Skin Around Your Nail Peeling? Causes, Treatment & Prevention TIps

If you've ever wondered, 'why do my cuticles peel?' you're in the right place. Your hands are one of the most exposed parts of your body and suffer a lot of environmental damage. Unfavourable weather conditions like sunny summers and extreme winters can cause your cuticles to peel. If you have a dry skin type, factors like pollution and harsh water can further damage them.

Is your cuticle skin peeling? Habits like nail-biting and picking the skin around your nails can cause damage and pain. Health conditions like psoriasis, chronic eczema, atopic dermatitis and pompholyx can lead to cuticle peeling. Also, nutritional deficiency of vitamins B, A, E and C can all cause peeling skin around the nails. We all know that the food we eat affects our skin and hair directly, so any changes in diet can also temporarily cause your skin to peel, especially around the nails.

Why do my cuticles peel? You use your hands for essential tasks like cooking, cleaning, shampooing, washing dishes and sometimes even gardening throughout the day. This exposes your cuticles to a lot of different chemical agents that can irritate the skin around it. Even if you wear gloves while doing it, the latex material might interact with your skin and cause irritation. All of this in addition to the chemicals used on your skin during the manicure can cause your cuticles to become dry and flaky.

Excessive cuticle removal, strong nail polish removers, and the use of acrylics or gel manicures could damage the delicate skin surrounding your nails. Therefore, to protect the skin around your nails, make sure that the manicurist is gentle while handling your nails and the skin around it.

While cuticle skin peeling is not a cause for concern, there are ways to deal with it for aesthetic reasons. Home remedies like switching to skin-friendly detergents or soaps; improving your diet to promote skin health and finally quitting your nail-biting habit will help. Prevention is always better than cure. Keep your hands moisturised with a hand cream such as the Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Hand Stronger Nails Hand Cream to keep them soft, smooth and healthy-looking. Infused with petroleum jelly and keratin, this hand cream is lightweight and non-sticky too. Peeling cuticles can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but with the right care and prevention strategies, you can restore the health of your cuticles and prevent further peeling. Here's how you can treat and avoid this issue:

Keeping your cuticles well-moisturized is essential to prevent dryness and peeling. Use a nourishing cuticle oil or a rich hand cream daily, especially before bedtime, to allow your skin to repair overnight.

Harsh nail polishes or removers can dry out the cuticles, causing them to peel. Opt for acetone-free removers and use non-toxic nail products to protect the delicate skin around your nails.

Honey & Coconut Oil Mask Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it helps to retain moisture in the skin, while coconut oil has healing and moisturizing properties. How to Use: Mix equal parts honey and coconut oil, and apply the mixture to your cuticles. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off. Repeat this 2-3 times a week to hydrate and repair peeling cuticles.

Olive Oil & Lemon Juice Soak Olive oil helps to nourish dry cuticles, while lemon juice can help to exfoliate dead skin and promote healing. How to Use: Mix a few drops of lemon juice with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl. Soak your fingertips in this mixture for 10-15 minutes. Follow up with a moisturizing hand cream. This treatment can be done a few times a week to keep your cuticles soft and healthy.