How to treat flaky, peeling, dry cuticles?

Frequent hand washing and sanitizer use have become the norm, leaving hands— especially cuticles—dry, flaky, and prone to peeling. This can lead to discomfort, painful cracking, and even bleeding, often making it hard to resist picking at the damaged skin. But with the right care, you can restore your cuticles and prevent further issues.

Why are your cuticles dry and peeling?

Before jumping into solutions, let’s understand what’s causing this. Cuticles are thin, delicate, and naturally prone to dryness because they lack the oil glands found in other areas of your skin. Here are a few common culprits, where oftentimes a combo of these are at play:

1. Frequent hand washing and sanitizer use: Both strip away the natural oils that keep your cuticles soft and smooth.
2. Exposure to harsh chemicals: Cleaning products and even some soaps can dry out cuticles, leaving them brittle and prone to peeling.
3. Weather changes: Cold or dry air sucks moisture from the skin, especially from constantly exposed areas like hands.
4. Lack of moisture in your routine: Without a regular routine that maintains hydration and locks in moisture, cuticles quickly lose elasticity, making them more susceptible to cracking, peeling, and flaking.
5. Constantly in use: Cuticles are automatically more prone to damage as they are near fingertips, which are in use all day, every day for things like manual labor, housework, and even hobbies like pottery.
6. Bad habits: If you're a nail-biter, chances are that you're also a cuticle picker. Neither is doing you any favors, but old habits die hard!

How to treat dry, flaky cuticles

The good news? With consistent care, you can bring even the driest, most damaged cuticles back to life. Here’s a simple and effective plan of action:

1. Moisturize them regularly

Cuticles need moisture; Ideally, the moisturizer you use contains a mix of humectants (to draw in hydration ), emollients (to soften skin and seal in that hydration), and barrier-reinforcing ingredients (to heal and restore skin). Apply it multiple times a day, especially after washing hands, to keep cuticles healthy.

2. Pamper them nightly

To really tackle dryness and restore your cuticles, consider a targeted nighttime treatment like Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment. Theraplush is designed to work while you sleep, allowing the formula to deeply nourish your cuticles and hands as you rest. Here’s what makes Theraplush a standout, powerhouse product:

- Retinol (0.05%): Retinol doesn’t just work wonders on facial skin—it can also transform cuticles. By stimulating collagen production and speeding up cell turnover, it helps to smooth rough skin, tidy and maintain flakey cuticles, and reinforce the delicate skin around the nails, making it less prone to crack and peel.
- Colloidal oatmeal (1%): Known for its anti-inflammatory, healing, and conditioning properties, colloidal oatmeal is perfect for calming and restoring dry, irritated cuticles.

- Panthenol (0.5%): Also known as pro-vitamin B5, panthenol is a deeply hydrating humectant and skin soother that draws hydration into the skin and promotes healing. This will aid in repair of damaged, peel-prone cuticles.
- Emollients: A blend of nourishing skin conditioners, including jojoba oil, castor oil, and shea butter to soften, nourish, and provide comfort

- Humectants: Glycerin and hyaluronic acid work as a team to pull in as much water content as possible to hydrate delicate skin and fragile cuticles.

3. See a professional now and then

Scheduling regular appointments with a nail technician or specialist can help you stay on top of your hand, nail, and cuticle health. Becoming a regular means your provider can get to know your specific concerns, habits, and lifestyle factors that might be impacting your cuticles.

If you're a nail bite or cuticle picker, having your nails done—even with just a clear coat of polish—can be a great way to deter those habits while keeping your hands looking and feeling their best.

4. Protect and prevent

Protecting your cuticles, especially when they're damaged—and even after they've healed—is key to making sure all your care efforts above pay off.

Wearing gloves during chores shields your cuticles from harsh chemicals, detergents, and prolonged water exposure, helping to prevent dryness and peeling.

Regular use of sunscreen protects your hands and cuticles from harmful UV rays that can lead to premature aging, dryness, and irritation.

By making these simple habits part of your routine, you can keep your cuticles healthy, hydrated, and irritation-free.

Why dry-cuticle sufferers adore Theraplush

Customers can’t stop raving about Theraplush. It’s more than a hand cream—it’s an overnight manicure. Here’s what they’re saying:

“I have a terrible habit of picking at my cuticles. This lotion is a game-changer! My hands look and feel healthier, and I pick way less because they’re finally healing.”—Kimberly

“My manicures last so much longer now, and my cuticles are in the best shape of my life. No more painful tears or bleeding!”—Amanda

“This is the first product that’s helped me stop picking at my cuticles. It’s magic!”—Lindsay

“Even without keeping up with my manicures, my cuticles look perfect. Theraplush is a lifesaver.”—Nina

“No more dried, cracked skin around my fingertips. My cuticles have never looked better!”—Valerie