The climatic conditions of the modern world, the abundance of household chemical products, poor ecology provoke the development of a wide variety of diseases. Toddlers are more susceptible to adverse factors. Children can react differently to them. Often, babies experience various allergic reactions, damage to the respiratory tract or the layers of the epithelium. And sometimes parents can notice that the child’s skin on the fingers is clinging. However, the causes of this phenomenon are not only in poor environments. They are much more.
Causes of Peeling
There may be several reasons why a child has skin on the fingers. Often they are all associated with one of the diseases. Quite often, this phenomenon is observed with a lack of useful substances in the body, usually we are talking about calcium. Such symptoms are manifested in the spring, which indicates vitamin deficiency. This is the most harmless source of the problem.
However, the skin on the child’s arms or legs clings for other reasons. Consider them:
- parasite damage (e.g. scabies);
- infections (scarlet fever);
- fungal diseases (epidermophytosis of the hand and foot, inguinal epidermophytosis);
- infectious and allergic ailments (Reiter's syndrome);
- congenital dermatosis (ichthyosis);
- allergic skin diseases (chronic eczema, atopic or allergic dermatitis);
- specific skin ailments (lichen planus, psoriasis);
- exposure to external factors (contact dermatitis in a chronic form);
- systemic diseases of the connective tissue (red subacute lupus);
- severe consequences of skin pathologies, infectious ailments (exfoliative erythroderma, toxic shock, provoked by Staphylococcus aureus);
- lack of proteins, trace elements and vitamins in the body (enteropathic acrodermatitis).
Symptoms of the phenomenon
If the child has skin on the fingers, then the following types of peeling are observed:
- watery transparent vesicles, when bursting, they leave behind a rough crust;
- the appearance of a rash on the skin;
- dry surface, with a tendency to peeling and itching;
- reaction to the environment (for example, sunburn).
What to do?
What to do in this case? If the skin on the fingers or toes is covered , you should initially consult a pediatrician. He will correctly diagnose and select the appropriate treatment.
In this case, great importance is given to the localization of the lesion. If the child has skin between the fingers, then most often it is diagnosed with scabies. And the defeat of the interdigital lateral intervals of the foot signals a fungal disease.
Important enough for making the correct diagnosis is the detailing of the lesions. For example, flaky spots characterize pityriasis versicolor. If the plaques merge - it can be about lichen planus or psoriasis.
The color of the flakes is taken into account in the diagnosis. So, a silver-white hue of peeling indicates psoriasis. Grayish-black flakes are characteristic of several forms of ichthyosis.
Equally important is the presence or absence of itching. The history of the occurrence of pathology is carefully studied. This may be the contact of the child with an aggressive substance, the use of fish, cow's milk or other products that can provoke an allergic reaction in the body.
Vitamin deficiency
The peculiarity of the problem lies in the fact that the body suffers from the inside. Studies have shown that a lack of vitamins A, E can lead to skin clinging to the tips of the fingers. In the first case, red fruits and vegetables, vegetable oil, eggs will help get rid of the problem. With a deficiency of vitamin C, nutrition should be properly balanced. The diet should be enriched with citrus fruits, apples, some vegetables.
The doctor will prescribe the child and medications. As a rule, these are vitamin complexes. Often, ascorbic acid and Aevit can change the situation for the better.
Allergic reactions
Dermatologists say that these phenomena are rare in practice. Indeed, a very strong irritant must enter the body if the child has skin on the toes or hands. Moreover, provoke his hit should be exclusively direct contact.
Identifying allergies is quite simple. It should be analyzed what new funds were introduced into everyday life. Their elimination usually relieves the baby of unpleasant symptoms.
If necessary, the doctor may prescribe some medications. Fairly effective and folk remedies. Preliminarily discuss them with a dermatologist. Lavender and tea tree essential oils, chamomile broth improve skin condition. Perfectly helps to get rid of peeling honey. Both conventional surface lubrication and the use of bathtubs are suitable.
Fungal infection
One of the unpleasant diseases. Depending on the form of the fungal infection, various areas may be affected. Sometimes the skin between the toes, on the palms or soles. This disease is very difficult to treat. Especially if it is running. Therefore, in case of suspicion of a fungus, be sure to contact a dermatologist.
The course of treatment includes special creams and ointments. They are recommended to be applied to all areas where the skin is covered: between the toes, soles, palms. It should be understood that the absorption of such agents in the epidermis is accompanied, as a rule, by severe pain. Therefore, the baby is quite difficult to persuade to be treated.
If we talk about the timing, then they are completely dependent on the stage of the disease. For some patients, one week is enough for the peeling of the skin to completely stop. Other patients may need a month, and sometimes more than one. The most important thing is to strictly follow the doctor's recommendations and not stop halfway.
Scabies in children
If the skin between the fingers is flaky and peeling, then there is a chance of infection of the child with scabies. For the disease, red spots resembling nodules are characteristic. The disease is accompanied by severe itching.
Scabies is spread by contact. It is enough to hold the sick child by the hand. Accompanied by peeling, severe itching, which intensifies at night. The spots are localized in the inguinal folds, on the abdomen, buttocks, in the navel.
If there is a suspicion of scabies, contact a dermatologist immediately. Any delay is fraught not only with the neglect of the disease, but also with the likelihood of infection of loved ones.
With timely access to a doctor, the prognosis of healing is quite favorable. The scabies mite is destroyed with special ointments. After their application, all the symptoms of the disease disappear without a trace.
Sign of scarlet fever
If the child is very flaky and has skin on the fingertips, it is likely that this phenomenon is a symptom of the aforementioned ailment. On the surface of the trunk, pityriasis small scales appear. And from the palms or soles of large sections of the epidermis exfoliate. But most of all with scarlet fever, it is precisely the fingertips.
This infectious disease is caused by group A streptococci. Most often it develops with pharyngitis or tonsillitis. An ailment may occur after surgery or injury.
Therefore, it is best if you peel off your palms, immediately consult a doctor for a complete diagnosis. After all, scarlet fever is very dangerous with possible complications. The consequences can be infectious or allergic. However, timely adequate treatment reduces the risk of complications.
Eczema
This is another of the many reasons in connection with which the child’s skin on the fingers of his hands. An ailment can occur due to a violation of the hormonal background, weakened immunity, improper functioning of the glands. However, most often eczema is passed on to children by inheritance.
Symptoms strongly resemble the signs of scabies. However, in this case no bubbles appear.
To combat eczema, special ointments are prescribed, a diet is selected. With this diagnosis, a comprehensive treatment prescribed by three doctors is necessary - a dermatologist, an endocrinologist and a nutritionist. Only as a result of their joint research can we find effective measures to combat the disease.
Conclusion
The results of studies conducted by English scientists have shown that almost every person is faced with a phenomenon such as peeling. As can be seen from the above, there are many reasons. Some of them are completely harmless and easily eliminated. Others, on the contrary, signal serious pathologies in the body. If you notice peeling of a child’s skin, consult a doctor without fail.