is peeling. It’s not a pretty sight and it can be painfully distracting.
You’re not alone in this. Many people suffer from this condition, commonly known as hangnails or peeling cuticles, which can sometimes lead to painful cracks or bleeding. It may seem a trivial issue to some, but for those who experience it, the struggle is all too real. Not only can it affect your self-confidence, but it also indicates that your skin is crying out for some much-needed care and attention.
But what causes skin peeling around the nails? Is it just the consequence of cold, dry weather or is there more to this story? And importantly, how can we treat and prevent it?
In this blog post, we will delve into the various factors contributing to skin peeling around the nails, discussing everything from environmental influences to underlying health conditions. Then, we will explore some effective solutions to help you alleviate this issue and nurture healthier skin. So if you’re ready to bid adieu to those unsightly, peeling cuticles, read on to unveil the knowledge you need to embark on a journey towards healthier hands. Let’s give your skin the care it deserves!
Reasons Why Skin Peals Around The Nails
Nail Biting
Nail chewing, also known as onychophagia, is a particular problem that can contribute significantly to skin peeling around your nails. Here’s how it works:
Physical Trauma: When you bite your nails, you’re not just damaging the nail itself. The skin around the nails, particularly the cuticles, often gets caught in the crossfire. The repeated physical trauma can cause the skin to become raw, inflamed, and eventually start to peel.
Infection: The mouth is home to numerous bacteria. When you bite your nails, these bacteria can transfer to the delicate skin around your nails, leading to an infection known as paronychia. This infection can result in swelling, redness, pus-filled blisters, and, yes, peeling skin around the nails.
Dryness: Saliva, which comes into contact with your skin during nail biting, can dry out the skin around your nails. This is because saliva evaporates quickly, stripping the area of its oils on the skin. Over time, this can lead to dryness and flakiness.
Damage to the Nail Matrix: The nail matrix is the area under your cuticles responsible for producing new nail cells. When you bite your nails, you can unintentionally damage this matrix. The body’s response to this trauma may result in the skin around the nails peeling or flaking off.
If you’re a nail biter and are experiencing skin peeling around your nails, consider taking steps to break the habit. There are many strategies to stop nail-biting, including behavior modification, using bitter-tasting nail polishes, or seeking the help of a mental health professional. By stopping nail biting, you’ll not only help prevent skin peeling but also improve the overall health of your nails and cuticles.
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Skin Picking
Skin picking, also considered by the term dermatillomania is a psychological condition where individuals compulsively pick at their skin. While it can target any part of the body, the skin around the nails is often a focus due to its accessibility. Here’s how skin picking can cause the skin around your nails to peel:
Physical Damage: The most direct effect of skin picking is the physical harm it inflicts. When you continually pick at the skin around your nails, you create wounds and damage the skin’s protective barrier. Over time, this damage can lead to the skin becoming rough, inflamed, and starting to peel.
Secondary Infections: The act of picking at the skin introduces bacteria from the fingers and under the nails into the open wounds. This can lead to infections such as cellulitis or paronychia, which can result in symptoms like redness, swelling, pus-filled blisters, and skin peeling.
Impaired Healing Process: Repeatedly picking at the same area can disrupt the skin’s healing process. Instead of allowing the body to repair the skin normally, the constant trauma can lead to a cycle of damage and improper healing, which can cause the skin to become dry and begin peeling.
Nail Damage: Prolonged and aggressive picking at the skin around the nails can also lead to damage to the nails themselves, including ridges, white spots, or even nail loss. In turn, nail damage can cause further peeling and inflammation of the surrounding skin.
Addressing skin picking often involves tackling the root cause of the issue, which may be psychological, such as anxiety or stress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often effective in treating dermatillomania. Meanwhile, maintaining good hand hygiene and using emollient-rich hand creams can help soothe and heal the affected skin. If you’re struggling with skin picking, don’t hesitate to seek help from a healthcare provider or mental health professional. They can provide you with effective strategies and treatments to manage the condition.
Nutrient Deficient
When it comes to the skin peeling around the nails, several key nutrients play an essential role:
Vitamin A: This vitamin is vital for the maintenance and renewal of skin area over the body. If you’re lacking in vitamin A, your skin may be extra dry and flake off, including the skin around your nails.
B-Vitamins: The B-vitamin complex, especially Biotin (B7), Riboflavin (B2), and Niacin (B3), plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health. A deficiency can result in dermatitis or skin irritation, which may cause peeling around the nails. Biotin is also particularly important for nail health.
Vitamin C: Essential for collagen production, a deficiency in Vitamin C can result in dry, damaged skin. Collagen provides structure and elasticity to the skin, so without it, the skin can become more prone to peeling.
Zinc: This mineral is involved in many aspects of cellular metabolism and is necessary for the activity of numerous enzymes that aid in skin cell regeneration and turnover. A deficiency can lead to a range of skin problems, including dryness and peeling.
