Causes and Treatment of Nail Cuticle Scratching

Nail cuticle scratching is a common issue, especially in cold weather and dry conditions. It can affect both children and adults, causing discomfort and pain. Without proper care and treatment, these scratches can worsen and lead to infection. To maintain healthy nails, explore more about nail cuticle scratching on Mytour Blog for valuable insights into your health!

What is Nail Cuticle Scratching?

Nail cuticle scratching (or nail cuticle damage) is when the skin around the toenails or fingernails is scratched into tiny shreds. It's a prevalent condition, often occurring in cold, dry weather with symptoms including pain, irritation, and discomfort, directly impacting daily activities.

Nail cuticle scratching is often mistaken for ingrown toenails. However, these two conditions are entirely different. Nail cuticle scratching occurs when a small portion of skin near the nail bed is torn. On the other hand, the latter refers to a medical condition where the edges of the nails curve or grow into the soft tissue, mainly occurring on the toes.

What are the causes of nail cuticle scratching?

The condition of nail cuticle scratching tends to occur more frequently and commonly in cold weather due to dry, low-humidity conditions. Some primary causes include:

• Dehydration, particularly in cold weather, causes the skin to become dry and cracked, leading to the area around the fingernails and toenails to be scratched into fibers. 
• Vitamin deficiencies, especially Vitamin C, Calcium, Folic Acid,... result in peeling skin on hands, feet, especially around the nails. Additionally, nutritional deficiencies can lead to the appearance of white spots on the nails.
• Hands and feet are exposed too much and frequently to various cleaning chemicals during household chores such as dishwashing, laundry, cleaning,... causing nails to become damaged, scratched.
• Overuse of nail polish, especially those of questionable quality and origin.
• Skin inflammation, fungal infections, Eczema cause damage to the epidermis around the nails, leading to the appearance of horizontal ridges along with the condition of scratched fibers.
• Nail cuticle scratching may occur with each menstrual cycle due to sudden increased ovarian hormone, causing capillaries to dilate, and even accompanied by itching, pimples on the surface.
• Nail cuticle scratching can occur due to some infectious or fungal problems around the nails. In severe cases, nails and toenails turn black, gradually flaking, oozing pus,... Treatment methods will be prescribed depending on the severity, which may include: Soaking hands, feet in warm salt water, using antibiotics, antifungal nail treatments, clinical incision and drainage,... 

How to treat nail cuticle scratching 

The condition of nail cuticle scratching can be effectively treated by applying various methods. Here are some commonly recommended by doctors:

Using nail clippers

Biting or tearing the scratched part of the nail is totally not recommended, but you can use specialized clippers to remove it. This method will help reduce excess skin, thereby enhancing wound healing and reducing the risk of nail breakage. Here are some important notes you need to consider:

• To cut off the scratch marks, use clean nail clippers that have been thoroughly sterilized, cutting as close to the nail bed as possible. 
• After trimming the scratched skin, you can try soaking the nails in warm water or applying antibiotic cream to continue the treatment process until the wound heals completely.
• Absolutely do not bite your nails as it can transfer bacteria from your mouth to the injured area, thereby increasing the risk of infection and more serious problems. 
• Absolutely do not tear the living tissue as it will only make the wound more severe and painful.
• If you accidentally cut too deep and cause bleeding, wash it thoroughly with warm water, then apply antiseptic ointment.

Providing Vitamin C, folic acid

Hangnail can occur due to nutritional deficiencies. In this case, you should adjust your diet accordingly. Here are some nutrient groups you should consider supplementing adequately:

• Foods rich in Vitamin C: Oranges, lemons, grapefruits, watermelons, leafy greens, parsley, strawberries, etc.
• Foods rich in Folic Acid: Fish, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, animal liver (beef, chicken, pork), sprouted grains (wheat germ, sprouted rice, bean sprouts, etc.).

Using Vitamin E

Using Vitamin E oil is one of the useful solutions in treating hangnails. This nutrient will moisturize the nail bed, making it softer and preventing roughness and cracking. Additionally, Vitamin E has the ability to heal the scratched skin surface. Here are some suggestions you can follow:

• Apply a few drops of Vitamin E oil on the nail bed after trimming.
• Soak the injured finger in clean warm water for about 10-15 minutes.
• Gently massage Vitamin E oil onto the affected area of the skin.
• Always use Vitamin E to moisturize the affected area, preventing dryness that leads to hangnails.

