• Why do hangnails on the fingers become inflamed? How to get rid of hangnails on fingers at home. How to get rid of hangnails without leaving home

    13.12.2023

    When the dense leathery ridge near the nail plate is damaged and a gap appears on it, an unpleasant problem called “burrs” is born.

    Most often they occur on the sides of the fingertips, since they are less protected from mechanical influences.

    At first glance, hangnails are harmless, although they cause inconvenience. An infection can easily penetrate into them, and then they become inflamed, painful, bleed, and often break out.

    Hangnails can appear on the fingers of all extremities, although they are more common on the hands.

    The appearance of hangnails on the fingers: the main reasons

    Tears in the nail fold do not decorate the fingers. Hands become untidy and unpleasant in appearance. A person (especially a woman) feels psychological discomfort and tries to constantly hide them.

    Hangnails create problems and complications in everyday life. It is impossible to adjust clothes or hair without catching a tear and wincing in pain.

    The appearance of hangnails can be caused by simple and complex reasons. Nail fold rupture occurs as a result of:

    • A poorly done manicure. If you remove the cuticle carelessly, you can easily damage the skin. Microtraumas and small nicks will appear on it, which can cause the formation of a burr. Other manicure tools, including a nail file, can also injure the skin. If this happens regularly, hangnails will settle on your fingers for a long time.
    • Using materials containing methyl methacrylate for nail extensions. They harm the nail plate and the skin around it, causing hangnails.
    • Habits of nail biting and cuticle biting. This harmful weakness is closely related to the nervous system. It often manifests itself during emotional stress. It is very easy to rip off a piece of nail along with the cuticle. The skin will definitely suffer because it is delicate and sensitive. Its rupture will quickly turn into a painful hangnail.
    • Hand contact with various household chemicals, paints and varnishes, other harmful substances, and hard water. Why not use protective gloves? Obviously, the reason is simple carelessness, which leads to the appearance of not only hangnails, but also more serious damage to the skin on the hands. This fully applies to both women and men.
    • Refusal to wear warm gloves in the cold season.
    • Careless handling of office supplies. It’s easy to cut your hands even with plain paper. A simple ballpoint pen or pencil can also cause injury. Thanks to them, hangnails can appear on the index or middle finger.
    • Lack of quality and regular hand care. Hangnails love dry and chapped skin, because it easily cracks and gets injured. To eliminate this cause, you should constantly use creams and not disdain cosmetic procedures.
    • Using inappropriate soap, washing hands frequently without drying them.
    • Insufficient water intake. A lack of fluid can lead to dehydration of the skin on your hands.

    These reasons are easy to eliminate. You need to make a little effort and make positive adjustments to your lifestyle and change your attitude towards your body.

    Hangnails and health problems

    Infrequently, hangnails can be unpleasant symptoms of dangerous ailments. Among them:

    • Skin diseases: dermatitis, ichthyosis, eczema.
    • Dysbacteriosis is an imbalance of the natural intestinal microflora.
    • Gastrointestinal diseases and kidney failure.
    • Malfunctions of the endocrine system, and, as a result, the appearance of diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism.
    • Allergic diseases.
    • Vitamin deficiency, deficiency of microelements such as iron, calcium and silicon.
    • Intoxication of the body with harmful substances that come into contact with in the workplace.
    • Lack of proteins as a result of mono-diets or unbalanced nutrition.

    The root cause of the appearance of hangnails can also be a person being in a state of constant stress. Skin tears are only a small part of the health problems that appear due to prolonged emotional stress.

    Diagnostics

    It is impossible to confuse hangnails with something else. A visual examination is enough to make the correct diagnosis.

    Particular attention is necessary in cases where hangnails constantly appear, although hand care is regular and there are no provoking factors. Additional examinations are indispensable, since it is necessary to determine the main cause of nail fold ruptures. They may be limited to:

    • Biochemical blood test.
    • Spectral study of hair for the content of microelements.
    • Test for the presence of vitamins in the blood.
    • Examination of stool to identify dysbacteriosis.

    When complications arise and an abscess appears, bacterial culture of the purulent contents should be performed to determine the etiology of the pathogen and sensitivity to drugs.