Essential Fatty Acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids help maintain the skin being the barrier that locks in the moisture, which is important in keeping skin looking fresh, glowing and hydrated.
Protein: Protein deficiency can result in skin problems as well. Since skin is primarily made up of protein (keratin), inadequate protein can lead to slower skin regeneration, dryness, and ultimately peeling.
If you suspect that nutritional deficiencies may be causing your skin to peel around your nails, it would be wise to consult a healthcare provider. They can confirm any deficiencies through blood tests and suggest appropriate dietary changes or supplements to correct them. It’s important to remember that while these deficiencies can cause skin issues, they can also lead to other more serious health problems, underscoring the importance of a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
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Seasonal Changes
Seasonal changes can significantly impact the condition of our skin, including the skin around the nails. The following explains how these changes can lead to skin peeling:
Dry Winter Air: In the winter, humidity levels drop both outdoors and indoors (due to heating systems), leading to drier air. This lack of moisture in the environment can sap the skin , causing it to become flakey, rough, and eventually start to peel, including the skin around your nails.
Harsh Summer Sun: On the other end of the spectrum, the hot summer months bring with them increased exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Excessive sun exposure can lead to dehydrated skin which may peel, and this can affect the skin around your nails as well.
Frequent Hand Washing: In colder months especially, people tend to wash their hands more frequently to prevent the spread of flu and cold viruses. While this is good for hygiene, excessive hand washing, particularly with heat and liquid soaps or soaps with bad ingredients, can lead the skin to dryness and peeling.
Transition Periods: Rapid changes in weather conditions, such as transitioning from a humid summer to a dry winter, can also confuse your skin. The skin might not adapt fast enough to the new conditions, leading to imbalance in skin’s moisture levels and causing it to dry and peel.
To counter these effects, it’s important to adjust your skincare routine according to the season. In the cooler weather, use a humidifier inside to bring moisture to the air, wear gloves outside to protect your hands, and moisturize your hands regularly. In summer, stay hydrated, limit your exposure to the sun, and use a moisturizer with an appropriate SPF. During all seasons, avoid excessive hand washing and when you do wash, use lukewarm water and mild soaps followed by a good hand cream. These steps can help prevent the skin around your nails from peeling, no matter what the weather brings.
Chemicals in Products
Many everyday products, from household cleaning solutions to personal care items, contain ingredients that can cause skin problems, including peeling around the nails. Here’s how:
Soaps and Sanitizers: Regular soaps, dish soaps, hand sanitizers, and shampoos often contain chemicals like sulfates (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) and alcohols that can remove your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and peeling.
Cleaning Products: Household cleaners, including detergents and bleach, contain potent chemicals that are harsh on the skin. Frequent exposure without proper protection can lead to skin irritation and peeling.
Nail Polish Removers: Acetone, a common ingredient in many nail polish removers, is particularly drying to the skin and nails. Repeated or prolonged exposure can cause the skin around your nails to dry out and start peeling.
Nail Products: Some nail hardeners and artificial nails contain formaldehyde, a chemical that can cause dermatitis, a type of skin inflammation that results in itching, redness, and peeling.
Cosmetics: Certain cosmetics may contain allergens or irritants that can lead to contact dermatitis. If the product touches the skin around the nails, it can result in skin peeling.
To protect your skin, consider using gloves when working with harsh cleaning products, choose milder, fragrance-free soaps and sanitizers, and opt for acetone-free nail polish removers. If you notice a particular product is causing skin irritation, discontinue its use and consult a healthcare provider if necessary. Always remember to keep your hands well-moisturized to restore the natural skin barrier and prevent peeling. Reading product labels and understanding what they contain can be a significant first step in protecting your skin health.
Chronic Eczema
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic condition that can cause the skin to become inflamed, itchy, dry, and prone to peeling. Here’s how eczema can affect the skin around your nails:
Inflammation: Eczema causes an immune system overreaction, leading to inflammation of the skin. When this occurs around the nails, it can lead to redness, swelling, and eventual peeling of the skin.
Dryness: Eczema disrupts the skin’s barrier function, reducing its ability to hold on to moisture. This results in severe dryness, which can cause the skin to become brittle and start to peel.
Itching: One of the key symptoms of eczema is intense itching. Scratching the itch can cause further damage to the skin, leading to worsening dryness, possible skin breaks, and peeling.
Secondary Infections: The constant itching and scratching associated with eczema can lead to open sores, which are susceptible to secondary bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. These infections can cause additional symptoms, including skin peeling.
Impact of Eczema Treatments: Some treatments for eczema, such as topical corticosteroids, can have side effects that include skin thinning and dryness, which can also result in peeling skin.
