What Is a Cuticle and How Can You Safely Care for It?

The cuticle is a layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toe, which is called the nail bed. The cuticle protects new nails from bacteria when they grow out from the nail root.

The area around the cuticle is delicate. It can get dry, damaged, and infected. It’s important to care for the entire nail area and keep it clean so that your nails stay healthy.

How do you take care of your cuticles?

It’s important to keep your cuticles clean at home. This prevents infection.

The easiest way to care for them is to soak your hand or foot in soapy, warm water for around 10 minutes every few days. This helps soften the cuticle and keeps your nails clean.

You can also apply cuticle oil and a massage cream. Moisturize your cuticles regularly to prevent dryness and cracking.

Is it safe to cut them?

Research about the safety of cutting cuticles is mixed. Both the Mayo Clinic and American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advise against cutting cuticles. This includes cutting them at home or in a nail salon.

Cuticles protect both your nails and the skin surrounding them from infection. After cutting the cuticle, it’s easier for bacteria and germs to get inside. This can lead to an infection.

Most nail salons continue to cut cuticles, despite these guidelines. They argue that it helps polish go on better and stay on longer.

Instead of having them cut at your next manicure, ask your technician to just push back the cuticle and trim loose skin and hangnails.

How can you safely remove or trim them?

If you still want to trim your cuticles, it’s important to soften them first. You can do this by soaking your nails in warm water. Taking a bath or shower can also help soften them.

Next, apply cuticle remover. If your cuticles are dry, apply a moisturizer, too.

Using a cuticle pusher, carefully push back the cuticle along the nail bed. Trim excess skin and hangnails but never cut off the entire cuticle. The idea is to remove excess skin and hangnails only.

Cuticle pushers are made from various materials. You can purchase them at most beauty supply stores or online.

How can you prevent cuticle damage?

Avoid picking at your cuticle. If you have a hangnail, carefully remove it with tweezers or clippers, instead of ripping it out or biting it off.

Also limit your use of harsh nail polishes and removers. Use an acetone-free formula for a nail polish remover. Source