What Could Be The Reason I Have My Thumb Right By The Nail Looks Like It Has Very Dry Skin?

Posted on Wed, 20 May 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 May 2020 Answered on

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : My thumb right by the nail looks like it has very dry skin. It’s cracked, scaly and a little tender if I push hard enough. it’s been this way since the start of the fall but no lotion I have tried works and it’s not going away. The skin in one spot is raised up. What could it be

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Contact dermatitis or extremely dry cracked skin

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have gone through your query and noted your concern.

It seems like it could be a contact dermatitis to soaps, detergents, sanitizers, Or just extremely dry cracked skin.

I suggest you continue the moisturizer. In addition, I suggest you use a potent topical steroid cream e.g either mometasone furoate 0.1% cream or clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream, twice daily for a few days.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if you need any more assistance.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee