Buzz
Many people face issues of dryness and cracking around the nail area due to cold, dry weather and the habit of nail-biting. Along with biting nails, some individuals also tend to bite the skin surrounding their nails. This habit can lead to cracks, tears, pain, and even potential infections. Fortunately, dry, cracked, and damaged skin around the nails can be restored by following a few simple steps to ensure your hands remain protected and moisturized.
Steps
Restore the Cuticle
Soak your hands. Prepare a medium-sized bowl and fill it with warm water to a depth of about 10 cm. Submerge your hands, ensuring the nails and cuticles are fully immersed. Soak for 5 minutes.
- Warm water helps soften the skin around the nails, making the cuticle care process easier and pain-free.
Dry your hands. Use a towel to dry your hands thoroughly. The cuticles should be free of water but still slightly damp. The skin should remain soft and moist, making the process of caring for the cuticles and removing dead skin easier and less painful.
Push back the cuticles. Use a plastic cuticle pusher or an orange stick (a manicure tool with a pointed and a flat end) to prevent cuticles from growing into the nails. Use the flat end to gently push the cuticles back, then use the pointed end to clean under the nails and remove any accumulated dirt.
- Metal cuticle pushers should be sterilized before and after each use, while wooden sticks should be discarded after use to avoid harboring bacteria.
Trim excess skin around the nails. Use nail clippers or cuticle scissors to remove dead or loose skin around the nails, including the skin near the cuticles that you pushed back earlier. Be careful to only trim soft, loose skin and avoid cutting the actual cuticles (the protective skin around the nails, especially near the nail edges).
- Excess skin is usually white and loose, unlike the actual cuticle. Only remove skin that could snag on objects and cause tears.
Apply moisturizer. Use lotion, cuticle oil, or a store-bought moisturizer specifically designed for cuticles to hydrate the dry skin around your nails. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your nails, paying special attention to the cuticles. Ensure the entire area around the nails is covered.
- You can also try applying moisturizer under the nails.
- Alcohol-free and fragrance-free moisturizers tend to hydrate the skin more effectively.
Wear moisture-locking gloves. Wear cotton gloves overnight. The gloves help lock in moisture and heal the nails and cuticles. Remove the gloves the next morning.
- For better and longer-lasting results, repeat this process every night.
Prevent Cuticles from Drying Out
Moisturize regularly. To keep the skin around your nails soft and hydrated, moisturize daily and multiple times throughout the day. Always keep your cuticles and nails moisturized, as dryness can lead to hangnails, cracks, and splits.
- Hand moisturizing is especially crucial during the dry winter months.
Avoid skin-drying agents. Dry hands are prone to cracking and peeling. Protect your hands by avoiding unnecessary activities that dry out the skin. Steer clear of:
- Washing dishes with hot water without gloves. Hot water and soap strip moisture from your hands.
- Avoid acetone-based nail polish removers. Acetone removes the natural oils essential for skin and nail health.
- Not wearing gloves in winter. Cold, dry air dehydrates the skin, so wear gloves to shield your hands.
Avoid pulling at the skin. Instead of tugging at loose skin around your nails, soak and moisturize your hands. Pulling can cause open cuts and increase the risk of infection.
- Some people pull at their cuticles when anxious. Find healthier alternatives to manage anxiety and practice self-control to break this habit.
Keep your hands away from your mouth. Avoid biting your nails or chewing the skin around them. Bacteria in your mouth can cause infections if you scratch the skin or bite your nails too short.
- Use a bitter-tasting ointment to discourage putting your fingers near your mouth.
File your nails. Keep your nails at a moderate length to prevent them from snagging on objects. Pay special attention to the edges of your nails, ensuring they are smooth to avoid damaging the surrounding skin.
- When filing, use steady, one-directional strokes. This prevents splitting and cracking caused by "sawing" the nail back and forth.
Warnings
- Never completely remove the cuticles around your nails. You can trim loose, dead skin (white areas), but avoid removing the entire cuticle.
