peeling skin on finger tips including fingernails

[michelea]

I need Help! I have seen 3 doctors and no progress has been made. This has been going on for 6+ months now and I want my fingers back. It started on my left thumb nail(inside) and included some skin splitting and bleeding under my thumb nail. The finger print soon peeled away and  my left index finger became affected in a similar way. I am left handed if that makes a difference. Other fingers also became involved, usually next to each other. Under the nail towards the tip it turns white almost like it is pulling away a little, and then reddish next to that.But this is only on one side of the nail. One doctor thinks it might be a fungus, but my toes are not affected. He wants a nail sample for a lab test. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks for your help.

[LYNND1]

Anytime cracking, peeling, flaking and bleeding splits in your skin persist and you end up with an entire cabinet full of lotions and creams that don't work and you know you don't have a diagnosis such as eczema, a fungal infection is the likely culprit. The generic creams are only $10. No need to run a lab test to confirm a fungal infection unless the treatment fails to work (in which case, you should have a complete checkup if you haven't done so already).

I know someone whose own parents are doctors and not only they, but a third doctor missed a similar diagnosis. Though the individual in question was not a laborer or hobbyist who should have had reason for rough hands, his fingers were so bad they made sandpaper feel soft by comparison. Not until a toenail cracked and became infected with fungus did he note that the cream that was incidentally used to treat the toe was curing his "dry skin". Now here's the outrageous part: He went around with horribly infected fingers for FIVE years. He is a chronic nail biter, and fungal infections are a risk for anyone who bites nails or otherwise damages the skin due, for example, to compulsive nail filing. This was obvious to anyone who saw his hands even at a distance, yet somehow everyone who should have "known" failed to connect the dots.

Doctors will always want to start with the basics. They don't seem to hear you when you've say, "No really, I've tried EVERYTHING and it didn't alleviate my symptoms." (Bag Balm, Amalactin Cream, Vitamin E oil, etc., etc.).

Ask for your antifungal cream and be done with it.

For long-term skin health, wear clean, protective gloves if you do a lot of gardening or heavy work with your hands, and also taking Omega 3 supplements (fish oil or flax).

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Various possibilities for peeling fingertips are trauma and allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, contact with harsh detergents, soaps and lotions that contain perfume can cause hands and fingertips to become irritated and peel. Sometimes cold, dry air can cause  peeling and dermatitis or fungal infections can also cause peeling.

Wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. For mild-moderate symptoms a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Symptoms can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Use good quality moisturizers to prevent moisture loss from the skin. During the day, hydrate and protect hands with a protective and moisturizing cream. At night, repair them with creams formulated from glycolic acid—a must for improving skin texture and tone. If still the symptoms do not improve then please get a clinical examination done by a dermatologist. Fungal infections have to be ruled out then.

Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Kind regards.