Healing Cracked Fingernails: Tips For Soft, Healthy Skin

Many people suffer from dry, cracked skin surrounding their nails due to things like cold, dry weather and biting their nails. Along with biting their nails, sometimes people even bite the skin surrounding their nail. This can lead to painful rips and bleeding tears that have the potential to become infected. Thankfully, dry, cracked, and ripped skin around the nail can be repaired by following a few easy steps to ensure your hands stay groomed and moisturized. Soak your hands in warm water for around 5 minutes. While your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers.

Moisturise hands and nails

Cracked skin around your nails can be caused by environmental exposure and lifestyle factors such as cold, dry weather and biting your nails. It can also be caused by prolonged exposure to hot water, such as showering or washing dishes.

The key to maintaining soft skin and avoiding cracked skin is to moisturize well and often. After washing your hands, leave them slightly damp or allow them to air-dry. While your hands are damp, apply hand cream, focusing on the fingertips and nails. Apply moisturizer immediately after using hand sanitizer, as the alcohol it contains can make dry skin worse.

Trim nails after the bath or shower when they’re softer and less likely to crack. Soak your hands in warm water for around 5 minutes. While your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers.

Examples of moisturizers that can be applied to the hands and fingernails include cuticle oils that have vitamin E as well as petroleum jelly-based lotions that seal in moisture.

Trim nails when they're softer

Trim your nails when they're softer and less likely to crack. Cracked fingernails don't require further medical treatments but talk to a healthcare provider if you notice certain signs. If your nail is very painful or showing signs of infection, it may be time to call your doctor. Symptoms of an infection include swelling, redness, or skin that’s hot to the touch.

Trim your nails after the bath or shower when they’re softer and less likely to crack. Soak your hands in warm water for around 5 minutes. While your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers. Having the proper nail tools on hand can help keep you from picking at your nails, cuticles and the surrounding skin. A cuticle clipper or nipper is useful for trimming hangnails or peeling skin on fingers near nails, which may help curb your temptation to pick or pull on them and prevent you from making the situation worse.

Many people suffer from dry, cracked skin surrounding their nails due to things like cold, dry weather and biting their nails. Along with biting their nails, sometimes people even bite the skin surrounding their nail. This can lead to painful rips and bleeding tears that have the potential to become infected. Thankfully, dry, cracked, and ripped skin around the nail can be repaired by following a few easy steps to ensure your hands stay groomed and moisturized.

Cracked skin results from environmental exposure and lifestyle factors as well. The key to maintaining soft skin and avoiding cracked skin is to moisturize well and often. Apply moisturizers to the hands and fingernails after washing them. Examples include cuticle oils that have vitamin E as well as petroleum jelly-based lotions that seal in moisture. Apply hand cream, focusing on the fingertips and nails. Apply moisturizer immediately after using hand sanitizer, as the alcohol it contains can make dry skin worse.

Avoid prolonged exposure to hot water

Hot water can dry out your skin, so avoiding prolonged exposure to hot water is a good way to prevent finger nail skin cracks. Try to limit your time in the shower and wash dishes by hand if possible.

If you do need to use hot water, try to keep your hands protected by wearing gloves or using a washcloth to reduce the amount of time your skin is exposed to the hot water. After washing your hands, leave them slightly damp or allow them to air-dry and apply hand cream, focusing on the fingertips and nails.

Trim your nails after the bath or shower when they’re softer and less likely to crack. Soak your hands in warm water for around 5 minutes and while your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers.

Having the proper nail tools on hand can help keep you from picking at your nails, cuticles and the surrounding skin. A cuticle clipper or nipper is useful for trimming hangnails or peeling skin on fingers near nails, which may help curb your temptation to pick or pull on them and prevent you from making the situation worse.

The key to maintaining soft skin and avoiding cracked skin is to moisturize well and often. Apply moisturizers to the hands and fingernails after washing them with examples including cuticle oils that have vitamin E as well as petroleum jelly-based lotions that seal in moisture.

Soak hands in warm water

Soaking hands in warm water is a great way to soften the skin around your nails and prevent further damage. Cracked skin around your nails can be caused by biting your nails, cold and dry weather, and prolonged exposure to hot water. Biting your nails can lead to painful rips and bleeding tears that have the potential to become infected. Prolonged exposure to hot water can also cause skin to crack.

To soak your hands in warm water, fill a bowl with warm water and soak your hands for around 5 minutes. While your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers. This will help to prevent further damage and keep your hands groomed and moisturized.

After soaking your hands in warm water, apply hand cream to your hands, focusing on the fingertips and nails. Apply moisturizer immediately after using hand sanitizer, as the alcohol it contains can make dry skin worse. You can also trim your nails after the bath or shower when they’re softer and less likely to crack.

Remember, cracked fingernails don’t require further medical treatments, but if you notice certain signs such as swelling, redness, or skin that’s hot to the touch, it may be time to call your doctor.

Use liquid bandages for open wounds

When cracked skin turns into an open, bleeding wound, you can use liquid bandages to close the wound and help stop bleeding. These special bandages seal the cut closed, reducing the risk of infection.

Here's how to use them:

• Wash your hands and leave them slightly damp or allow them to air-dry.
• Apply hand cream to your hands, focusing on the fingertips and nails.
• Apply moisturizer immediately after using hand sanitizer, as the alcohol it contains can make dry skin worse.
• Trim nails after the bath or shower when they’re softer and less likely to crack.
• Use a cuticle clipper or nipper to trim hangnails or peeling skin on fingers near nails.

The key to maintaining soft skin and avoiding cracked skin is to moisturize well and often. Soak your hands in warm water for around 5 minutes to soften the skin. While your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers.

Frequently asked questions