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People who bite or pick at their cuticles tend to be prone to hangnails, as are those with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, Admani says.
And while manicures might keep your nails looking nice, Zubek says they can sometimes set you up for hangnails. ”A lot of times, the manicure technician will try to push the cuticles back, which can weaken the connection between the skin and the nail,” she says.
Can I make a hangnail go away?
If you do find yourself with a hangnail, Orengo recommends softening the skin around your nail by soaking your fingertips in warm water or in a solution of warm water and white vinegar, which can help stave off bacteria. The ratio of warm water to vinegar should be about 3-to-1, Orengo says.
Once your skin feels soft, she says, you can snip off the hangnail with a sterile pair of cuticle scissors (or nail clippers, Admani says). To ensure your tool is clean, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol.
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After trimming the hangnail, Zubek recommends applying an ointment like Vaseline to the resulting wound. This will help keep your skin hydrated and protected as it heals, she says. Ointments tend to trap in moisture better than lotions or creams, and they’re less likely to cause allergic reactions than over-the-counter antibiotic ointments, Zubek says.
If you don’t have a tool to trim your hangnail, Zubek recommends covering it with ointment and a bandage until it heals – usually in around three to five days – to avoid further tearing it as you use your hand.
“Each time it gets caught on something, it’s going to get more traumatised and become a larger wound than what you started with,” she said.
A neat trim can help, but all of the experts warned against trying to rip or bite off your hangnail instead. “This could tear off your hangnail further than you intended, which will cause more injury,” Zubek says. And using your teeth to bite it off could introduce infection-causing bacteria, she says.
Can I prevent hangnails?
Keeping your hands moisturised goes a long way in staving off hangnails, Admani says. She recommends applying cream or lotion throughout the day, especially after you wash your hands.
“Anytime you wash your hands, even with very gentle soap, you’re stripping your skin of its natural moisture,” she says. Reapplying moisturizer after a hand wash and choosing a mild soap without strong fragrances, which can irritate your skin, could help.
Zubek recommended using a more intensive moisturising regimen before going to bed, including applying a thick moisturiser or ointment and then wearing cotton gloves while you sleep. This will help the skin on your hands absorb the moisturizer, Zubek says.
When should I see a doctor?
If you notice redness, swelling or pus around the hangnail, Orengo says, you might have an infection and should see a doctor to figure out if you need antibiotics.
“A hangnail alone is not a sign of infection,” Admani adds. But if you’re not sure, a doctor can usually tell.
From there, your doctor can determine what kind of infection you have and the best way to treat it, whether that’s with oral or topical antibiotics or with a special antiseptic soak.
The New York Times
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