Dr Sanjeev Yadav, MD, consultant dermatologist of Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, explains the causes of this condition and ways to prevent it. He also debunks some common misconceptions about skin peeling around fingernails.

What causes skin peeling around fingernails?

Skin peeling around fingernails indicates dry, irritated skin that eventually falls off. This is a common condition. It can result from various factors, including extreme climatic conditions like dry winters or summers, which cause moisture loss and the inability of the skin to retain moisture, causing the peels. Exposure to irritants such as soaps, detergents, hand sanitisers, harsh chemicals, and frequent hand washing also causes this condition.

Cosmetic products like nail polish and nail polish removers can damage the skin around fingernails. Handling raw garlic (peeling garlic) or using nails can cause an issue. These conditions damage the skin through chemical-induced irritation, impairing the skin’s barrier function.

Nail biting, commonly occurring among children, injures the skin around fingernails. A lack of some vital elements and micronutrients can lead to changes in the skin and nails.

Are there any medical conditions that might lead to this condition?

Certain skin diseases can also cause the skin to dry and peel off. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated skin condition that can cause redness, scaling, and skin fissuring around the fingers, often involving the nails. With similar causes, some eczematous skin conditions like ‘Fingertip eczema and pompholyx’ can cause dryness and skin peeling around fingernails.

Similarly, ‘allergic contact dermatitis’ is a condition in which an allergen that a person is sensitive to comes in contact with fingertips, causing the skin near nails to peel. Some metals in jewellery, mostly nickel-containing finger rings, latex-based gloves, and more, can cause such a condition, resulting in skin peeling.

Nevertheless, some fungal and bacterial infections of fingers and nails can cause paronychia, which may eventually lead to skin damage around the nails.

Is this condition more common in specific age groups, climates, or professions?

Our skin interacts with several external factors daily, affecting its barrier function. Extreme climatic conditions, such as winters and dry summers, might damage the skin of hands and feet, including skin peeling around fingernails. Likewise, the skin of children or the elderly is more prone to the effects of such conditions.

Some people, such as dishwashers, laundry workers, butchers, farmers, gardeners, and professionals who frequently use latex gloves, are more prone to developing such conditions due to chemical irritation or allergies.

It is said that shaking the wet hand also causes this condition. Is it true? Are there other misconceptions and myths surrounding this condition?

No, it's not true. As explained earlier, this problem has various causes, but “shaking a wet hand causes this condition” is a myth. Another misconception is that “it is contagious”. No, it is not always contagious unless caused by an infection. Other misconceptions like “peeling of skin around fingernails isn’t a big deal”. As explained earlier, it can be related to serious health conditions.

What’s the best way to deal with peeling skin?

Cutting or peeling it off may increase the risk of infection by altering the healing process. Sometimes, cutting or peeling may also lead to irritation and worsen the condition. So leave it and let it fall naturally.

Are there skincare tips that help to prevent and treat this condition?

Some common but important measures to prevent skin peeling around the nails include:

• Avoid cosmetics and nail polish containing harsh chemicals.

• Avoid using harsh sanitisers.

• Use protective gloves while using harsh cleaning products, gardening, or handling raw meat and garlic.

• Extreme cold climates and contact with hot water can also aggravate skin dryness, so wearing warm gloves in winter and preventing fingertips from touching hot water helps.

• Include moisturiser in your daily skincare routine.

• Eating a healthy and balanced diet fulfils the requirement for essential nutrients.

• Also, the intake of sufficient fluid plays an important role in maintaining skin hydration and protection.

You should seek help from a dermatologist if the condition worsens or persists for a longer duration and presents with other associated symptoms or hampers your daily activities apart from just the skin peeling.