If you have eczema and are experiencing skin peeling around your nails, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider or a dermatologist. They can recommend appropriate treatments, such as topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, or newer biologic medications, along with emollients to hydrate the skin. Additionally, they can provide guidance on managing triggers that can exacerbate eczema. This can include avoiding harsh soaps and chemicals, managing stress, and maintaining a skincare routine that supports the skin’s natural barrier function.
Chronic Dermatitis
Chronic dermatitis is a general term that describes persistent inflammation of the skin. This inflammation can lead to various symptoms including redness, itching, swelling, and peeling. When it affects the hands and, more specifically, the area around the nails, it’s often referred to as hand dermatitis or chronic hand eczema. Here’s how chronic dermatitis can cause the skin to peel around your nails:
Inflammation and Dryness: Inflammation disrupts the skin’s natural barrier, leading to loss of moisture and dryness. As the skin dries out, it may become rough, flaky, and start to peel, including around the nails.
Itching and Scratching: Chronic dermatitis is often associated with severe itching. The compulsion to scratch the itch can cause additional damage to the skin, worsening the dryness and leading to cracks or peeling.
Irritants and Allergens: In many cases, chronic dermatitis is triggered or worsened by exposure to certain chemicals, allergens, or irritants. This exposure can cause a reaction leading to further skin damage and peeling. For example, irritant or allergic contact dermatitis can be caused by frequent hand washing, exposure to harsh cleaning products, certain metals, or some types of rubber gloves.
Secondary Infections: Persistent inflammation and scratching can create openings in the skin, making it susceptible to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. These secondary infections can cause additional symptoms such as blisters that, when they dry, can lead to peeling skin.
If you’re dealing with chronic dermatitis and experiencing peeling skin around your nails, it’s important to consult a dermatologist or healthcare provider. They can help identify potential triggers or allergens, recommend appropriate treatments, and provide advice on skincare routines that can help manage your symptoms. Treatments may include topical corticosteroids, emollients, and in some cases, light therapy or systemic medications. In addition, protecting your hands from irritants and allergens by wearing gloves and using mild soaps can be beneficial.
Ways To Stop Skin Peeling Around The Nails
Take vitamins
If the skin around your nails is peeling, one of the first things to consider is whether you’re getting the right nutrients in your diet. Certain vitamins and minerals play critical roles in maintaining healthy skin and nails, and supplementing with these can help improve the condition of your skin:
Vitamin A: This vitamin helps renew and look after skin tissue, so it could potentially help with healing the skin around the nails. It is also essential for cell production and differentiation, playing a important base in the everyday maintenance of the skin.
B-Vitamins: Biotin (Vitamin B7) is particularly important for healthy nails and skin, and a deficiency can cause dry, irritated skin. Other B-vitamins, like Niacin (B3) and Riboflavin (B2), play important roles in maintaining skin health.
Vitamin C: This vitamin is key for collagen production. Collagen is a protein that improves the skin, and a lack of it can lead to skin damage and peeling.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that looks after the cells in the body and slows down damage from occuring. It is also known to help skin retain its natural moisture, preventing dryness and peeling.
Zinc: This essential mineral aids in the process of skin cell regeneration and can be beneficial in treating and preventing skin dryness and flaking.
Before starting any vitamin or supplement regimen, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider. They can recommend the right dosage, discuss potential side effects, and ensure that the supplements won’t interfere with any other medications you might be taking. Remember, a balanced diet filled with a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats is the best way to keep your healthy.
Wear A Barrier Cream
Barrier creams play a crucial role in preventing skin damage and maintaining skin health, especially in areas that are frequently exposed to harsh conditions or substances, such as the hands. They work by forming a protective layer on the surface of the skin, which helps in several ways:
Locks in Moisture: Barrier creams are usually rich in emollients, which are ingredients that seal in moisture. This helps to hydrate the skin, reducing dryness and subsequent peeling. Keeping your skin moisturized can make it more flexible, resilient, and less likely to crack or peel.
Protects Against Irritants: These creams create a shield on your skin that can protect against harmful substances, such as harsh soaps, detergents, and chemicals. This is particularly beneficial for individuals whose hands are regularly exposed to such irritants, as it can prevent skin inflammation and damage, reducing the risk of skin peeling around the nails.
Reduces Friction: Barrier creams can reduce friction on the skin’s surface, helping to prevent chafing and irritation that can lead to dryness and peeling.
Promotes Healing: Some barrier creams also contain ingredients like ceramides, which are naturally occurring lipids (fats) in the skin’s outer layer. Ceramides can help restore the skin’s natural barrier, promoting healing and preventing further moisture loss.
To effectively stop peeling of the skin around the nails, apply the barrier cream regularly, especially after washing your hands. Applying it before bedtime can also be beneficial as it allows the cream to work overnight, when the skin’s repair mechanisms are most active. However, while barrier creams can be very effective, it’s also crucial to address any underlying issues causing the skin to peel, such as nutritional deficiencies or skin conditions like eczema. Always consult a healthcare provider if you’re unsure about the cause of your skin peeling.