Why does the skin between your fingers itch and peel?

The skin between the fingers is the most delicate part of the human body; irritation and redness can occur for many reasons (they are the same in adults and children). Some of them go away on their own (for example, nervous strain), others require serious treatment. There are two ways to get rid of these symptoms: the use of drugs and the use of traditional medicine.

Causes

Redness and itching can be caused by many factors. Among them are:

• infection (bacterial or fungal),
• eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis,
• allergies to food, household chemicals, dyes,
• the presence of parasites in internal organs,
• avitaminosis,
• hormonal imbalance,
• scarlet fever (when the disease occurs in children, redness of the fingers occurs, a rash and itching in the child are noted),
• dysfunction of the kidneys and gall bladder.

As you can see, quite a few reasons can contribute to the appearance of irritation between the fingers. Poor quality care may also be the cause. Women should use cosmetics intended for their age group.

It is necessary to take this issue seriously and carry out a set of measures to cleanse, nourish and moisturize the integument. This is the only way to compensate for the lack of nutrients and vitamins.

Another provoking factor is changing weather conditions. If you intend to go on vacation and are heading from frosty Arkhangelsk straight to hot Turkey, be prepared for the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

No matter how trivial it may sound, even prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can disrupt the natural balance of the skin due to increased moisture between the fingers. If this happens, it is necessary to temporarily limit direct contact with water.

A more rare cause of redness is an insufficient amount of vitamins A or E in the body, as well as other important nutrients.

There is redness and itching on the hands between the fingers: how to treat them

Any redness between the fingers and itching must be treated only by identifying the exact cause of the phenomenon. After determining the form and stage of the disease, the doctor will choose the appropriate medications. They will affect the body as a whole and the rash locally.

Allergic dermatoses

The healing and relief of inflammatory processes in this type of disease will be facilitated by the drug Elokom, which can be purchased in the form of an ointment or cream. The drugs Elidel and Protopic come in the same release form. They relieve itching and inflammation. Lasix and Furosemide contribute well to recovery. These are drugs with a diuretic effect.

Traditional medicine also does not stand aside and suggests using various ointments, applications, and compresses made with your own hands from available ingredients. Tar-based ointment has proven itself well. To prepare it you will need:

• heavy cream (1 tbsp);
• birch tar (100 g);
• egg;

All of the above must be mixed thoroughly. Apply the ointment to the affected areas. To achieve a speedy recovery, you need to secure the ointment applied to a piece of gauze with bandages and leave the compress overnight.

Thanks to nettle lotion, you can get rid of the unpleasant manifestations of allergies. The infusion is made from dried plants. A pinch of nettle is placed in a bowl of water (500 ml). Boil for 3 minutes. Soak a strip of cloth in the settled infusion and apply it to your hands several times a day.

Mycoses

If it itches between the fingers, the decision on how to treat it should be made by the attending physician. Only complex therapy for the chronic form of dermatomycosis and candidiasis can lead to complete recovery. The rash is treated with ointments: Terbinafine, Ketoconazole, Candide. Treat with iodine. Salicylic and sulfur ointments help well. Antimycotics taken orally prevent the progression of the disease. The most commonly prescribed drugs are Ketoconazole, Fluconazole, and Itraconazole.

Other reasons

When the skin becomes infected after an injury, special attention is paid to cleaning the wound. The treatment is carried out with an alcohol solution, then with iodonate, and washed with hydrogen peroxide.

Baneocin ointment is applied to a sterile cloth and applied to the affected area, in the same way as in the photographs. The drug has a detrimental effect on bacteria and promotes wound healing.

There are many drugs available to treat scabies that give equally good results. Most often, patients are prescribed an ointment such as Benzyl benzoate 20%. Permethrin ointment is no less effective, but Spregal aerosol is considered much more effective. Ticks die after the second treatment with the drug.

• Psoriatic plaques that occur in the vulgar form of the disease are lubricated with drugs that can soften the skin and restore the normal course of natural processes in it. Recommended ointments: Betasalik, Kartalin. Antihistamines are given in case of allergies: Zyrtec, Claritin. Traditional medicine recommends regularly using an ointment made from the following components:
• eggs (2 pcs);

olive oil (1 tbsp);

• acetic acid (1 tbsp).

The ingredients are mixed, placed in a jar with a tight lid, and stored in a cool and dark place. Treat stains once a day before bedtime.

As a rule, redness and itching between the fingers during prickly heat go away if you adhere to normal hygiene and prevent overheating of the body. If the rash does not disappear, then, first of all, agents with an antimicrobial effect are used: Desitin, Fukortsin. If swelling is present, you can take Promethazine or Loratadine.

