What to do if the skin on the fingers crack

The problem of dry hand skin is familiar to many. Brush tissues are very thin and vulnerable, while they are constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors. Cracks in the skin of the fingers are not only a cosmetic problem. Pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate deep into the tissues through the damaged epithelium, causing infectious inflammation. Why does this problem arise and how to deal with it?

Histological structure of the skin of the hands

In order to understand how cracks form on the skin, you need to know what it consists of. The surface layer of the skin is called the epidermis. It consists of an epithelium. The cells of this tissue are very close to each other. Their lower layer is located on a dense connective tissue plate - the basement membrane.

The epidermis of the skin of the palms, feet and fingers is much thicker than what is on other parts of the body. It contains an extra layer called brilliant. All this is necessary in order to prevent damage to the skin in places where it is most susceptible to mechanical stress.

The epidermis is a barrier between the environment and the internal tissues of the body. Under this layer lies the dermis. It contains vessels and nerves that nourish and innervate all other layers of the skin. The nutrition of fingers and toes is worse than other parts of the body. Under the dermis is the hypodermis. It consists of subcutaneous fat, but on the hand it is poorly developed.

A crack is primarily damage to the epidermis. If blood is released from the wound, then the dermis is also damaged. Such cracks are dangerous in that they can heal by secondary tension with the formation of deforming scars.

Why do finger cracks occur?

This symptom can occur both due to the influence of external factors, and because of the internal problems of the body. In addition, dry skin can be a sign of certain diseases.

External factors affecting the skin:

1. Temperature. Most often, cracks in the skin occur in winter. This problem is associated with the fact that low temperature contributes to spasm of peripheral vessels. The skin of the hands does not receive enough nutrition, it becomes more fragile and crackes.
2. Air humidity. The increased moisture content in the air contributes to hypothermia. In a cold and humid microclimate, the skin of the hands suffers the most.
3. Frequent hand washing. Skin cleansing is useful in that it removes pathogenic microflora from its surface. However, do not get involved in hygiene procedures. Firstly, running tap water contains many impurities and salts that aggressively affect the skin. Secondly, soap, even the most moisturizing, visibly dries the skin of the hands.
4. Ultraviolet. The sun's rays trigger various biological reactions in the tissues of the body. There is a theory that ultraviolet helps accelerate aging, because the first age of a woman is to give out open areas of the body - arms, face and décolleté. But this effect is not immediately noticeable, but dryness and cracks may appear after a few hours in the sun.
5. Exposure to chemicals. Washing dishes, floors, windows, and other manipulations with aggressive chemicals does not affect the condition of the skin in the best way. In addition, constant exposure to water also harms the epidermis.
6. Antiseptics. The desire to make their hands sterile cannot be called a pathology, but the skin suffers from this. All antiseptics contain alcohol, which dries the skin very much.What is the point of periodically destroying microbes if the natural barrier that constantly protects against them collapses?

Internal problems of the body:

1. Hypovitaminosis. The lack of B vitamins leads to a deterioration of the skin, provoking the formation of cracks. In addition, other symptoms may occur: cheilitis, glossitis, anemia, gastrointestinal problems, paresthesia.
2. Protein deficiency. Often occurs in girls who are on strict diets and in vegans. A lack of protein causes many pathological processes in the body. However, skin problems occur first.
3. Change in hormonal levels. A healthy hormonal balance is necessary for a normal skin condition. With its fluctuations, the condition of the tissues suffers. This can be manifested by cracks in the fingers and other parts of the body.
4. Diseases causing skin problems:
5. Mycosis. The fungus often affects the skin of the hands and feet. In this case, cracks, white deposits, erosion and weeping can occur on the fingers and in the interdigital folds.
6. Eczema. This is a pathology of unknown origin. It manifests itself in various morphological elements on the skin.
7. Scleroderma. A disease of unknown etiology affects the connective tissue of the body. First of all, fingers suffer. The skin is initially swollen and firm, then dry. In the last stages of the disease, it becomes so tight that the hand cannot be closed into a fist.

General Hand Skin Care

In order to preserve the beauty of your hands, you must constantly adhere to a specific skin care scheme. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Moisturizing cream. If the skin is too dry, then you need to choose the fattest of all possible options. In addition, the cream layer creates an additional barrier that protects against microorganisms.
2. Baby soap. This is the least aggressive hygiene product. Replace the usual soap with baby soap and wash your hands only with it. Skin condition will improve significantly.
3. Protection against the cold. In the cold season, gloves or mittens should always be on hand. You must introduce this rule into your life and always follow it.
4. Sun protection. From May to October, a cream with a UV filter should always be on hand. At what it does not matter at all, sunny day or cloudy. We do not see ultraviolet light, but it affects us even through the clouds.
5. Glove cleaning only. It is very important to protect your hands from aggressive chemicals. To do this, you should choose the most dense rubber gloves. Medical ones will not work, they are too thin and contain talc, which also dries the skin.
6. Reasonable disinfection. Antiseptics should be used only if the skin is really contaminated with organics containing pathogenic bacteria. It is not worth being carried away by neutralizing the surface of the hands.
7. The use of vitamins. This is especially important in the spring, when hypovitaminosis is widespread. You can use ordinary multivitamins or purchase special ones designed for the beauty of skin, hair and nails.
8. Balanced diet. This is important not only to prevent the occurrence of cracks in the fingers, but also in general to maintain health.
9. Qualified help. In the event that changes in the skin are caused by a disease, it is better to entrust their treatment to a dermatologist.

Special methods to get rid of cracks in the fingers

There are many different homemade masks and creams that can help you deal with this problem. Here are the most effective ones:

1. Vitamins for the skin. Only fat-soluble vitamins penetrate the epidermis, therefore, for the treatment of cracks, it is worth using oil solutions of vitamins A and E. Mix them in equal proportions and apply on the skin of your hands, rub them for several minutes, and then leave them on the skin for a quarter of an hour. It is worth repeating this procedure daily.
2. Potato mask. Mashed potatoes should be prepared according to the usual recipe: boil potatoes, crush, add milk and butter. Then apply the resulting mixture on hands and wrap with gauze. The mask must be washed off no earlier than half an hour later.
3. Milk and glycerin. In a bowl of warm milk, add a teaspoon of glycerin and dip your hands in this solution. The duration of this procedure should be at least 30 minutes. Repeating it is worth at least twice a week.
4. Olive oil. Heat it in a water bath to a pleasant warm temperature, apply a thick layer on your skin and put on cotton gloves. The oil can be washed off after an hour and a half.
5. Honey and glycerin. Mix liquid honey, glycerin and warm water in equal proportions. Put the resulting mixture on your hands and hold for half an hour, then rinse.
6. Cereals. It is better to take those that are cooked with boiling water for several minutes. Grind the flakes, pour boiling water in the proportions 1: 1 and wait until a mixture similar to porridge is cooked. Then apply it on your hands, wrap it with cling film and wait 20 minutes. After such a wrapping, it is necessary to apply a moisturizer.
7. Coffee grounds. It is used for washing hands instead of soap. This tool really cleanses the skin and does not cause it to dry out.
8. Sea buckthorn puree. Pour boiling water over the berries and wait 15 minutes. Then remove them from the water and crush to a mushy consistency. The resulting mass must be applied in the same way as mashed potatoes.

It can be concluded that cracks in the skin of the hands can occur due to various reasons. In some cases, only a dermatologist can cure them, but most often it’s enough just to adhere to the rules of skin care. If the cracks do not pass for a long time, you can use folk remedies to deal with them.

Video: how to care for your hands in the cold season