What Is A Hangnail And How Do You Prevent Them Altogether

Long, short, oval or stiletto, like your hands, your fingernails can tell people a lot about who you are and what you do with them. They can give others clues into your unique personality and even any dirty little habits you may keep like biting or picking at your nails and skin.

Nail biting and picking at your nails and cuticles, the soft nail bed surrounding it, can be a costly habit that can lead to small pieces of torn skin at the root of your fingernails—and yes, sometimes even your toenails.

The small pieces of skin that form are called hangnails. Although its name implies that you have a piece of nail hanging off, this is a misnomer. A hangnail is actually a piece of cuticle skin. While these can be a nuisance from time to time, hangnails can also lead to an infection called paronychia.

“Paronychia is inflammation that involves the tissue (skin) on the side or at the base of the fingernail,” said Samia Kadri, a Banner Health family nurse practitioner. “It’s common for hangnails to become infected due to the bacteria and germs our hands come in contact with daily.”

What causes hangnails?

Hangnails are a sign that the skin around your fingernails is lacking oil. Anything that causes dry skin, like frequently washing your hands (which we should always do!), dry, winter weather and harsh chemicals, like hand sanitizer or cleaning products, can deplete oil in your skin and contribute to hangnail growth.

“Manicuring or cutting the nail too short, nail biting and picking at or cutting your cuticle can also lead to hangnails and infections,” Kadri said. “This causes a weaker nail bed, which triggers hangnail growth.”

If you suck your thumb, are prone to ingrown nails, have diabetes or are immunocompromised, you may also be at risk for developing hangnails.

How can I prevent hangnails?

Now that you know the causes and how to treat a hangnail, let’s talk about how you can avoid them altogether.

Here are some tips:

• Resist the urge to pick at your cuticles and bite your nails.
• Don’t cut your cuticles, even when you have them cut by a nail tech. Instead, soak the cuticles with warm water and gently push them back with a tool designed for this purpose.
• Moisturize your hands and cuticles daily.
• Avoid using harsh soaps and chemicals like acetone.
• Wear gloves when house cleaning, washing dishes and gardening.
• Put on gloves when going outside in cold weather.
• Drink lots of water and eat a well-balanced diet.

Hangnails can be a real pain, but they can also be prevented by keeping your skin moisturized and making simple lifestyle changes.

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