    How to get rid of hangnails without leaving home

    Under no circumstances should you pick off a hangnail or bite it off with your teeth. This will cause additional pain and bleeding. Healthy areas of the skin may be injured, and an additional source of inflammation will arise. But leaving hangnails unattended is also unwise. They can contribute to inflammation of the soft tissue around the nail (paronychia) or the development of purulent processes throughout the finger (felon).

    To remove burrs, you need to:

    • Hold your hand in warm water so that the skin steams well and becomes less sensitive and more elastic. It will take at least a quarter of an hour. You need to add a tablespoon (0.5 liter) of soda or sea salt to the water.
    • Dry your hands with a towel.
    • Treat nail scissors or tweezers with medical alcohol. Carefully cut off the hangnail, and the entire cuticle along with it.
    • Treat the cut area with an antiseptic and apply hand cream (moisturizing or nourishing).

    To avoid accidentally injuring the treated skin with clothing or hair, you need to stick a fixing patch with a gauze pad on your finger.

    Anyone who is afraid to cut off hangnails can do this: shortly before bed, carefully lubricate the skin at the site of the break with calendula ointment. Then loosely cover your finger with the bandage. If the hangnails do not fall off when washing your hands in the morning, the procedure will have to be repeated again.

    Treatment of hangnails using folk methods

    The most effective way to treat hangnails is baths for hands and nails.

    They are not only pleasant, but also beneficial for the skin. It is preferable to cook oil baths because their efficiency is high.

    Such procedures do not take much time, so they can be carried out at least every day. Any vegetable oil is suitable for the bath. You need to warm it up slightly and dip your hands into a warm and viscous liquid. Twenty minutes is enough for the skin to soften and become saturated with vegetable fat.

    After the procedure, you should not wash your hands. It is better to rub the remaining oil into the skin and wear cotton gloves. They should not be removed until the morning. It is advisable to repeat this procedure daily before a night's rest, until the skin on your hands, especially near the nail plate, becomes soft and smooth (without damage).

    Aloe or Kalanchoe pulp- another effective remedy. Freshly cut leaves of the plant must be washed and chopped as much as possible. The resulting mushy mixture should be applied to the skin near the nails and wrap the fingers in film.

    It is advisable to keep the compress for several hours or at least an hour. The frequency of repetition of the procedure is once or twice a week.

    Helps and sea ​​buckthorn or rosehip oil. They can be used to lubricate the places where hangnails appear, since such products have a wound-healing effect.

    Burrs: treatment and prevention

    When hangnails are one of the symptoms of a certain disease, then that is what needs to be treated. At the same time, you should consult a specialist about eliminating dry skin and reducing its tendency to damage.

    Prevention is as follows:

    • Spare no expense on quality hand creams and use them constantly.
    • Give up the habit of biting your nails and cuticles.
    • Remember to wear gloves before starting any housework.
    • Dry your hands thoroughly after contact with water, do not leave them wet.
    • During the cold season, be sure to wear mittens or gloves.
    • Trust the manicure procedure only to a trusted professional.

    It is also important to eat properly and drink the recommended amount of fluid.

    Hangnails are an unpleasant phenomenon. But you can get rid of them if you properly care for your hands and protect them from negative and harmful influences of the external environment.

    Having gone on maternity leave, I was faced with a lot of housework: endless washing of dishes, washing and washing, mopping the floors three times a day. Endless contact with water, lack of time for skin care and periodic exposure to the street without gloves took their toll, and a month after the birth of the child, I looked at my hands with horror: the skin on my hands had dried out and became flabby, and all my fingers were moist. burrs. My once well-groomed and manicured fingers have turned into the fingers of a laborer. But a woman’s hands are one of the main indicators of age and grooming. And then I realized that I needed to urgently take action, otherwise my family would soon begin to be afraid of the sight of my hands.

    Why do I have hangnails on my fingers? I understand the reasons

    The main reason for this problem is lack of care and aggressive influence of environmental factors:

    • frequent contact with water;
    • exposure to cold air outside and dry air at home;
    • lack of vitamins in the body.

