Dry, cracked skin on your fingers makes it really painful to use your hands to complete everyday activities. Fortunately, you can typically heal your cracked skin at home without needing any significant medical assistance. Although it may take some time, with proper care your skin can become soft and smooth again. Continuing to protect your skin after it's healed can keep the condition from returning.[1]

1

Switch to a gentle soap containing moisturizer.

  1. Many popular soaps contain ingredients that dry out your skin. If you already have cracked skin on your fingers, regular soaps will make your condition worse. Look for a liquid soap with words like "gentle" on the label, or that state clearly that they're for sensitive skin.[2]
    • Bar soaps typically dry your skin out more than liquid soaps, even if they contain moisturizers. If you prefer bar soap, look for one that is oil-based or that includes soothing ingredients, such as aloe or oatmeal.
    • Avoid using anti-bacterial gels to clean your hands. They contain alcohol and can dry your skin further, making the condition worse.[3]
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5

Use an oil or cream moisturizer.

  1. Lotion after drying your hands locks in moisture. Dry your hands thoroughly, then gently apply an oil- or cream-based moisturizer. After the moisturizer is absorbed, gently massage your hands and fingers with steady pressure to allow the moisturizer to absorb more deeply. This will lock in the natural oils and moisture in your skin to promote healing.[8] [9]
    • Dot small amounts of the moisturizer all over your hands and then dab it in, rather than rubbing it. You don't want to exacerbate any peeling or cracking.
    • If your skin still feels dry, you may want to reapply the moisturizer, repeating the same process.
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6

Apply moisturizing ointment overnight.

  1. Ointments help keep your hands soft through the night. Wash your hands and treat any deep cracks with an antibacterial ointment, such as Neosporin. After that has dried, gently dab a thicker ointment onto your hands and fingers. Cover your hands with light cotton gloves to seal in the moisture.[10] [11]
    • Ointments that contain petroleum jelly lock in moisture and help heal cracked skin better than anything else.[12] However, these ointments will likely feel greasy and may inhibit your activity during the day.
    • In a pinch, thin cotton socks can work if you don't have appropriate gloves available. Just be aware that they may slip off during the night and you may end up with grease stains on your sheets from the ointment.
7

Use liquid bandages for deep cracks.

  1. Liquid skin bandages keep water and bacteria out of your skin while it heals. You can buy these at any pharmacy or drug store or online. Most liquid skin bandages come with an applicator. Wash your hands and dry them. You may want to wait a minute to make sure the skin is completely dry. Then use the applicator to paint the liquid skin bandage over the deeper crack.[13]
    • Give the liquid skin bandage a minute to dry. Pull on your skin gently to see if the edges of the skin along the crack move. If they do, apply an extra layer.
    • Liquid skin bandages are waterproof and may last up to a week.
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8

Wear rubber gloves when you use harsh chemicals.

  1. Chemicals on your cracked skin can be painful. If you're cleaning the bathroom or washing dishes, rubber gloves can protect your cracked skin and keep your condition from getting worse.[14]
    • Lined rubber gloves typically will be better for your skin. Rubber gloves can cause friction that makes dry, cracked skin worse.
    • Make sure your gloves are completely dry on the inside before you put them on your hands.
    • If you're going to reuse rubber gloves, take them off from the wrist so that chemicals from the cleansers don't touch your skin. Rinse off the exterior and hang them up to dry.

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What should I do for hands that are cracking?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Clean and dry your hands, and then moisturize them thoroughly with a layer of olive or coconut oil. Then, apply petroleum ointment and put on a pair of thin nylon or rubber gloves for 1-2 hours. Do this twice a day and see your cracks improve.
  • Question
    What foods are helpful for healing cracked skin?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Eat a diet rich in quality protein and healthy fats while eliminating sugar, processed carbs, and other processed food. This is the most beneficial diet for skin health.
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Things You'll Need

  • Mild fragrance-free soap
  • Moisturizing cream
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Lined rubber gloves
  • Light cotton gloves
  • Warm winter gloves
  • Non-fragranced detergent

About This Article

R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH
Medically reviewed by:
Board Certified Dermatologist
This article was medically reviewed by R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Dr. R. Sonia Batra is a board certified Dermatologist and the Founder of Batra Dermatology based in Los Angeles, California. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Batra specializes in lasers, medical devices, patient and public medical education, and skin cancer research. She received her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree in Public Health, and her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees from Harvard University. As a Rhodes Scholar, she earned a Master’s degree in Molecular Genetics at the University of Oxford. She completed her residency training in Dermatology at Stanford University. Dr. Batra has contributed and reviewed for the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and JAMA Dermatology. She is also a co-host of CBS’ Emmy award-winning television show, The Doctors. This article has been viewed 1,699,903 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 31
Updated: January 31, 2023
Views: 1,699,903
Categories: Hand Care
Article SummaryX

To heal the cracked skin on your fingers, keep your skin moisturized when you wash your hands by switching to a liquid soap for sensitive skin. Avoid bar soaps unless they have soothing ingredients like aloe or oatmeal, since they’re more likely to dry out your skin. When you shower, limit yourself to only 5 or 10 minutes, because the hot water will strip away oils that naturally moisturize your skin. For extra healing power, apply a fragrance-free oil or cream moisturizer after drying your hands to lock in your natural oils. Be sure to dab the moisturizer in instead of rubbing, which can make any peeling or cracking worse. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to protect your skin from harsh environments, scroll down.

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