Author of the article:

Practitioner Specialization: Dermatovenereology

Publications on the site: 84 (All publications by the author)

Fungus

One of the most unpleasant and common contagious skin diseases is called mycosis. It is provoked by a fungal pathogen. The disease develops quickly under favorable conditions: weakened immunity, past infections, addictions.

Infection occurs quite easily - it is enough to touch the things of a sick person or come into contact with him. The largest tissue damage occurs in the nail area. The symptoms begin this way: most often, after a shower, redness appears between the fingers, which, in addition, also itches. The edge of the nail plate changes its shape, which is accompanied by painful sensations. Then it becomes deformed, brittle and weak.

Important! If the development of the fungus is not stopped at this stage, then red spots appear all over the body.

Read also: Remedy for fungus “Nomidol”: price and patient reviews

Pathological predisposing factors

Unfortunately, not only relatively harmless causes can provoke the appearance of a misfortune. It also affects the skin of people’s hands due to the occurrence of certain medical pathologies. The most common cause of redness and itching between the fingers is the scabies mite. This insect, despite the fact that it is tiny in size, causes a lot of negative feelings in a person.

If measures are not taken to eliminate it in time, it will spread very quickly throughout the body. Infection with these pathogenic insects occurs from person to person through bodily contact or sharing personal hygiene items, towels, and clothing. In addition to mites, the following ailments can cause itching and redness of the skin on the hands:

• Fungal skin diseases. They are characterized not only by their red color, but also by the presence of infected areas on the surface of the epidermis. These pathological zones appear after pathogens enter areas of severe scratching.
• Diabetes mellitus, which causes metabolic changes that cause drying and cracking of the skin.
• Infectious diseases, such as streptoderma or eczema. When they occur, blisters form on the skin of the hands, causing a person to have an unbearable desire to scratch them.
• Also, liver disease (its failure or cirrhosis) has a huge impact on the appearance of skin lesions. Almost always, when these pathologies are in the first stage of their development, lesions appear in the interdigital area of ​​a person’s hands. Their skin is characterized by dryness and severe itching. The intensity of negative feelings in such a situation is higher, the more the body is poisoned by toxins.

This misfortune is also triggered by insufficient hygiene, when excess fat with dirt adhering to it accumulates on the epidermis and is not washed off in a timely manner. This reason is completely understandable and does not raise any doubts. But surprisingly, good hygiene can also cause itching on and between your fingers.

The reasons for the appearance of negative symptoms in this case lie in frequent hand washing. The most common soap used for this purpose dries the skin very quickly, creating an irritating effect.

Allergic dermatitis

This disease is not contagious, its nature comes from the specifics of the immune system: when any harmful element appears, it tries to overcome it through a powerful release of histamine into the blood. As a result, the blood vessels dilate and a rash, inflammation, and itching appear on the skin. Therefore, even in this case, if redness appears between the fingers, it is necessary for an allergist to prescribe treatment.

There is a second scenario for the development of events. The first sign may be ordinary dry skin, which remains unattended and begins to develop.

Allergies can occur due to the action of various pathogens: plant pollen, chemicals, medications, animal hair, food additives, perfumes, building materials, insect bites. This subtype of allergic skin reaction, like urticaria, involves red spots with a circumference of about 10 cm. They can pass without a trace, but itching, fever and severe weakness persist for some time.

Household chemicals as a risk factor

The causes of peeling between the fingers are often associated with the use of household chemicals intended for cleaning a room or washing clothes. Unfortunately, most of them not only cope well with stains and other contaminants, but also destroy fabrics. They often cause the activation of certain skin diseases - dermatitis, allergies, eczema.

You can protect the epidermis from the aggressive effects of chemicals using regular latex gloves. It is better for work to take those that have a cotton coating inside and a dense structure - they will ensure the skin breathes and at the same time protect it from direct contact with chemicals. If the latex is dense and rough, the epidermis underneath may be blocked, which is also not good. This can be prevented by lubricating your hands with any greasy cream or oil before work.

photo from cohomag.com

During the process of cleaning the house, washing dishes and household appliances, the skin of your hands can be protected with gloves, but what to do during hand washing, which, despite the presence of a washing machine, also sometimes happens? Typically, hand washing powders contain less aggressive substances than machine washing powders. If your hand skin is too sensitive, it is better to choose detergents marked “hypoallergenic” or take baby detergent powders.

Attention and care

After any contact with chemicals, hands should be thoroughly washed, blotted with a towel and lubricated with a suitable cream. At night, to completely soothe the skin, you can make a nourishing mask.

