Ava Monroe
Maintaining the skin around your nails is important to prevent painful infections and nail damage. The cuticle, a layer of clear skin at the bottom of your nail, should never be cut, but it should be cleaned, moisturized, and gently pushed back with an orange stick or cuticle pusher. Hangnails, jagged pieces of skin that jut out from the sides of your nails, can be carefully trimmed with sanitized cuticle scissors or nail clippers. To prevent and repair dry skin around your nails, soak your hands in warm water, apply moisturizer, and wear cotton gloves overnight.
How to trim dead skin around nails
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Avoid nail biting, picking skin around nails, and cutting nails too short |
| Tools | Cuticle stick, cuticle scissors, nail clippers, moisturizer, cotton gloves, nail file, glass file, cuticle cream, aquaphor, cuticle remover, cuticle bit, efile, cuticle oil, hand cream, lotion, moisturizing oils, exfoliant |
| Soaking | Soak hands in warm water for 5 minutes to soften skin |
| Drying | Pat hands dry with a towel, ensuring cuticles are still moist |
| Pushing | Push back cuticles with a wooden cuticle pusher or an orange stick |
| Trimming | Use cuticle scissors or nail clippers to trim excess skin and hangnails |
| Moisturizing | Apply moisturizer, lotion, moisturizing oils, or cuticle cream to the entire area surrounding the nail, including the cuticles; wear cotton gloves overnight to seal in moisture |
| Exfoliating | Use a light grit nail file to gently exfoliate the skin; use a chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin |
| Medical Advice | See a pharmacist or naturopath for advice if a hangnail becomes infected |
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Tools for the job
Trimming dead skin around your nails requires a few tools to get the job done. Here are some of the most commonly used tools and some alternatives:
- Cuticle pusher: A cuticle pusher is used to gently push back the cuticles, which are the layers of clear skin at the bottom of your fingernails. Wooden or metal/plastic cuticle pushers are available, with the former being more common. An orange stick, a manicuring stick with a pointed end and a flat end, can also be used as a cuticle pusher. Soak metal and plastic cuticle pushers in isopropyl alcohol before and after each use for sanitisation.
- Cuticle trimmer: A cuticle trimmer is used to trim away any excess dead skin or hangnails (those irritating, jagged pieces of skin that jut out from the sides of your fingernails) around the nails. Cuticle trimmers are small, scissor-like tools with curved blades designed specifically for this purpose. They are also known as cuticle scissors.
- Nail clipper: A sanitised nail clipper can be used to cut off hangnails or dead skin that is more prominent and jutting out.
- Moisturiser: While not exactly a tool, moisturisers are essential to the process. Lotions, oils, or store-bought moisturisers specifically made for cuticles can be used to moisturise the dry areas around the nails. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturisers are generally recommended as they hydrate the skin better. Moisturising the cuticles regularly with cuticle oil helps prevent them from becoming dry and cracked.
- Cotton gloves: After applying moisturiser, wearing a pair of cotton gloves overnight helps seal in the moisture and aids in healing the nails and cuticles.
- Nail file: A light grit nail file can be used to gently exfoliate the skin around the nails, especially in cases where the dead skin is more stubborn.
- Exfoliants: In addition to physical exfoliation with a nail file, chemical exfoliants can be used. Hand creams with urea, AHAs, or BHAs help exfoliate the skin, and a cuticle oil can then be used to seal in moisture.
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Soak beforehand
Soaking your hands in warm water is a great way to prepare your nails and the skin around them for trimming and further care. Warm water helps to soften the skin around the nail, making it easier and less painful to remove dead skin.
Before you begin, gather all the tools and products you will need. These include a bowl of warm water, a towel, a cuticle pusher (either wooden or orange sticks with a pointed and flat end), cuticle scissors, and a moisturiser of your choice. You may also want to use nail clippers to cut off any hangnails or dead skin that is jutting out. Ensure all your tools are sanitised to avoid infection.
Once you have your tools ready, fill a bowl with warm water and soak your hands for around five minutes. After soaking, gently pat your hands dry with a towel, ensuring your cuticles are free of water drops but still moist.
Now that your skin is soft and moist, you can begin to push back your cuticles. Use the flat end of the orange stick to push the cuticle back, and the pointed end to run along the underside of your fingernail and remove any built-up dirt. If you are using a wooden cuticle pusher, soak it in isopropyl alcohol for 30 minutes before and after each use.
