If you haven’t gone to the doctor for a hangnail before, knock on wood.
PSAthat’s not exactly the case.
What are hangnails?
So hangnailsactuallyhave more to do with your cuticles than the nail itself.
How to safely get rid of hangnails.
once you nail a hangnail, there are at-home measures you might take to get rid of it.
This protocol should happen early onread: before your finger is swollen and filled with pus.
Step 1: Wash your hands + tools.
You’ll want to minimize the chance of bacteria carrying over from anything you’ve touched.
There’s higher risk of infection here, and that’s not to be messed with.
Step 2: Take a cuticle trimmer and gently trim.
“Use a clean cuticle nipper to carefully remove at the base,” Stern says.
Step 3: Moisturize the affected area.
Why do people get hangnails?
The most common include:
Picking or biting the nails or cuticles.
If you pick or bite your nailsdon’t be too hard on yourself.
Oftentimes this can be a nervous tick or a coping mechanism for chronic or situationalanxiety.
We’ll dive deeper into a few ways to ease this habit to follow.
Dry hands.
However, hand eczema is also a possibility, but it’s generally more severe than just dryness alone.
Damaged nails.
Frequent hand washes & sanitizer.
If you constantlywash your handsor use hand sanitizer, the skin around your nails will become dry.
If you don’t replenish the moisture, you’re more susceptible to peeling cuticles and hangnails.
Working with your hands.
Using drying formulas.
“Choice of products will impact your risk for the development of hangnails,” Stern says.
Nail polish removers and alcohol-based products can be particularly drying.
If you’re using an astringent product, be sure to rinse it off ASAP.
Using damaging nail products.
Acrylic and dip powderformulas contain harmful ingredients like resin and formaldehyde, which can contribute tothinner nailsand breakage.
Of course, not everyone cannor wants toavoid acrylic tips or gel polishes and that’s perfectly fine.
How to prevent hangnails.
Treating a hangnail is immensely more difficult, risky, and possibly painful than prevention.
Address picking & manage stress.
If you know this is a habit you want to kick,checkout this storyfor more info.
Here are a few quick tips to get you started:
Use cuticle oils.
The cuticle area is extremely prone to dryness, so keep it moisturized at all times.
Pack a cuticle oil in your bag, keep one by your vanity, on your desk, etc.
Use hand cream daily.
Wear gloves when handling chemicals.
This means cleaning, washing dishes, etc.
Re-evaluate your nail care formulas.
Instead, opt for nontoxic nail polishhere are13 A+ brands to shop.
Get regular manicures.
Should you see a doctor?
Here’s the thinga minor hangnail can certainly be treated at home with the protocol listed above.
In fact, “Most hangnails do not require medical intervention,” Stern says.
But once it begins turning into an infection, that’s when you’ll want to visit a doctor.
Not sure if it’s time to schedule a visit?
It’s always better safe than sorry, after all.
FAQ
How do I stop getting hangnails?
There are many skin care and lifestyle habits to adopt that can help prevent hangnails from forming.
First, its very important that you try and stop picking or biting.
Its also very important to keep your hands and cuticles hydrated with a cream or oil.
For those who regularly work with your hands, try and wear gloves when possible.
Will hangnails go away on their own?
When left alone, yes, hangnails will go away on their own in a few days or week.
However, if a hangnail becomes infected, it should be treated with an antibiotic ointment.
What deficiency causes hangnails?
The takeaway.
And when pain, redness, or swelling starts to creep up on you, seek professional help ASAP.
If you want to dive deeper into cuticle care 101,start here.
