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Dry, cracked skin on your fingers makes it really painful to use your hands to complete everyday activities. Fortunately, you can typically heal your cracked skin at home without needing any significant medical assistance. Although it may take some time, with proper care your skin can become soft and smooth again. Continuing to protect your skin after it's healed can keep the condition from returning. [1] X Research source
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QuestionWhat should I do for hands that are cracking?Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.Clean and dry your hands, and then moisturize them thoroughly with a layer of olive or coconut oil. Then, apply petroleum ointment and put on a pair of thin nylon or rubber gloves for 1-2 hours. Do this twice a day and see your cracks improve.
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QuestionWhat foods are helpful for healing cracked skin?Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.Eat a diet rich in quality protein and healthy fats while eliminating sugar, processed carbs, and other processed food. This is the most beneficial diet for skin health.
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Tips
- If home remedies don't relieve your symptoms, consult your doctor or a dermatologist. Your cracked skin may be a symptom of another underlying condition, such as eczema. [17] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to sourceThanks
- Apply a cool compress to dry skin if it itches, then follow up with a hydrocortisone cream to soothe the inflammation. [18] X Research sourceThanks
- If the dryness isn't limited to your hands, consider using a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home. [19] X Research sourceThanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- When washing dishes by hand, wear rubber gloves, but first apply a generous amount of hand lotion. That will help the cracks heal faster.
- Carmex lip balm is a less-messy alternative to Vaseline, and when applied with a cotton swab it's easier to target deep, painful cracks.
- Super glue the crack closed. It really works!
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Things You'll Need
- Mild fragrance-free soap
- Moisturizing cream
- Petroleum jelly
- Lined rubber gloves
- Light cotton gloves
- Warm winter gloves
- Non-fragranced detergent
References
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144008/
- ↑ R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/expert-answers/cracked-thumb-tip/faq-20450998
- ↑ R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.
- ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/cracked-or-dry-skin/
- ↑ http://www.bad.org.uk/for-the-public/patient-information-leaflets/hand-dermatitis/?showmore=1&returnlink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bad.org.uk%2Ffor-the-public%2Fpatient-information-leaflets#
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144008/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/hand-eczema
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-dealing-with-dry-skin/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To heal the cracked skin on your fingers, keep your skin moisturized when you wash your hands by switching to a liquid soap for sensitive skin. Avoid bar soaps unless they have soothing ingredients like aloe or oatmeal, since they’re more likely to dry out your skin. When you shower, limit yourself to only 5 or 10 minutes, because the hot water will strip away oils that naturally moisturize your skin. For extra healing power, apply a fragrance-free oil or cream moisturizer after drying your hands to lock in your natural oils. Be sure to dab the moisturizer in instead of rubbing, which can make any peeling or cracking worse. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to protect your skin from harsh environments, scroll down.
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Reader Success Stories
- "Trimming the edges and cuticles - I had thought about doing it, but wondered if it would do more harm than good! Also, I do not think Vaseline without any antibacterial would be too wise to apply; I think infection could build easily. Try using a brand name sin sealant; they are made with medication, plus allow the skin to breathe with a protective coat over the split." ..." more
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"Trimming the edges and cuticles - I had thought about doing it, but wondered if it would do more harm than good! Also, I do not think Vaseline without any antibacterial would be too wise to apply; I think infection could build easily. Try using a brand name sin sealant; they are made with medication, plus allow the skin to breathe with a protective coat over the split."
..."
more
"I was getting fed up of a crack in the skin on my thumb. Just as I thought it had healed, it opened up again. So I've applied petroleum jelly every time I wash my hands, and a good lotion at night. It's healing faster than last time."
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"Less is more when it came to healing me. I know we are all different, but I had so many allergies to what the dr gave me from age 9 up. I controlled my outbreaks with allergy control and Vaseline. "
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"All the tips from the type of cream to wearing rubber and cotton gloves were valuable lessons for me. Washing hands in lukewarm water and much more certainly gave me hints that I needed to know."
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"The article helped enormously as I have been doing the wrong things to treat cracked skin on the end of my fingers. I will follow the instructions and see if it helps."
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