After pushing back your cuticles, you can carefully trim away any excess skin on your fingers with cuticle scissors. Be very careful not to cut the entire cuticle or live tissue, as this can expose you to germs and bacteria.
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Be gentle
Being gentle is key when trimming dead skin around your nails. The skin around your nails is sensitive, and neglecting it can lead to painful infections. Therefore, it is important to be cautious and gentle when trimming.
Firstly, it is recommended to soak your hands in warm water for about five minutes. This helps to soften the skin, making it easier to gently push back your cuticles with a wooden cuticle pusher or an orange stick. It is important to be gentle when pushing back the cuticles to avoid causing pain or damage to the skin.
After pushing back the cuticles, you can carefully trim away any excess dead skin. Use sanitized nail clippers or cuticle scissors to gently cut off any hangnails or dead skin protruding from the nail. Be very careful not to cut live tissue or the entire cuticle, as this can be painful and lead to infection.
If you are trimming the skin around your dominant hand, it may be helpful to ask someone to assist you to avoid accidental cuts or applying too much pressure.
Finally, always remember to moisturize your hands and cuticles after trimming. This helps to keep the skin hydrated and healthy, reducing the risk of dryness and cracking.
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Moisturise after
Moisturising after trimming the dead skin around your nails is an essential step in maintaining nail health. Not only does it help to repair dry, cracked, and ripped skin, but it also prevents the skin from drying out again.
Firstly, it is important to choose the right moisturiser. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturisers are usually better at hydrating the skin. You can use lotions, moisturising oils, or store-bought moisturisers specifically made for cuticles. Cuticle oils, such as Sienna Cuticle Oil, are perfect for taking care of the area around your nails. This product is ethically made in France and is certified vegan and cruelty-free.
Once you have chosen your moisturiser, rub a generous amount of it on the entire area surrounding your nail, paying special attention to your cuticles. You can also apply moisturiser underneath your nails. If there are any loose or dry pieces of skin left, trim them away.
To lock in the moisture, put on a pair of cotton gloves and wear them overnight. Remove the gloves in the morning, and you should find that your hands and nails are well-moisturised. For better, longer-lasting results, repeat this procedure every night.
Remember to moisturise your hands and cuticles liberally and regularly. This will help to keep your hands groomed and prevent your skin from drying out.
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Don't cut corners
Firstly, it is important to keep your hands and nails well-moisturised. Moisturise your hands daily to prevent them from drying out, and pay special attention to the areas around your nails and cuticles. Use lotions, moisturising oils, or store-bought moisturisers specifically designed for cuticles. Alcohol and fragrance-free moisturisers tend to hydrate skin better. You can also try applying moisturiser underneath your nails. If your cuticles are dry and prone to splitting, keep them pushed back and moisturised. If there are loose or dry pieces of skin, trim them away with cuticle scissors, but be careful not to cut live tissue or the entire cuticle.
You can also try soaking your hands in warm water for around five minutes to soften the skin, making it easier and less painful to remove dead skin. After soaking, gently push back your cuticles with a wooden cuticle pusher or an orange stick. The flat end of the orange stick can be used to push the cuticle back, while the pointed end can be used to remove any built-up dirt from the underside of your fingernail.
Another method is to use a light grit nail file to gently exfoliate the skin around your nails. Follow this with a generous application of cuticle oil or hand cream to seal in moisture. Remember, it is important to be gentle and careful when trimming or exfoliating dead skin around your nails to avoid causing further damage or exposing yourself to infection.
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Frequently asked questions
Peeling skin around your nails can be caused by exposure to substances like soap, detergents, nail paint, nail polish remover, and latex gloves. To prevent peeling, avoid using these products, and try to moisturize your hands regularly.
To treat dry skin around your nails, soak your hands in warm water for five minutes. Then, while your skin is still soft, push back your cuticles and trim away any excess skin. Finish by applying moisturizer to your hands and fingers.
You can use a wooden cuticle pusher or an orange stick to push back your cuticles. Then, use sanitized nail clippers or cuticle scissors to trim away dead skin.
To prevent hangnails, moisturize your hands regularly, especially during the winter. Avoid washing dishes without gloves, swimming in chlorinated water, frequent hand washing, and nail-biting, as these activities can cause cracked, brittle skin.
