Therapy
For people who are prone to cracked fingertips, there are many measures that can help alleviate the discomfort. The most important thing is to protect the fingertips from drying out. This is mainly achieved with moisturizers containing 10-15% urea.
Gentle working as well as wearing rubber gloves, for example when rinsing, can also positively influence and accelerate the healing process. When washing hands, soap should be avoided at times or a pH-skin neutral variant should be used. In winter, wearing warming gloves helps to protect the hands from the cold and promote the skin’s own moisture production.
In the case of deep and long-standing cracks, it is recommended to carefully cut off the edges of the crack so that no soap liquid can collect in the depths, which would draw even more liquid from the surrounding skin. Disinfected nail scissors should be used to prevent infection. An infection is suspected if the typical signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling and overheating are visible.
Such fingertips should be treated with an antibiotic ointment and a bandage or plaster like any deep skin wound and protected from water and dirt. In homeopathy, there are various remedies/globules available to treat dry, cracked skin and cracked fingertips. Their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven, nor can any general recommendations be made about the remedies.
Even among homeopaths there is disagreement about the application of the substances, so that different recommendations can be found, which, however, cannot be assigned to a uniform recommendation. At this point some homeopathic remedies are mentioned as examples, which are used for cracked fingertips: Petroleum in the potencies D3 to D12, Sanicula in the potency D12, Calcium fluoratum in the potency D12. There is a multitude of creams and ointments which are supposed to help against dry and cracked skin.
But how effective are these products? Can they solve the problem? Cracked fingertips are, for example, an expression of a vitamin deficiency or allergy.Creams cannot remedy the cause here, so it is advisable to first consult a dermatologist for advice and examination.
In case of allergic contact dermatitis, creams and ointments with a high fat content as well as cortisone are used. Skin diseases like neurodermatitis, which can also lead to cracked and dry fingertips, require special therapy. Here too, however, basic skin care with moisturizing creams is part of the treatment.
Additionally, creams with the ingredients cortisone and tacrolimus are used. They inhibit the inflammation and lead to an alleviation of the symptoms. Many freely available ointments and creams that are supposed to help against chapped and dry skin contain ingredients such as urea as well as a water and fat content.
The composition varies according to manufacturer and intended use. There are many different household remedies against dry, chapped fingertips and hands, which everyone must test individually for themselves. Some household remedies help better with one person and worse with another, so it is not possible to make a general statement about their effectiveness.
Make sure that you have causes such as a vitamin and iron deficiency or other diseases excluded or adequately treated by a doctor. Home remedies cannot cure any skin disease. However, they can be an excellent way to support therapy or alleviate symptoms.
Below are some examples of household remedies for cracked fingertips:
- Lemon-Honey-Mixture for hands: Mix honey and lemon about equal parts. Rub your hands extensively with this mixture. Leave the mixture to work as desired, but for at least 5 minutes, and then wash your hands with lukewarm water.
Then dry your hands carefully. You can repeat this procedure several times a week. Caution: The lemon can be painful if there are bloody wounds on the fingertips!
It is therefore better not to use this household remedy if you have such complaints.
- Olive oil yoghurt cure: Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil to about 150 grams of natural yoghurt. Greek yogurt is recommended for a more fatty consistency. Warm the yogurt in a water bath so that it is lukewarm.
Rub your hands generously with the mixture. You are welcome to let the yoghurt work overnight under cotton gloves. However, you can also rinse the mixture with lukewarm water after 20 minutes.
Dry hands well!
Honey and beeswax are popular natural ingredients used in many skin creams, ointments and home remedies for dry and cracked skin. Honey cannot eliminate the cause of cracked fingertips, for example an iron deficiency or allergy, but it can alleviate the symptoms when applied to the skin. Whether a cream or ointment helps well must be tested individually on the skin.
As a household remedy, some honey can be mixed with curd cheese or yogurt and applied to the affected areas. This moisturizing mixture can provide relief for cracked skin. Many over-the-counter skin products for dry and cracked skin also contain honey and beeswax. Many affected people do not consider cracked fingertips to be a real disease and try to treat the symptoms at home. In the case of persistent, long-lasting cracks, which are accompanied by pain and signs of inflammation, a visit to the dermatologist is highly recommended, as he or she is familiar with such complaints.
