Reasons for Hand Peeling

Hand peeling can be a chronic issue for some, but occasional hand peeling can be attributed to a range of causes.

Those with frequent, long-term hand peeling likely know the cause at this point. Psoriasis, eczema, Kawasaki disease, Acral skin peeling syndrome and even certain medications can cause chronic hand peeling. If you have very frequent peeling and are uncertain of the cause, it is advisable to check with a physician to make sure that you do not have a serious underlying condition or medication side-effect.

For occasional hand peeling, a wide variety of causes exist. One of the more serious is Toxic Shock Syndrome. TSS is usually linked to tampon use and is a result of bacteria releasing toxins into the body. One symptom is major peeling of the palms of the hands. Another medical reason for hand peeling is tinea manuum, a fungal infection. This can cause scaling, itching and peeling of the palms and between the fingers. If you have either of these symptoms, please seek medical care.

Sunburn, frequent hand washing and dry/cold weather are a few reasons for hand peeling that are easily pinpointed. If you have ruled out all of the reasons already mentioned, there are a few more possibilities. Covid is annoyingly diverse in its symptoms.. some people with Covid reported red, itchy, flaky patches of skin on the hands and feet. Group A strep can cause red peeling patches as well. Allergic contact dermatitis can develop at any point in life and can cause a red, itchy rash in response to something you’ve become allergic to. Even if you have never had an issue with a certain substance for 40 years, you can develop an allergy to it.

The final reason for hand peeling that I’ll mention is chemical exposure. We might think of chemicals as something in a vat inside a lab, but scientists like to say that everything is a chemical. Products that are marketed as healthy or natural can have ingredients that are irritating to certain people. If you suspect a sensitivity to harsh chemicals, develop a habit of reading labels so that you can start to see patterns in reactions with certain ingredients.

Oak Manour creates products with simple ingredients to decrease the chance of skin irritation, even for those with sensitive skin.