Sophia Delgado
Maintaining the skin around your nails is important for both health and aesthetic reasons. The skin around your nails is delicate and can easily become dry, damaged, and infected. To prevent this, it is recommended to keep your hands moisturized and avoid nail biting, harsh nail polishes, and excessive hand washing. When cutting the skin around your nails, it is important to only remove excess skin and hangnails, leaving the cuticle intact to protect your nails and skin from infection. Soaking your hands in warm water and using cuticle pushers can help to soften the skin and push back the cuticle before cutting.
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What You'll Learn
Soak hands in warm water
Soaking your hands in warm water is an easy and effective way to soften the skin around your nails and cuticles, making it ideal for grooming. It is also a great way to keep your nails clean.
To soak your hands, fill a medium-sized bowl with warm water to a depth of about 4 inches. You can add a few drops of soap to the water, or even a teaspoon of honey to boost hydration. Lemon juice is another popular addition, as it can help to soften cuticles, make nails whiter and stronger, although it may not be suitable for those with cuts on their fingers or damaged nails. If you have weak and brittle nails, you could try a mixture of egg yolks, milk, and honey. For those with sensitive skin, opt for warm water without any additives.
Once you have prepared the water, dip your hands into the bowl, ensuring your nails and cuticles are fully submerged. Soak your hands for around 5 to 10 minutes. After soaking, your hands should feel softer, and any dead skin, dirt, and dust should be loosened. You can then gently clean your nails and the surrounding skin with a nail brush.
It is important to note that some sources suggest that soaking nails in water can be outdated, as it can cause the nail plate to swell and change shape, which may cause nail polish to separate from the nail. However, many nail technicians still use this method, as it helps to cover up dry cuticles and provides better control when pushing back the cuticle.
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Use cuticle remover
Using a cuticle remover can help improve the longevity and appearance of your manicure. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use a cuticle remover:
Firstly, it is important to prepare your hands and nails. Soak your hands in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes to help soften the skin around your nails. This makes it easier and less painful to remove dead skin. You can also add soap to the water to help soften your cuticles and keep your nails clean.
Next, dry your hands with a towel. Ensure that your cuticles are free of water drops but remain moist. Apply a thin strip of cuticle remover along the edge of your nail beds and cuticles, forming a U shape.
After applying the cuticle remover, use a cuticle pusher to gently push back your cuticles. This helps to loosen up any dead tissue. You can use a wooden or metal cuticle pusher, or an orange stick (a manicuring stick with a pointed and flat end). Remember to soak metal and plastic cuticle pushers in isopropyl alcohol for 30 minutes before and after each use, and throw away wooden orange sticks after every use.
Once you have pushed back your cuticles, wash off the cuticle remover with warm water and apply some cuticle oil. You can then start removing any remaining dead tissue with a cuticle remover tool, cuticle scissors, or nippers. Only remove loose, soft, and translucent dead skin, being careful not to cut your actual cuticles or the living skin underneath.
Finally, wash your hands again and apply a generous amount of moisturizer to the entire area surrounding your nails, paying special attention to your cuticles. You can also apply moisturizer underneath your nails. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturizers are usually better at hydrating the skin.
Remember, cuticles protect your nails and the surrounding skin from infection. Removing them can increase your risk of infection, so it is important to be gentle and careful when using a cuticle remover.
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Cut away dead skin only
Cutting away dead skin around your nails is a delicate process. Firstly, it is important to prepare the area by softening the skin. This can be done by soaking your hands in warm, soapy water for around 10 minutes. Make sure your nails and cuticles are submerged, and dry your hands gently afterwards, ensuring that your cuticles remain moist.
The next step is to push back your cuticles. This can be done with a wooden cuticle pusher or an orange stick, which has a pointed end and a flat end. If you don't have either of these, a cotton swab can be used. The flat end of the orange stick can be used to push the cuticle back, and the pointed end can be used to remove any dirt from the underside of your fingernail.
