What's the Cause of Dry/hard/peeling Skin on Fingertip?

My son just had that problem. His finger started out a little red and a bit swollen, then a week later, it was hard skin. I trimmed it off and his finger, right by the nail, was really red and swollen. I went to his pediatrician and she said it was a deep tissue staph infection. She was concerned because it was close to the bone. He went on oral antibiotics (I tried to avoid these, but because it was so close to the bone and deep tissue, she said it had to be). He was also perscribed a topical antibiotic and soaking his hand in a solution to dry it out. So, go to the doctor ASAP.

Did you know you cant get yeast infections of the nail? I didnt till I got a nail infection that did the same thing to my fingers. It can spread throught the finger. Best solution my dermatologist gave me was vinegar/water baths for a few weeks. Kills and suffocated infections without damaging anything. Try this and see what happens. Apple cider or regular vinegar with water in a small bowl, 1:10 ratio caue it will burn if you put straight vinegar on it.

my husband has the exact same thing - he put tea tree oil under a band aid for about a week and it healed up - though it comes back now and again - it must be a fungal infection - thats what the doc said anyway.

Does it then bleed when it peels? I had something like this on my finger, and it would seem to go away and then happen again, and when it bled it bled more than a usual cut. I finally went to the doctor and was referred to a dermatologist and she said it was a blood vessel thing. Can't remember the name of the problem. Basically they had to numb out my finger and (sorry) burn the blood vessel shut. It worked.

Show it to the doctor and see what they think. Good luck!

M.

I would agree ... sounds like an infection of some sort ... yeast or possibly a very common fungus (like athlete's foot). Go see your doc about it, I am sure they will have a cream that will help you out. Good luck!!

None of us can make an educated guess without seeing the nail and extensive medical training (which I do not have).

So, I'd advise seeing a dermatologist. It's possible it's a fungal infection. Even our pediatrician is so uncomfortable with diagnosing the pathology of dermal conditions that he prefers to send us to a specialist. I appreciate him knowing his limitations, and usually, we can clear it up without an Rx.

I had a spot on a toenail that I discovered in November. 2 Dermatologists and a Podiatrist all couldn't tell if it was an injury or a more serious condition. It was an injury, but even a trained eye wasn't sure.

Good luck. I'd make sure to have it checked-out, though, in the event it could spread to your son during diaper changes.