Sophia Delgado
Cuticles are a thin layer of dead skin that grows around the edge of your toenails and fingernails to protect your nails from infection. While cuticle overgrowth is usually harmless, it can be unsightly and frustrating. There are many reasons why cuticles might grow faster for some people, ranging from poor cuticle maintenance to underlying medical conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cuticle growth | Varies from person to person |
| Reason for fast growth | Lack of cuticle maintenance, stress, or medical conditions |
| Medical conditions | Psoriasis, eczema, allergic contact dermatitis |
| Effect of stress | May prompt people to pick at their cuticles, leading to breaks in the skin that can cause infection or inflammation |
| Treatment | Gently push cuticles back with a cuticle pusher, keep them well-hydrated, use cuticle oil, wear gloves for dishwashing and use acetone-free nail polish remover |
| Dry cuticles | Can lead to bacteria or fungus entering between the nail and skin, causing infection |
| Infection | Can occur if you bite your nails or cuticles |
| Cuticle care products | Thick moisturizing products like ointments or creams, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), lotions, hot wax treatment |
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What You'll Learn
Poor cuticle maintenance
Cuticles should not be removed or cut, although overgrowth may tempt you to do so. Instead, overgrown cuticles can be managed by gently pushing them back with a cuticle pusher and keeping them well-hydrated. Before pushing back the cuticles, it is recommended to dampen them by soaking your nails in water for about 10 minutes and applying a nail or cuticle oil. Cuticle oil is a moisturising product commonly made from vegetable oils, and it can help to replenish moisture lost due to frequent hand washing, sanitiser use, or swimming in chlorine.
To maintain healthy cuticles, it is important to avoid biting or picking at them, as this can lead to breaks in the skin that are prone to infection or inflammation. If you have dry and cracked cuticles, this indicates that they are unhealthy and may require medical attention, as it could lead to bacteria or fungus entering between the nail and the skin.
Additionally, it is recommended to wear gloves when doing dishes or using acetone-based nail polish remover to prevent drying out your cuticles.
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Dry skin
Cuticles can also become dry and cracked due to a lack of cuticle maintenance. Overgrown cuticles can occur when the proliferation phase of the stratum corneum dominates, resulting in excess cuticle tissue. This can be remedied by gently pushing the cuticles back with a cuticle pusher to prevent overgrowth into the nail fold.
Dermatologists recommend keeping the cuticles well-hydrated with oils rather than creams, as these are less absorbent into the cuticle tissue. Applying a few drops of olive oil, cuticle oil, or essential oil to the nails and cuticles can help to prevent dryness. It is also important to keep the hands moisturised with lotion or oils to prevent dryness, as dry cuticles can indicate unhealthy cuticles.
In addition, dry and cracked cuticles can lead to bacteria or fungus entering between the nail and the skin, potentially causing infection. Therefore, it is recommended to seek medical attention if your cuticles become severely dry or cracked.
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Skin conditions
While cuticles growing too fast is usually due to poor cuticle maintenance, it can also be a symptom of an underlying skin condition.
Psoriasis, a skin condition where skin cells multiply rapidly, can cause cuticles to grow at a faster rate than normal. This is because, in addition to skin cells growing back very quickly, many of them die and build up in the cuticle area over time. When psoriasis affects the nails, it can result in rapid growth of the cuticles, leading to overgrowth. Features of psoriatic nails include pitting of the nail plate, onycholysis or separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, and small areas of discolouration.
Eczema, an inflammatory skin condition, can also trigger overgrown cuticles. It typically causes itching, leading to excess scratching or rubbing, which can cause the skin around the cuticle to overgrow. Eczema can also develop near the cuticle, impacting the appearance of the skin adjacent to the nail.
Allergic contact dermatitis, such as a reaction to a fragrance, dye, or preservative, can also cause eczema-like changes on the hands and fingers, including the cuticles.
In addition, long-term stress or strain has been linked to unusual cuticle growth.
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Stress
While the exact link between systemic issues and overgrown cuticles is unknown, long-term stress or strain is a possible cause of unusual cuticle growth. Cuticles can register stress and react to environmental conditions, and stress may prompt some people to pick at their cuticles, which can lead to breaks in the skin that are susceptible to infection or inflammation.
Cuticles are a type of skin layer that grows around the edge of your toenails and fingernails. They are made up of dead tissue attached directly to the nail plate, and they provide a protective barrier to prevent bacteria, dirt, and fungus from infecting your nails. Cuticles are sensitive and respond to gentle treatment, so it is important to care for them properly.
To maintain healthy cuticles, it is recommended to gently push them back with a cuticle pusher or stick to prevent overgrowth into the nail fold. Before doing so, it is advisable to dampen them by soaking your nails in warm water for about 10 minutes, and then to apply a nail or cuticle oil to the area. Cuticle oil is commonly made from vegetable oils and may contain vitamins and citric ingredients. It is also important to keep your cuticles well-hydrated with lotions or creams, especially after washing your hands or using hand sanitizer, as this can cause them to dry out and separate, leading to hangnails.
Cutting your cuticles is discouraged because it can lead to inflammation or infection, and it can cause the cuticle to grow back even tougher, hindering nail growth. Instead of cutting, it is recommended to use a serum, oil, or exfoliating cleanser to remove dead skin cells and maintain healthy cuticles.
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Biting cuticles
Biting your cuticles can be a sign of dermatophagia, a type of body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB). It is characterised as a compulsive disorder where individuals gnaw and eat the skin around their fingers and nails. This behaviour can lead to bleeding, damaged skin that is susceptible to bacterial infections.
Stress and anxiety are often cited as triggers for biting cuticles. People may find that they bite their cuticles when they are worried or apprehensive. This can lead to a vicious cycle where the action of biting causes breaks in the skin, which then leads to feelings of stress and the desire to bite again to alleviate those feelings.
If you are concerned about biting your cuticles, there are several strategies you can try to stop. Firstly, keeping your cuticles well-maintained and moisturised can help. This includes gently pushing them back with a cuticle pusher and applying cuticle oil to the area. You can also try wearing gel polish, which makes it harder to bite the skin. Finding alternative ways to occupy your hands and mouth can also be helpful, such as using a fidget spinner or chewable jewellery.
If you are unable to stop biting your cuticles and it is causing you distress or health issues, it is important to seek help from a medical professional. They can provide guidance and support to help you manage this behaviour.
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Frequently asked questions
Cuticle growth varies from person to person and depends on the balance between the proliferation or growth and the shedding cycles of the stratum corneum. If the proliferation phase dominates, then excess cuticle tissue will result. Overgrown cuticles usually occur from a lack of cuticle maintenance.
Dermatologists advise against cutting your cuticles as this can cause them to grow back faster. Instead, gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher to prevent overgrowth into the nail fold.
Soak your nails in water for about 10 minutes, apply nail or cuticle oil to the area, and then gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher.
Medical issues like psoriasis, eczema, and allergic contact dermatitis can cause an overgrowth of cuticle skin. Chronic stress can also cause unusual growth in your cuticles.
