Diagnosis
The diagnosis of cracked fingers can be made by looking at the hands. A doctor is not necessarily required for this. However, if the cracks are very deep or painful, a doctor should be consulted to find the cause. If the dry fingers do not improve through regular creaming or if they keep appearing, a doctor should clarify whether a disease like neurodermatitis is the cause and initiate an appropriate therapy.
Therapy
It is important to take good care of your hands when your fingers are cracked. They should be creamed regularly with moisturizing care products. Especially effective are products containing urea.
This allows the skin to absorb moisture and regenerate itself from within. The skin should not be dried out afterwards and should not cause cracks in the following. Even after washing hands, hands should always be creamed to protect them from drying out.
When choosing a cream, care should be taken to ensure that it does not contain perfume or alcohol, as this can make the symptoms worse. If the skin on the fingers already has cracks that bleed, these cracks represent an open wound and must be treated as such. The wound should be kept clean with warm water and then dried well.
Hot water, however, should be avoided. Moisturizing creams should also not be used if cracks are already present. Instead, an antibacterial ointment should be applied to prevent bacteria from entering and the wound from becoming infected.
Vaseline can also be used. The subsequent application of a plaster prevents dirt from collecting in the wound. To protect the skin of the fingers from further harmful influences, thin cotton gloves should be worn during the day.
Before putting them on, the hands should be creamed to provide the skin with sufficient moisture.It is also good for chapped fingers to apply a thick layer of cream to them before going to bed and to sleep on them with cotton gloves. In this way the moisture is kept in the skin and it has enough time to absorb it. Since the air contains little moisture, especially in winter, a humidifier can help to alleviate the discomfort when it occurs mainly in the cold season.
If the complaints are very severe, so that a doctor has to be consulted, he often prescribes a cortisone ointment. This will fight the inflammation and the cracks can heal. This ointment should be used twice a day for five days, then only once a day for two to three more days. The presence of neurodermatitis should also be taken into account and, if necessary, it must be treated. Neurodermatitis is usually characterized by severe itching and is first treated with special creams.