Eczema

Very often, eczema begins with peeling and dry skin between the fingers.

This is a dermatological disease that manifests itself with the following symptoms:

1. thickening and peeling of the epithelium,
2. the appearance of a rash in the form of blisters,
3. the appearance of itching,
4. deterioration of skin color.

The nature of the disease is different - it occurs both as a result of ill health of the internal organs and as a reaction to chemicals.

Most often, people working in the fields of pharmaceuticals, construction, cosmetology, cleaning, agriculture, and food processing factories are susceptible to eczema.

The specificity of the treatment of this disease is such that, due to severe itching, patients scratch the affected areas of the skin until they bleed, which also causes a bacterial infection. In addition, small bubbles with liquid, skin thickening, and swelling appear. Eczema and allergies should not be confused, since these diseases have different natures and, accordingly, different treatments.

It is important to know! Eczema is a very dangerous disease, from which it is impossible to cure, since it goes into remission.

Lichen

Such an unpleasant disease as lichen can spread to a person from a domestic or street animal, and even from touching the sand on which it was sitting. The disease appears in the form of pink spots with a red rim; they quickly increase in size and spread throughout the body. In this case, you cannot practice self-medication; you must consult a doctor who will prescribe medications in the form of ointments and cauterization with iodine.

Treatment

To get rid of the disease, the use of pharmaceuticals is required. To eliminate discomfort in children, medications are needed that are not contraindicated at a particular age. It is imperative to read the instructions for using medications and coordinate their use with your doctor so as not to harm the child.

Skin diseases are treated as follows:

To treat pathologies, the doctor may prescribe drugs from other groups (for example, antihistamines are also used to get rid of prickly heat). The method of use and dosage of medications are indicated in the instructions for each of them.

If the redness is not caused by diseases, then general treatment recommendations will help. With their help, you can eliminate the symptom (itching, redness), but you cannot get rid of the cause of the discomfort. For this purpose, drugs and folk remedies are also used.

Medications

To cure inflammatory processes on the skin, you need to consult a dermatologist. In most cases, the doctor prescribes antihistamines (anti-allergenic) drugs. They come in the form:

• ointments (Protopic, Winkilson ointment);
• creams (Gistan, Momederm);
• tablets (Claritin, Cetrin);
• drops (Zodak, Suprastinex).

Hormonal (Sinaflan, Elokom) and non-hormonal agents (Fenistil, La-Cri) are also used.

Vitamins

You can remove skin irritation caused by a lack of nutrients and reduced immunity by taking special complexes. The following vitamins are needed:

• A, E, C (retinol, tocopherol and ascorbic acid) - increase immunity;
• group B - participate in hematopoietic processes;
• F (essential fatty acids) - heal wounds, eliminate inflammation.

Vitamin complexes for adults containing the listed substances include:

• Alphabet;
• Vitrum Beauty;
• Complivit;
• Immunal;
• Centrum.

The following products containing vitamins are suitable for children:

• Pikovit (from year);
• Vitrum Baby (from 2 years old);
• Alphabet Kindergarten (from 3 years old);
• Complivit Oftalmo (from 3 years);
• Solgar Omega-3 (from 7 years).

Folk remedies

You can treat discomfort between your fingers with tincture of valerian and motherwort. They have an antihistamine effect. To prepare a standard lotion from motherwort tincture to treat an itchy area, you need to reduce the alcohol content to 40% by diluting it with water.

Valerian tincture should be diluted with half a glass of water and drunk half an hour before meals (the number of drops is from 15 to 30). The drug will calm the nervous system and eliminate allergy symptoms.

It is useful to keep your hands in herbal baths. For their preparation and use you need:

1. Mix 1 tbsp. l. oak bark, string, chamomile, pour 600 ml of water.
2. Leave for half an hour.
3. Dip your hand into the liquid if there is redness between the fingers.

These decoctions will have a disinfecting, soothing and anti-inflammatory effect.

You can reduce irritation and soften the skin using homemade ointments. Ingredients and process for preparing effective products:

Before using folk remedies, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe a safe course of treatment. Otherwise, the condition may worsen and allergy symptoms, irritation, itching, and redness will become more pronounced.

It is prohibited to use the products if you have an individual intolerance to the components specified in the recipe.

Other reasons

Avitaminosis. Most often it appears in the spring, due to a deficiency of nutrients and vitamins in the body, and is not a serious disease. To treat dry skin and redness between the fingers, you need to eat more seasonal vegetables and fruits, citrus fruits.

Household chemicals. With constant contact with strong substances, redness and rash may appear on the hands, which may indicate the development of eczema or dermatitis.