    It was impossible to remove all these factors, because no one canceled household chores, so I decided to start by taking vitamins and using hand cream during the day whenever possible.



    How I got rid of hangnails: my long path to perfection

    In the fight against hangnails, I had to gradually try various methods and means.

    Let's talk a little about hangnails and vitamins

    I didn’t expect the vitamins to have a quick effect, but I took them regularly every day Complements as the most budget option. A package of 60 tablets cost 177 rubles.

    Are expensive hand creams effective against hangnails?

    It improved the situation a little, provided that I used it 5-8 times a day, lubricating not only the skin of my hands, but also massaging the nail holes, around which there were a lot of hangnails. I used different hand creams: both expensive and cheap. The cream “Velvet Hands” showed the best effect. Nourishing" for 89 rubles. It contains shea and avocado butter, glycerin and panthenol, which provides a moisturizing and healing effect. The cream smells nice and is quickly absorbed. The old hangnails healed a little and stopped peeling, but the problem was not solved.


    In a cosmetics store I was advised to use SallyHansen’s “ProblemCuticleRemover” cream care , which is used to soften the cuticle during manicure. The consultant explained that this cream will well moisturize and soften hangnails, which can be easily removed after using the product. The cream turned out to be not the most budget option, and its use gave no more effect than a regular hand cream.

    Folk remedies - real treatment or panacea?

    Turning to traditional medicine, I decided to try simple olive oil. After slightly heating the oil, I smeared it on my hands, wrapped them in cling film and put on mittens for 20 minutes. After the mask, my hands became soft, and the skin around the nail holes was noticeably smoothed and moisturized. But such a mask must be done regularly 1-2 times a week to obtain visible results.

    My choice in the treatment of hangnails is a product with super effect!

    The life-saving remedy turned out to be Smart Enamel oil for 181 rubles. The product is sold in pharmacies and cosmetics stores and contains jojoba oil and vitamin A and E. The 11 ml bottle with a brush is similar to nail polish bottles. I didn’t expect any special miracle from the oil, so I just smeared it on the skin around my nails overnight, treated the hangnails, and went to bed. In the morning, I saw that the wounds from the hangnails had noticeably healed and my hands acquired a well-groomed appearance. After 3 days of evening use, the hangnails completely disappeared.

    Manicure accessories against hangnails: do it yourself or contact a specialist?

    Home manicure is only for experienced ladies!

    Before I started using various products to treat hangnails, I cleaned my hands using nail clippers and scissors. It is best to have this procedure done by a professional, but if this is not possible, then do a manicure at home with sharpened tools. Since I am not a professional manicurist, my hands looked good on the first day, but the next day the skin cut area was covered with new burrs. I saved my skin with Aevit in the form of oil in capsules, which I opened and lubricated the wounds that appeared the next day. Therefore, the option of a home manicure is suitable only for those who know how to do it correctly and accurately. If processed incorrectly, you can not only fail to achieve the desired result, but also aggravate the situation and even introduce infection into micro-wounds.


    Professional manicure to help

    Having found time to go for a manicure, I was pleased with the result. If you have hangnails, it makes sense to do a trimmed manicure, since a hardware manicure will only get rid of rough skin, but will not cope with neglected skin and hangnails. I added a paraffin therapy procedure to the manicure: Hands lubricated with cream are dipped in warm wax for a few seconds, and then wrapped in polyethylene and covered with a warm towel or special mittens. After 20 minutes, the wax is easily removed completely, and the skin on your hands becomes noticeably soft and moisturized. Warm wax also improves blood circulation in the hands, which promotes faster healing of areas from which hangnails have been cut.

    My results of using cosmetics in the fight against hangnails

    Having tried several means of combating hangnails, I came to conclusions about the effectiveness of various cosmetics.

