Isla Bennett
The skin around your nails, also known as the cuticle, acts as a protective layer to prevent bacteria from entering your body as your nails grow. Picking, pushing, or cutting your cuticles can lead to inflammation and infection. Thankfully, cuticles do grow back, but the time it takes depends on their current state. If they have been over-trimmed, picked, or pushed back, it can take months for them to heal. To promote healing, it is recommended to moisturize the area and avoid cutting the skin around your nails.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does skin around nails grow back? | Yes, the skin around nails grows back. |
| Reasons for skin damage around nails | Nail biting, dry weather, over-washing, rough washing, cutting, picking, pushing back cuticles, etc. |
| Consequences of skin damage around nails | Pain, redness, swelling, bleeding tears, infections, inflammation, deformed nails, etc. |
| Treatment for skin damage around nails | Moisturize, cut away extra skin, avoid toxic polishing, eat protein, etc. |
| Time taken for skin to grow back around nails | A few days to a few weeks, depending on the severity of the damage. |
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What You'll Learn
Cuticle care: moisturise and avoid cutting, picking or pushing back
Cuticles are the layer of skin located above and around the nail. They protect your nails from infections and provide a solid base for the nail to grow and remain healthy. Therefore, it is important to care for your cuticles.
Cutting, picking or pushing back your cuticles is purely cosmetic and is not recommended. It can cause redness, swelling, pain and infection. If you cut your cuticles, it is easier for bacteria and germs to get inside. This can lead to an infection called paronychia.
If you want to remove your cuticles, it is best to push them back with a cuticle pusher and then trim any loose skin and hangnails. However, it is important to note that this is not necessary and can be avoided altogether.
To care for your cuticles, it is important to moisturise them regularly to prevent dryness and cracking. You can use cuticle oil, lotion, massage cream or Vaseline to hydrate them. This will help to keep your cuticles and the surrounding skin healthy and protected.
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Biting nails: can damage cuticles and cause infections
Biting nails can cause a lot more damage than just the appearance of your nails and the skin around them. It can also lead to several health issues.
Firstly, biting your nails can cause damage to your cuticles. Cuticles act as a protective layer around the nail bed, preventing bacteria from entering as nails grow out from the nail root. They are the only barrier that protects your fingers from germs, water, and irritants. When you bite your nails, you risk creating tiny cracks in your nails or cuts in the skin around your nails, which can allow bacteria to enter your body and cause infections.
One such infection is paronychia, a common nail condition that develops when bacteria enter broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold. Paronychia usually clears up with treatment, but it can sometimes come back after treatment or last for weeks (chronic paronychia). Symptoms of paronychia include pain, swelling, and tenderness around the nail, as well as redness and warmth around the affected area. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove a finger or toe to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.
In addition to causing infections, biting your nails can also lead to dental problems such as misaligned, chipped, or fractured teeth, as well as gum disease and gum inflammation. It can also cause stomach or intestinal infections if you swallow the bitten nails.
While serious or long-term damage from nail-biting is rare, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with this habit. If you are struggling to stop biting your nails, there are several strategies you can try, such as identifying your triggers and finding replacement behaviors, keeping your nails trimmed, or seeking professional help through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
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Healing nails: use antibiotic cream and cuticle oil
The skin around your nails, known as the cuticle, is important for nail health. Removing or tampering with your cuticles can increase your risk of infection and inflammation. If you have damaged your cuticles, it is important to let them heal. Cuticle oil and antibiotic cream can help with this process.
Cuticle oil is a moisturising product that improves the health and appearance of your nails. It is typically derived from vegetable oils, such as sunflower oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, and sweet almond oil. These natural oils have moisturising and conditioning properties, softening and hydrating the skin and nails. Cuticle oil can also contain vitamins, such as Vitamin E, which helps to minimise redness, swelling, and skin damage. The oil is applied by dabbing a few drops onto each cuticle and massaging it in.
If your cuticles are damaged, applying cuticle oil can help to improve their health and encourage growth. It can also help to protect your nails from everyday wear and tear, such as excessive sun, water, and cold exposure. By creating a smooth and healthy base, cuticle oil can be used before a manicure to prevent chipping and fading.