Other methods

Here are some other care and treatment solutions you can consider as they bring significant improvement: 

• If you have a habit of biting your nails, you need to stop immediately. This not only causes hangnails but also increases the risk of serious gastrointestinal diseases by creating conditions for harmful bacteria to enter.
• For women experiencing hangnails during menstruation, it's best not to interfere and allow the area to heal naturally until the menstrual period ends. This condition often occurs due to hormonal imbalances, and external care is unnecessary.
• To prevent hangnails from worsening, avoid direct contact with cleaning chemicals by using protective gear (gloves, boots, etc.).
• Care for the damaged skin with specialized products, and consider soaking your hands in diluted saltwater every evening.

If hangnails cause pain or begin to infect, you can treat the affected area by soaking it in warm water 2-4 times a day, for 15 minutes each time. Bottled water is the safest option as it does not contain pollutants. If unavailable, you can boil tap water and let it cool to a suitable temperature before using it for soaking. Absolutely avoid using contaminated water as it may introduce microorganisms to the bloodstream through the hangnail, worsening the condition.

Another option for self-treating hangnails is to apply antibiotic ointment once daily. After applying the ointment, wrap the affected area with a sterile bandage to secure it in place and prevent bacterial infiltration.

Common Questions About Hangnails 

Below are some frequently asked questions along with detailed answers to give you a better overview of this condition: 

What nutrient deficiency causes hangnails?

Nutritional deficiencies are one of the underlying causes of hangnails. Several studies have found that lacking the following essential Proteins and Vitamins can lead to this discomfort:

• Folic acid.
• Vitamin B.
• Vitamin C.

Keratinocytes are cells that produce keratin – a type of protein that forms the structure of the skin, hair, and nails. If someone doesn't consume enough Protein, these parts of the body often become dry, brittle, and prone to peeling.

Additionally, some types of Vitamins are also recommended for proper supplementation to ensure healthy skin and nails. Instead of using supplements, strive to provide the body through daily dietary intake:

• Foods rich in vitamin C include: Kiwis, broccoli, bell peppers, tomatoes.
• Foods rich in vitamin B include: Mussels, clams, oysters, fish, liver, milk.
• Foods rich in iron or Folic acid include: Various grains, lean meats, fish, eggs, liver.
• Foods rich in iron, potassium, Vitamin B, Omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium include: Dairy products, seafood, soybeans, celery.

What Causes Children to Have Pus-filled Scratched Cuticles?

Parents may notice the phenomenon of scratched cuticles with pus in children immediately after the wound becomes infected. This condition often occurs due to the invasion of fungi or bacteria beneath the skin. Bacterial infections may present symptoms almost immediately, while cases caused by fungi may take longer. Some typical signs to easily recognize include:

• Redness.
• Swelling.
• Pain.
• Warm sensation around the cuticle area.
• A blister filled with pus appears in the infected area.

Which Medication is Effective for Treating Scratched Cuticles?

Moisturize the area of scratched cuticles. For shallow scratched cuticles, you can apply Vitamin E oil to the affected area. Vitamin E easily absorbs into the skin and moisturizes effectively. In addition to Vitamin E oil, you can also use any moisturizer for the hands to prevent the epidermis from becoming dry and brittle – a factor that increases the risk of scratched cuticles.

Apply oil or moisturizer multiple times a day, especially after touching hot water and washing hands. You can use other moisturizers such as moisturizing wax, honey, olive oil, and coconut oil to prevent scratched cuticles and moisturize and keep the hands soft.

How to Treat Pus-filled Scratched Cuticles?

For pus-filled scratched cuticles, doctors may recommend some effective treatment methods as follows:

Use Oral Antibiotics 

Using oral antibiotics helps treat infections caused by bacteria. If the condition of pus-filled scratched cuticles also originates from this cause, the doctor will prescribe medication for treatment. However, patients should never self-administer medication without prescription to avoid worsening the wound and even leading to other unwanted issues.

Apply antifungal cream for fungal infection

If scratched cuticles with pus are due to a fungal infection, the doctor will prescribe applying treatment cream to the affected area to eliminate the infection and promote healing. These types of medications are readily available at most pharmacies nationwide.

Use steroid cream 

This is a treatment option for chronic pus-filled scratched cuticles. These types of creams must be prescribed by a doctor, and some are not suitable for children, pregnant women, or breastfeeding mothers.

In all cases, seek medical attention if you notice a pus-filled wound persisting for more than a week. Most heal within about 5 days with appropriate treatment. However, if there's no improvement after 7 days, contact a doctor for further intervention, such as surgery.

Furthermore, after the infection has healed, continue using moisturizing cream to keep the skin adequately hydrated. This can help prevent recurrence of scratched cuticles.

Here is a compilation of all useful information about scratched cuticles, the causes, and some effective treatment solutions. Hopefully, with these insights from Mytour Blog, you've gained more knowledge to actively protect and care for your skin and overall health. Also, if you're interested in purchasing the latest gadget models, don't forget to check out Mytour for a wide range of high-quality products at great prices!