Now, you can cut away any dead skin. Use manicure nippers or manicure scissors to carefully cut away the extra, dead skin around your nails. This includes skin near your cuticle that you pushed back, but be extremely careful to only cut away skin that is loose, soft, and translucent. Never cut the skin that surrounds and protects your nail, which is your upper cuticle. This skin is full of nerve endings and blood vessels, and cutting it can cause bleeding and increase your risk of infection.
Finally, moisturise the area. You can use lotions, moisturising oils, or store-bought moisturisers specifically designed for cuticles. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturisers tend to hydrate the skin better.
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Moisturise the area
Moisturising the skin around your nails is essential to prevent hangnails, rips, and breaks. The area around your nails tends to become dry and flaky due to the cold, dry air. Therefore, it is important to keep the skin around your nails hydrated and healthy.
There are several ways to moisturise the skin around your nails. Firstly, you can use lotions, moisturising oils, or store-bought moisturisers specifically designed for cuticles. Apply a generous amount of moisturiser to the entire area surrounding your nail, paying close attention to your cuticles. You can also try applying moisturiser underneath your nails. Cuticle oils are a great way to keep the skin around your nails soft, moisturised, and healthy. Apply cuticle oil to your nails and the surrounding skin daily before bed, and then wear cotton gloves to allow the oil to sink in deeply. Coconut oil is a cheap alternative to cuticle oil, and it also helps strengthen your nails.
Additionally, you can improve the absorption of your moisturiser by covering it with petroleum jelly or paraffin wax, and then wearing gloves. This will seal in the moisture and help heal your nails and cuticles. It is recommended to repeat this procedure every night for better and longer-lasting results. You should also moisturise your hands and cuticles liberally throughout the day, especially during the dry winter months.
It is important to note that you should never cut your cuticles, as they serve the function of keeping germs and bacteria from getting into your body through the area around your nails. Instead, gently push them back with a cuticle pusher or an orange stick.
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Treat hangnails carefully
Hangnails are small, torn pieces of skin that appear at the edge of a fingernail. They are not part of the nail itself but can be surprisingly annoying and painful. Hangnails are often the result of dry, cracked, or damaged skin around the nails. They can also be caused by nail biting, cuticle picking, or trimming the cuticle too closely to the nail bed.
To treat hangnails carefully, follow these steps:
- Start by washing your hands to avoid spreading germs to the affected area.
- Soak your fingers in warm, soapy water for about 10 minutes to soften the hangnail and the skin around it.
- Using sanitized nail clippers or small scissors, gently trim the hangnail close to the skin, being careful not to cut into the living skin underneath.
- If you accidentally cut too closely and it bleeds, rinse the area with water, apply an antibacterial ointment, and cover it with a bandage until it is completely healed.
- If you cut off the hangnail without drawing blood, apply a generous amount of moisturizer or petroleum jelly to the area to keep it hydrated and prevent further dryness.
It is important to resist the urge to rip, bite, or pick at hangnails, as this can tear the skin and increase the risk of infection. Early treatment of hangnails is crucial to prevent worsening symptoms, such as infections or abscess formation. If you notice any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pain, or pus, seek medical advice promptly.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to not cut the skin around your nails, as it can cause damage and increase the risk of infection. Instead, use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticle along the nail bed. You can then trim any excess skin and hangnails, but be careful not to cut the actual cuticle.
You can use manicure nippers or manicure scissors to cut away dead skin around your nails. Make sure to only cut away loose, soft, and translucent skin, not your cuticles. You can also use nail clippers or cuticle scissors to remove hangnails.
To prevent skin peeling around your nails, it is important to keep the area well-moisturized. Use lotions, moisturizing oils, or store-bought moisturizers specifically designed for cuticles. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturizers are usually better at hydrating the skin. You can also try home remedies such as petroleum jelly or almond oil. Additionally, avoid overexposure to drying agents such as hot or cold water, harsh weather conditions, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
