You can remove hangnails in many simple ways. They are annoying and painful and you do not have to keep it as they are. Just get rid of them.
Hangnails are small pieces of torn cuticles around your nails which can become red and swollen overtime . They occur when a sliver of skin splits off from a fingernail.
Hangnails usually occur due to nail biting or when the skin around the nails become too dry. Winter months are the worst time for skin dryness. Working on water for a long time can also cause hangnails. They can also occur when the nails are cut along too close to the edge of the cuticles.
Some detergents and soaps cause skin allergies that can lead to hangnails. Deficiency of Vitamin C and folic acid can also be responsible for hangnails.
You do not have to live with the hangnails. Use the following simple home remedies and get rid of hangnails fast.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Hangnails with Home Remedies
You can remove hangnails immediately and take precautions and some lifestyle changes to ensure that they do not recur.
1. Clip Hangnails
The easiest and fastest way to remove hangnails is to clip them away. This really does not solve the problem as they will recur as the underlying causes have not been addressed. But at least it will reduce your pain immediately and your fingers will not look annoying.
You must maintain proper hygiene during clipping to avoid any possible infection. Always use sterile cuticle scissors to cut them off from the base. make sure that you do not pull them. Just cut them. Pulling will cause more skin ruptures and pain.
- Soften you fingernails and skin by dipping into water for 5-10 minutes
- Clip the hangnails with sterile cuticle scissor
- Apply antibacterial ointment on the affected area
You can massage the area with Vitamin E oil or olive oil after the clipping. This will help if you do not have antibacterial cream readily available.
2. Moisturize Nail beds
Hangnails are caused by dry skin. If you have hangnails that means your skin is dry and your body is begging to moisturize it.This is a simple common sense logic. Just moisturize your skin.
- Dip your fingernails in room temperature water for some time- about 2-3 minutes
- Remove fingers from water and clean them dry with a washcloth
- Apply coconut oil
In addition to moisturizing the nail bed, you also have to ensure that they do not get dry again. Wear silicon hand gloves while working with detergents. Detergents in the washing liquids and powder makes your skin dry.
3. Stop Biting or Picking your Nails
Nail biting is a socially embarrassing habit that shows you are anxious. But in addition to this it affects the nail and the surrounding skin. Your nails become weak and the nail bed starts getting hangnails as the skin is weak.
- Stop biting or picking your nails
- Clip your nail with nail cutter regularly
- Find solutions to your nervousness and anxiety
- Do yoga and meditation to reduce anxiety
4. Do Not Let Hangnails Grow
Get rid of hangnails when they are small. This will reduce skin damage and resulting infections. Use cuticle nippers or nail scissors which can trim the skin efficiently. trimming the hangnails immediately as soon as they appear reduces the possibilities of more skin damage.
- Trim the hangnails on first appearance
- Ensure that the area doesn't turn red as redness indicate infection
5. Avoid Nail Polish Remover
Sometimes what is good for one becomes bad for the other. Almost all nail polish removers make the skin dry although they effectively remove nail polish. Just stay away from the nail polish remover that dry your skin. Acetone nail polish remover is the most severe chemical to make your skin dry.
- Use a less severe nail polish remover
- Apply glycerine or other moisturizer immediately after nail polish removal