Buzz
Hangnails are small, painful pieces of torn skin that occur when a portion of the epidermis separates from the nail. Despite their tiny size, hangnails can cause significant discomfort, especially when they snag on clothing or hair. Additionally, hangnails are prone to infection, so it's essential to know how to care for and remove them to prevent deeper tears, scarring, swelling, and infections.
Steps
Removing Hangnails
Soak your finger. Submerge your finger in warm water for about 10 minutes. The warm water helps soften the skin and nails, making it easier to trim the hangnail.
- You can add a few drops of vitamin E oil or olive oil to enhance moisture during soaking.
Trim the hangnail. Use clean, sharp cuticle clippers to remove the hangnail. Cut as close to the base of the torn skin as possible to minimize the chance of the hangnail catching on clothing or other objects.
- Avoid pulling or tearing the hangnail. This can cause uneven tearing and further irritate the surrounding skin. Pulling may also lead to bleeding.
- Do not cut more skin or nail than necessary. Overcutting can cause deeper damage and increase the risk of infection.
Apply antibacterial ointment. Antibacterial ointments help eliminate bacteria, prevent infection, and promote healing of the affected area. Gently apply a small amount of the ointment to the injured area.
- For deeper hangnails, consider covering the area with a bandage to protect it from bacteria and reduce the risk of infection.
Moisturize the affected area. For minor hangnails, apply Vitamin E oil to the torn skin. Vitamin E is easily absorbed and highly effective at moisturizing. Alternatively, you can use any hand moisturizer to prevent the epidermis from becoming dry and brittle, which increases the risk of hangnails.
- Apply oil or moisturizer multiple times a day, especially after exposure to hot water or handwashing.
- Other moisturizing options include beeswax, honey, olive oil, and coconut oil, which can also help prevent hangnails and keep your hands soft.
Preventing Hangnails
Keep the nail bed moisturized. Dryness is a primary cause of hangnails, so regularly moisturize your hands using lotion or deep-penetrating oils.
- Consider wearing rubber gloves when handling cleaning agents or water to prevent dryness caused by these substances.
Remove hangnails while they are still short. Instead of picking at the cuticle and causing further irritation, trim the hangnail as soon as you notice it. Cuticle clippers or nail scissors can effectively remove hangnails. This prevents them from snagging on clothing and causing deeper damage.
- If the area around the hangnail becomes red and swollen, it may be infected. Treat it by soaking the affected area in warm water three times a day. If there’s no improvement after a few days, consult a doctor, as antibiotics may be necessary.
Avoid biting or picking at your nails. Nail biting can damage the nails and surrounding skin, increasing the risk of hangnails.
- Biting your nails also raises the chance of infection by transferring bacteria from your mouth to the hangnail.
Trim your nails regularly. Use nail clippers to keep your nails short and prevent them from growing too long. This helps avoid hangnails. You can also use an orange stick to push back the cuticles and prevent them from protruding.
- An orange stick is a thin manicure tool with a slanted edge for pushing cuticles and a pointed end for cleaning under the nails.
- Consider trimming your nails after soaking them in warm water to soften them, making the process easier.
- Regular manicures promote healthy nails and keep them under control.
Avoid using acetone-based nail polish remover. While acetone effectively removes nail polish, it can significantly dry out your hands and nails. Since dryness is a leading cause of hangnails, it’s best to avoid such drying products.
- Consider using less-drying nail polish removers like ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, or propylene carbonate. You can also opt for removers enriched with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and soy.
