Noah Sinclair
Maintaining healthy hands and nails is essential for personal hygiene and self-care. However, neglecting the skin around your nails can lead to painful infections and unsightly changes in nail shape, colour, and texture. To prevent this, it is crucial to understand the anatomy of your fingernails and adopt a regular hand and nail care routine. This includes moisturising your hands and nails frequently, especially during dry winter months, and avoiding activities that can dry out your skin, such as washing dishes without gloves. Additionally, you can gently push back your cuticles with an orange stick or glass cuticle pusher and trim any excess skin or hangnails with sanitised cuticle scissors. Applying cuticle oil or moisturiser can help seal in hydration and prevent dryness and cracking. For severe cases of skin overgrowth or thickening under the nails, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist for specialised treatment options, such as topical corticosteroids or antifungal medication.
How to remove skin around nails
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Moisturise hands regularly, especially during winter |
| Wear gloves when washing dishes or swimming in chlorinated water | |
| Treatment | Soak hands in warm, soapy water for 10 minutes |
| Pat hands dry with a towel | |
| Apply cuticle oil and massage into cuticles | |
| Push cuticles back gently with an orange stick or glass cuticle stick | |
| Trim excess skin and hangnails with cuticle scissors | |
| Moisturise hands, fingers, cuticles, and the skin around nails | |
| Use a sanitised nail clipper or cuticle scissors to cut off hangnails or dead skin | |
| Use cuticle remover gel to remove dead, hardened skin | |
| Use a nail file to soften the skin |
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What You'll Learn
Push back cuticles with a cuticle stick
Pushing back your cuticles with a cuticle stick is a great way to enhance the appearance of your nails and promote healthy nail growth. It is a simple, non-invasive method that helps create a neat and tidy look without the risk of cuts or infections. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to push back your cuticles using a cuticle stick:
Prepare Your Nails and Gather the Right Tools:
Start by removing any old nail polish and washing your hands with warm water and mild soap. Pat your hands dry with a clean towel. It is important to use a clean and sanitised cuticle stick to prevent the spread of bacteria and reduce the risk of infection. Wooden orange sticks are commonly used, but you can also use a glass cuticle stick or a rubber-tipped cuticle pusher. If you have sensitive skin, wrap the tip of the orange stick in cotton for a gentler experience.
Soak and Moisturise Your Cuticles:
Before pushing back your cuticles, it is beneficial to soften them by soaking your fingers in warm water with a few drops of gentle soap or a specialised cuticle softener. You can also apply a small amount of cuticle oil or lotion to your cuticles and let it soak in for 3-5 minutes. This extra moisture will help nourish your nails and make the cuticles easier to push back.
Push Back Your Cuticles:
Rest your hand on a flat, sturdy surface to steady yourself and improve control. Hold the cuticle stick at an angle and gently push back the cuticle along the bottom of your nail. Work your way carefully into the corner and up the sides of your nail. Be careful not to push too hard or scrape your nails with the cuticle stick. The goal is to create a smooth, thin line of cuticles at the base of your nail.
Exfoliate and Trim (Optional):
After pushing back your cuticles, you may notice small pieces of excess skin at the base of your nail. Do not cut or tear these pieces, as it is easy to cut too deep and expose your nail bed to infection. Instead, gently exfoliate the area with a clean, warm, damp washcloth. If you have stubborn hangnails or pieces of skin, use a cuticle nipper to carefully trim only the translucent, dead skin. Be sure to trim only the excess, avoiding healthy skin and maintaining a healthy nail barrier.
Moisturise Again:
After pushing back and trimming your cuticles, it is crucial to moisturise your nails and the surrounding skin. Apply a generous amount of cuticle oil, lotion, or a rich hand cream to nourish and hydrate the area. Regular moisturisation will help prevent dry, cracked skin and promote healthy nail growth.
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Trim excess skin with cuticle scissors
To remove excess skin around your nails, you can trim it with cuticle scissors. This method should be done with caution, as cutting the skin around your nails can introduce an infection. Before you trim, it is recommended to gently push back the proximal nail fold with an orange stick or glass cuticle stick. This will help to reduce the amount of excess skin.
Once you have pushed back the cuticle, you can trim any remaining excess skin with cuticle scissors. Cuticle scissors are small and curved, designed specifically for this purpose. Take care not to cut live tissue or the entire cuticle. Only cut away dead skin that is jutting out and in danger of being torn.
If you do not have cuticle scissors, you can use sanitised nail clippers to trim the excess skin. It is advised to ask someone to help you with this, especially if the excess skin is on your dominant hand.
After trimming, it is important to apply a generous amount of moisturiser to your hands, fingers, cuticles, and the skin around your nails. This will help to prevent dryness and cracking, which can lead to hangnails and infections.
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Moisturise with lotions, oils, or moisturisers
Moisturising your nails and the surrounding skin is crucial to maintaining their health and appearance. It is recommended to moisturise your hands and nails multiple times a day, especially during the dry winter months.