A common cause of flaking and dry skin can be genetic predisposition, excessive use of soap, as well as other hygiene products. In addition, damage to other parts of the body is possible.

Irritation and redness of the skin can result from insect bites. A particle of poison entering the epidermis causes a local allergic reaction in the body.

What to do if the skin between your fingers is peeling

If peeling is accompanied by itching or rashes, consultation with a dermatologist is necessary. He will prescribe the tests necessary to identify the cause and select medications.

If your fingers itch or your skin peels off after contact with household chemicals, you need to take antihistamines and apply a soothing cream, such as Bora-Plus, to your skin.

Dryness and redness caused by weather factors can help remove protective creams or homemade masks and baths.

Pharmacy products

Peeling of the skin associated with dehydration or exposure to weather factors will help eliminate special creams. For example, “Bora-Total” or “Bora-plus”. They contain oils and extracts from medicinal plants, moisturize and nourish dry skin.

Clobaza cream will protect from wind or frost, restore the hydrolipid balance of the skin, and deeply moisturize it. It is recommended to apply the cream before going outside or after contact with water or household chemicals.

Peeling of the skin between the fingers is also counteracted by pharmaceutical cosmetics containing vitamins A, C, B, E, F. For example, Mustela brand products.

Cracks and peeling caused by dermatitis, eczema, mycotic skin lesions are treated under the supervision of a dermatologist.

Antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Suprastin are often prescribed to relieve itching. They are used in combination with external agents.

Mycotic diseases, depending on the type of fungus, are treated with Clatrimazole, Resorcinol, Miconazole and other drugs.

Dermatitis, eczema, and other diseases are treated with special ointments; in severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed. Steroid ointments help relieve inflammation.

Homemade masks

If dry skin and flaking are not associated with dermatological diseases, then home recipes will relieve the problem.

Healing compresses and baths:

• Prepare a decoction of linden/sage/chamomile. Cool to a comfortable temperature. Immerse your hands in the infusion for 20-30 minutes. You can make compresses by soaking a soft cloth in the broth.
• Boil oatmeal for 5-10 minutes. Strain the liquid and cool to room temperature. Make lotions or baths. Exposure time 20 minutes.
• Prepare a decoction of nettle leaves (sold at the pharmacy). Pour into a dark glass bottle and store in the refrigerator. Wipe your hands with the infusion every day, two or three times a day. Can also be used for baths.

Homemade masks will help cure cracks in your hands between your fingers and eliminate peeling skin.

Popular recipes:

• Grind the zucchini pulp and mix in equal proportions with sour cream. You can add ground rolled oats or oatmeal, no more than 2 tablespoons.
• Dilute grated potatoes (pre-peeled) and honey with carrot juice. Apply the mask to problem skin on your hands.
• Soda scrub mask. Dilute two tablespoons of baking soda in a small amount of water. Apply to skin for 3 minutes, rinse. The procedure will be completed with a nourishing cream.

Proven methods:

• Heat a little sunflower oil in a water bath. Apply it to your hands, put on cotton gloves, wool or any other insulated gloves on top. The duration of the procedure is 20-30 minutes. Then wash off the remaining oil with water.
• At night, you can apply a small amount of castor/sea buckthorn/rose oil to your hands. The product must be rubbed into the skin with massaging movements.
• The contents of a fish oil capsule are applied to your hands before going to bed. It can be replaced with "Aevit".

Recommendations from cosmetologists

Experts recommend not delaying contacting a doctor - the skin disease requires careful diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.

For example, scabies or lichen progresses quickly. They require specific treatment. During this period, it is necessary to limit contact with other people, as the risk of infection is high.

Ringworm appears as a cool-colored spot on the arm; it may be flaky and have a “rim” of small papules. The basis of treatment is antifungal agents.

Scabies manifests itself as itching, redness, and the formation of small pimples-papules. It requires treating not only the hands, but the entire body with special preparations. It is also necessary to sanitize personal belongings, bedding, and premises using Apar-type products.

You can get rid of peeling and red cracks caused by non-diseases in a beauty salon. The following will be effective:

• peelings (ultrasonic, acid);
• paraffin therapy;
• masks, wraps with medicinal and nutritional compositions.

You can learn about one of the most popular hand beauty procedures here:

Medicines

To relieve itching and inflammation, antihistamines are prescribed, such as Claritin, Cetrin, Fenistil, Suprastin, Loratadine.

If there are bacteria in the body, they must be suppressed with the help of antibiotics. Which pills should be taken can only be decided by your doctor. As for local external treatment, Erythromycin ointment and other creams that protect inflamed skin areas from the spread of microbes are excellent.

