Most people of all skin types and age groups might experience the common (and annoying) skin condition known as skin peeling. It might be a result of mild annoyance, but sometimes there are underlying medical conditions that can cause it that need assessment. So let’s look into the causes and treatment of skin peeling, dry peeling skin on face and hands, and some home remedies for peeling skin.
What Is Skin Peeling?
Desquamation is a natural process that makes the outer layer of your skin flaky or shed to create new skin. So skin peeling is a part of natural skin regeneration, but abnormally heavy or irregular peeling patterns probably indicate some medical issues. People might ask themselves, “is skin peeling good?” And it’s true to some extent – your skin does benefit from mild peeling because it makes way for new skin to form. But some medical care should be considered when peeling is noticeable and excessive (1).
Why Does Your Skin Peel?
Several factors including environmental surroundings and medical conditions cause skin peeling to occur, like:
1. Dry Skin (Xerosis): Winter conditions with dry air tend to remove moisture from your skin surface. You’ll mostly notice this dryness and skin peeling on hands and face more than other areas. A combination of strong cleansers, hot water exposure, and inadequate moisturisation makes the problem worse (2).
2. Sunburn: Sometimes your skin needs to peel to completely heal from sunburns. Repeated exposure to the sun triggers natural skin recovery, which can result in premature aging and potentially even lead to cancer. So repeated sunlight exposure for long periods is one of the long-term causes of skin peeling.
3. Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis): The inflammatory response from eczema results in redness as well as skin peeling, which leads to intense itching over the hands and face and other zones.
4. Psoriasis: Thick, scaly skin patches are the result of the autoimmune disorder psoriasis, in which the immune cells mistakenly attack healthy cells, leading to acceleration of skin cell renewal. This mostly happens on the knees, elbows, scalp, and back, and leads to skin peeling on hands and other areas (3).
5. Allergic Reactions or Irritants: When the skin touches allergens or harsh chemicals in some cosmetics, it can develop contact dermatitis which results in red areas accompanied by itching and eventual peeling of the skin.
6. Infections: Athlete’s foot and bacterial infections as well as hand-foot-and-mouth disease are examples of diseases causing skin peeling.
7. Medications: One of the reasons for skin peeling can also be certain medications, like retinoids, chemotherapy drugs, or antibiotics.
Skin Peeling Treatment Options
We’ve got some easy home remedies for peeling skin that could help you alleviate symptoms and prevent further peeling:
1. Regular Moisturising: A good moisturiser is your first line of preventing skin peel issues. Choose one that contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or glycerine to improve skin barrier function. For dry or peeling facial skin, use non-comedogenic, fragrance-free treatments.
2. Gentle Cleansing: Use a mild hydrating cleanser and limit cleansing to just once a day, or take a break if you’re experiencing constant peeling skin. Avoid harsh soaps or cleansing products with exfoliants until the peeling subsides.
3. Cool Compress: Soaking a clean cloth in cold water and applying a cool compress is soothing for irritated skin. This will be especially helpful if your peeling skin is related to a sunburn or allergic reaction.
4. Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera has long been used for it wound healing and cooling properties (4). You can use it to alleviate sunburns as well as prevent skin peeling.
5. Antifungal or Antibacterial Creams: If a skin infection is one of the reasons for skin peeling, your dermat might recommend some topical or oral antifungal or antibacterial creams based on your infection.
Prevention Tips
As the saying goes, “prevention is always better than cure”. Here are a few ways you can reduce the chance of your skin peeling:
• Keep your skin hydrated and be sure to do so in dry or cold climates.
• Wear sunscreen daily to avoid getting sunburned.
• Wear gloves while using harsh chemicals.
• Create a mild skincare routine that avoids over-exfoliation.
• Treat any relevant skin condition early, so it does not get worse.
Peeling Skin on Hands: Special Considerations
Skin peeling on hands can be especially annoying, because of how frequently throughout the day we use our hands. The most effective way for coping with this is to:
• Wear gloves when cleaning or using hand sanitisers.
• Use thick hand creams or ointments at night.
• Sleep with cotton gloves on to trap moisture.
Peeling Treatment for the Face
When dealing with skin peeling on the face, you need to be a little more careful since the skin on the face is much more delicate.
• Choose ingredients that are more soothing like aloe vera, niacinamide, or calendula.
• Avoid any active ingredients such as retinol or exfoliants until the skin is healed.
• Avoid picking or peeling the skin manually, as this can create scarring or infections.
Is Skin Peeling a Medical Emergency?
In rare cases, peeling of the skin can indicate a serious condition (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)) that could result in life-threatening consequences. You should get medical help right away if you suffer from:
• A large area of skin starts to peel suddenly
• Blistering of the skin and mucus membrane
• Fever, fatigue, or other systemic symptoms
Final Thoughts
While skin peeling can be uncomfortable and concerning, it’s easily treatable and manageable with proper care and skin peeling treatment. But of course, if your symptoms are severe or persist over an extended period, always refer to a dermatologist. With the right early diagnosis and peeling treatment, you can return to having healthy, glowing skin.
FAQs
Q1. What is a peeling skin diagnosis?
Diagnosing peeling skin involves finding the cause of the peeling, which may be causes ranging from dryness, eczema, infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases or genetic defects. A dermatologist will perform a physical examination, examine the patient's history, as well as further testing like skin scrapings or biopsy.
Q2. What deficiency causes skin peeling?
Skin peeling can be related to deficiencies of vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin A, and essential fatty acids.
Q3. Is there a disorder for peeling skin?
Yes, Peeling Skin Syndrome (PSS) is a rare genetic disease that causes the skin to never stop peeling and does so painlessly.
Q4. Can B12 deficiency cause peeling skin?
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause dryness/inflammation of the skin, but it's rare and will rarely cause peeling in some individuals.