You can use lotions, oils, or moisturisers to keep your nails and cuticles hydrated. Cuticle oils and nail creams should be used repeatedly throughout the day to keep your nails hydrated. It is important to massage the product into your nails and cuticles, instead of just applying it. This will reduce peeling and brittleness, as well as stimulate blood circulation to encourage healthy nail growth.
There are a variety of products available for nail and cuticle care. You can use a high-quality jojoba-based nail oil or pure jojoba oil for your nails and skin. Wax or oil-based balms, such as cuticle balms or hand salves, are also effective. Standard hand creams can be used for quick and easy moisturisation. For overnight use, a thicker ointment or cream can be applied.
After moisturising, you can use the K-beauty technique of "nail slugging" to seal in moisture. This involves coating each nail in a thick layer of ointment, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor, and then putting on cotton gloves to lock in the moisture overnight.
In addition to using lotions, oils, or moisturisers, it is important to protect your hands and nails from drying agents. Avoid activities that can dry out your skin, such as washing dishes in hot water without gloves. Wear gloves when performing tasks that involve water exposure, and make sure to apply moisturiser immediately after your nails are exposed to water.
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Use cuticle remover gel and a cuticle removing tool
Cuticle remover gel is a solvent that removes dead tissue surrounding your nail, leaving it soft and easy to manipulate. It contains acid at low pH levels that dissolve dead skin. It is important to clean and prep your nails before using cuticle remover gel. Remove any old nail polish and wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Then, dry your hands and use a cuticle pusher to gently push back your cuticles. This will help to expose more of the dead skin that needs to be removed.
Using the applicator brush or dropper that comes with your cuticle remover gel, apply a small amount of the product to all of your nails. Be careful not to get the gel on your actual nails, as it can cause damage or discolouration. Allow the gel to penetrate for about 30 seconds to one minute before pushing your cuticles back and removing the excess dead skin with a moistened towelette.
After you've finished removing dead skin, it's important to care for your nails and cuticles to prevent drying or cracking. Use a moisturising cuticle oil or cuticle cream to keep your cuticles soft and healthy. You can also buff your nails to a shine and add a top coat of nail strengthener for extra protection.
Cuticle removing tools include cuticle pushers, which can be made of metal, plastic, or wood. They are used to gently push back the cuticle before removal. Cuticle nippers or scissors can then be used to trim away any remaining dead skin or hangnails. It is important to sanitise any tools before use and to be careful not to cut too much or cause bleeding.
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Avoid drying agents like hot water and acetone
To keep the skin around your nails healthy, it's important to avoid exposing your hands to drying agents. Dry hands are more prone to cracking and peeling, which can lead to painful hangnails and infections. Here are some tips to avoid drying agents and maintain healthy skin around your nails:
Firstly, limit your exposure to hot water. When washing dishes, use gloves to protect your hands from the hot water and soap, which can strip moisture from your skin. Similarly, when swimming in chlorinated water, consider wearing swimming gloves to prevent your nails and skin from drying out. If you enjoy taking hot baths or showers, be mindful that prolonged exposure to hot water can also contribute to skin dryness.
Another common drying agent to avoid is acetone, a key ingredient in many nail polish removers. Acetone is known to be harsh and drying, stripping away important natural oils from your nails and skin. Opt for acetone-free nail polish removers or natural alternatives such as using lemon juice or a mixture of vinegar and essential oils. Additionally, give your nails a break from polish now and then to allow them to recover and breathe.
If you must use acetone-based products, minimise the contact time to reduce potential damage. Always follow up with a moisturising routine, applying generous amounts of lotion, oil, or cuticle cream to rehydrate your nails and the surrounding skin. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturisers are generally better at hydrating the skin.
Finally, be mindful of other factors that can contribute to dry skin. Cold, dry weather during winter can cause skin dryness, so ensure you moisturise regularly during this season. Additionally, certain habits like nail-biting or neglecting proper hand care can lead to dry, cracked skin. Maintaining a consistent hand care routine that includes moisturising and cuticle care will help prevent dryness and promote healthy nails and skin.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a cuticle remover gel or cream, which will help soften the skin. Leave it on for about 15 seconds, then gently remove the dead skin with a cuticle removing tool.
Moisturise your hands and cuticles regularly, especially after washing your hands or doing the dishes. Use lotions, oils, or moisturisers specifically made for cuticles. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturisers tend to hydrate skin better.
Keep your hands and cuticles moisturised, especially during the winter. Avoid activities that can dry out your skin, such as washing dishes without gloves, swimming in chlorinated water, and frequent hand washing.
See your pharmacist or naturopath for medical advice. Never cut off your entire cuticle, always leave some skin to prevent infection.
Use a dual-tip glass cuticle pusher or an orange stick to gently push back the proximal nail fold.