Antibiotic cream can also be used to treat damaged cuticles. If your cuticles are inflamed or infected, it is important to treat this first before encouraging regrowth. Antibiotic cream can help to heal the skin and prevent further infection.
To promote healthy cuticles, it is important to keep your hands moisturised. Dry and chapped skin can lead to rough and thick cuticles. Using hand moisturiser regularly, especially after washing your hands, can help to soften the skin and smooth the cuticles.
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Dry skin: soak hands, moisturise, and wear cotton gloves
Dry skin around the nails can be caused by several factors, including frequent hand washing, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, and underlying health conditions such as diabetes or lupus. Nail biting is another common cause of skin damage around the nails.
To restore dry skin around the nails, you can try the following steps:
Soak your hands
Before applying any products to your hands, it is recommended to soak them in a healthy mixture. You can create a soak by mixing oats with a natural oil, such as olive oil. Oats help rejuvenate the skin, so combining them with a warm oil will help restore moisture to your hands. You can soak your hands in this mixture for as long as you like.
Moisturise your hands
After soaking your hands, the next step is to apply a moisturising product. First, cleanse your hands, then apply a moisturising serum. You can use a product that contains glycerine, which is suitable for dry skin. Avoid products with alcohol as the main ingredient, as alcohol can dry out the skin further. Finally, top it off with a cream designed to restore essential oils and fats to the skin.
Wear cotton gloves
To enhance the absorption of the moisturising products, you can wear cotton gloves. Cotton gloves are recommended over latex gloves, as the latter can increase the risk of developing skin allergies. Wear the gloves overnight so that your hands have several uninterrupted hours to absorb the oils. Remember to use a fresh pair of gloves each time, as reusing the same pair can expose your skin to rancid oil.
By following these steps, you can effectively restore dry skin around your nails and promote healthy and moisturised hands.
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Manicure tips: cut excess skin, not cuticles
The skin around your nails, also known as the cuticle, is a protective layer that safeguards the nail bed from bacteria and infections. While cutting the cuticles may be a safe and effective way to improve the appearance of your nails, it is not recommended by experts as it can lead to inflammation, redness, swelling, pain, and even infection. Instead, focus on cutting any excess skin around your nails and follow these tips for a safe and effective manicure:
Exfoliate and moisturize
Exfoliate your hands and cuticles before starting your manicure. This will help to remove any dead skin and create a smooth base. It is also important to keep your nails and surrounding skin hydrated, so be sure to invest in a good-quality cuticle oil or hand cream and apply it regularly.
Use clean and sterilized tools
Before cutting your nails or trimming any excess skin, ensure that your nail clippers and cuticle nippers are clean and sterilized to prevent the spread of bacteria and reduce the risk of infections. Avoid sharing your tools with others for the same reason.
Trim carefully
When trimming your nails or cutting any excess skin, use gentle and controlled movements and avoid applying excessive pressure. Only trim the excess or overgrown parts, and be careful not to cut healthy skin or remove too much of the cuticle, as this can damage the nail bed and compromise the healthy growth of your nails.
Avoid harsh chemicals
Limit your exposure to harsh chemicals such as strong detergents or cleaning agents, as these can dry out your nails and cuticles. When working with chemicals, be sure to protect your hands and nails by wearing gloves.
Remember, cutting your cuticles is not necessary for a perfect manicure. By following the tips above and focusing on cutting any excess skin around your nails, you can achieve a safe, effective, and long-lasting manicure.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the skin around nails does grow back. The cuticle is the layer of skin located above and around the nail. It protects your nails from infections and provides a solid base for the nail to grow and remain healthy.
The time taken for the skin around nails to grow back depends on the current state of the cuticles. If they were carefully trimmed or slightly pushed back, they will grow back normally. However, if they are over-trimmed, picked, or pushed back, it will take longer, and the new cuticle skin may not adhere well to the nail plate.
To help the skin around your nails grow back, it is recommended to moisturize the area regularly and avoid cutting the skin. Instead, gently push back the cuticles and trim away any excess skin. You can also apply cuticle oil to promote healthy growth and protect the base of your nails.