Read also: Every fourth person has suffered from onychomycosis, is suffering from it, or will suffer from it!

Hormonal ointments (Clotrimazole, Miconazole, Ketonazole) are used to suppress fungal infections. If the test results reveal mycosis, the doctor may also prescribe boric acid, rivanol or resorcinol.

In turn, hormonal ointments are also used for dermatitis. The following drugs are suitable: Lokoid, Advantan, Fucicort. They will also help in the treatment of psoriasis. In addition to the above-mentioned remedies, tar and zinc ointment are used; these preparations are based on solid oil (Solipsor, Kartalin, Magnipsor).

Medicinal methods of control

Compared to other areas of the body, the skin on the hands is considered the most vulnerable, since it practically does not contain sebaceous glands and nutritional moisture. That is why this area of ​​tissue is easily injured under the influence of numerous unfavorable factors. You can protect your hands only with proper care and comprehensive strengthening of the immune system , not forgetting about the treatment of chronic diseases.

If the skin between your fingers suddenly turns red and begins to peel, characteristic itching and swelling appear, then you should urgently consult a specialist. Depending on the overall clinical picture, doctors will prescribe the most effective drugs.

Modern antibiotics are used to suppress bacteria . But for external treatment, Erythromycin ointment is best suited. If a scabies mite has been detected, then the patient is prescribed external preparations with a disinfecting and anti-inflammatory effect (Wilkinson ointment). If there is a fungal infection in the body, then hormonal creams and ointments are used (Ketonazole, Clotrimazole, Miconazole). To effectively treat such diseases, doctors often prescribe boric acid, Resorcinol, and Rivanol to their patients. If a patient has been diagnosed with mycosis, then he is strictly prohibited from contacting other people so as not to infect them.

Originally posted 2018-07-04 13:30:50.

Traditional methods

These treatment methods are used strictly after visiting a doctor and prescribing the necessary medications. Folk remedies are only an addition to the main treatment. The following procedures have proven themselves to be effective:

• First pour boiling water over the blueberries (100 grams), then cool, and apply the crushed berries, wrapped in gauze, to the source of inflammation.
• Olive oil has healing properties. They can be used to rub problem areas. Everyone also knows the beneficial properties of sesame oil.
• Grate the carrots on a fine grater, wrap in gauze, and apply to the reddened area of ​​the skin.

First aid for itchy skin

Undoubtedly, any skin problems should be eliminated exclusively in a therapeutic way. If it is not possible to urgently consult a doctor, then you can use the following methods that will help eliminate the main cause of itching :

• Application of oatmeal compresses. They are filled with regular boiling water and steamed. The finished pulp is wrapped in several layers of gauze and applied to the hands. A good effect is achieved due to the fact that oats have excellent healing properties and also help eliminate skin inflammation.
• Lubricate the inflamed area of ​​skin with butter or fat. It is prohibited to use softening creams of cosmetic origin. Fat must be exclusively natural. It will nourish the skin, eliminate dryness, flaking, relieve inflammation, which will relieve the itching sensation.
• Wrap a few pieces of ice in a towel and apply it to the affected area of ​​skin. This procedure will help reduce discomfort and alleviate the general condition. It is important to remember that holding ice for longer than 15 minutes is prohibited, otherwise the connective tissue of the finger joints may become inflamed.
• Contact exclusively with warm water, as too hot or cold water will only aggravate the overall clinical picture.
• During the period of exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to avoid wearing synthetic clothing, as well as using detergents with artificial dyes and flavors. To wash your hands, it is best to use tar or laundry soap.

When the main causes of the disease have been eliminated, it is necessary to urgently contact a medical center to receive qualified assistance. In 95% of cases, rapid redness of the skin, itching, swelling and rash indicate that a person has an acute allergy. If it is not eliminated in a timely manner, swelling of the larynx and even anaphylactic shock may develop. The latter condition almost always ends in death.

Prevention

Below is a list of tips to avoid the above problems:

1. Proper diet: minimize the consumption of sweets, fatty, salty foods. Eliminate bad habits.
2. Analyze your body’s reaction to allergic pathogens and avoid contact with them.
3. Consistent change of bed linen.
4. Compliance with personal hygiene rules.
5. Avoid prolonged contact with direct sunlight.
6. Do not avoid periodic preventive examinations.
7. Continuous skin care for the entire body.

It is the hands that are most susceptible to fungal infections, so special attention should be paid to taking care of them. Of course, the fact that you follow all the above tips does not provide a 100% guarantee that this problem will not affect you. However, they will help avoid many unpleasant problems.