    Name of product, volume and rating on a 5-point scale price, rub. pros Minuses
    Hand cream “Velvet hands. Nourishing", 80 ml

    3

    89 Smells nice

    Absorbs quickly without residue

    Well moisturizes the skin

    Short-lived effect

    Skin balm “Glysolud”, 100 ml

    2

    123 Very well moisturizes the skin of the hands and smoothes the skin Has a thick texture and is absorbed for a long time

    Leaves a greasy feeling

    Does not solve the problem with burrs

    Cream-care for cuticle removal Sally Hansen “Problem Cuticle Remover”

    1

    343 Suitable for preparing for trim manicure in not too advanced cases Strange smell

    Thick texture

    Poorly softens rough skin

    Vitamins Aevit, 30 capsules

    4

    40 Heals wounds quickly

    Moisturizes rough skin

    To use, you must pierce the capsules, there is a risk of getting dirty
    Healing oil “Smart enamel”, 11 ml

    5

    181 The bottle is equipped with a brush for application

    Well moisturizes the skin around the nails

    Heals wounds quickly

    Prevents hangnails with regular use

    Long absorbed


    A few more time-tested folk remedies for getting rid of hangnails

    In order to get rid of hangnails, there are a lot of inexpensive folk remedies that are easy to prepare at home:

    • Baths with sea salt and essential oils. Any sea salt and emollient oil will do: jojoba, bergamot, tea tree. The most important thing is not to make the water too hot, and keep your hands in the bath for 5-10 minutes. After the procedure, it is best to lubricate your hands with warm olive oil or any hand cream.
    • Kalanchoe leaf mask. Grind the leaves of the plant to a paste and apply to the skin around the nails, wrapping each finger with cling film. After 10-15 minutes, rinse everything off and lubricate your hands with cream. Kalanchoe has a regenerating effect and will speed up the healing of the skin after removing a hangnail.


    • Olive oil bath. Heat the oil and put your hands in it for a few minutes. If there are no open wounds, you can add a few drops of lemon juice. After the procedure, lightly blot your hands with a paper towel and allow the remaining olive oil to be absorbed.

    What else will help in the fight against hangnails on your fingers?

    The cause of hangnails can be not only insufficient hand skin care, but also a lack of vitamins and a weakened immune system. A lack of vitamin A in the body can reduce skin regeneration, and a deficiency of vitamin E can cause dryness, which leads to the appearance of hangnails. In this case, it is necessary to add foods containing these vitamins to your daily diet and select a vitamin complex.

    1. Nutrition. Foods rich in vitamin A: liver, fish oil, eggs, butter, milk, cheese, cottage cheese. The following foods are rich in vitamin E: various oils (soybean, peanut, sunflower, olive, flaxseed), nuts, buckwheat, dried apricots, sea buckthorn, beans, peas.
    2. Vitamin complexes : Complivit Radiance (30 tablets for 394 rubles), VitrumBeauty (30 tablets for 1024 rubles), Alphabet Cosmetic (60 tablets for 479 rubles).

    H To prevent hangnails from appearing on my fingers anymore, following a few simple rules helped me:

    • When contacting water, use gloves whenever possible;
    • Wear gloves or mittens when going outside in the cold season;
    • After washing your hands, use any softening cream (you can even use a baby cream);
    • From time to time, make hand baths and masks;
    • Take vitamin complexes and eat foods rich in vitamins A and E;
    • with a professional technician at least 1-2 times a month.

    My hangnail problem was solved in a couple of months, which took me to select the most effective product and draw up a set of measures to prevent this problem. In order to preserve the beauty and youth of your hands, it doesn’t take much time or money. The most important thing is skin protection and regular care.

    Sincerely, Sozykina Lyubov

    A beautiful manicure is only half the way to well-groomed hands. Small imperfections, like hangnails, can ruin the entire impression of even an interesting nail design. And you don’t need to think - it’s a trifle, no one will notice! They will notice. And they will draw significant conclusions, even if the wardrobe is haute couture.

    Why do hangnails appear, how to get rid of them and what to do to prevent them?

    Hangnails in a child are normal. There he rummaged in the sandbox, here he tinkered with plasticine, and secretly sucked his finger and chewed his nails. All this dries out the skin, reduces its elasticity, leads to the formation of cracks and tears - and, as a result, to the appearance of hangnails. But why do hangnails appear in adults who take care of the beauty of their nails without sparing their wallets?

    Household attack

    Although modern apartments are packed with turnkey appliances, you have to deal with everyday life, and the result of the interaction on your hands can be the most disastrous. