What could be the cause of my skin suddenly peeling off on both hands?

Thank you for the question. There are few causes of peeling of the hands. These include hand eczema, which is common cause. Other causes include contact dermatitis, post viral infections and there are even hand peeling syndromes that can cause the skin on the hands to peel.

General measures to protect the hands include minimizing contact with soap and detergents and the regular use of hand moisturizers.

If this persists, it is advisable for you to see your dermatologist/doctor to get the an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Causes of hand peeling are multitude and broadly can be classified as:

1. Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

2. Contact dermatitis

3. Infections- Bacteria/ Fungal

4. Immune related disorders

5. Skin peeling syndromes (genetic) e.g Acral

Causes1-2 are most common. As Dr Colin Theng has pointed out, it is advisable to minimise contact with "strong" soap and detergent for e.g by wearing gloves, which can dry out your skin by removing the natural oils. Regular use of hand creams (moisturisers) is also essential. If these measures fail or your condition worsens, please see a doctor.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Dr David Deng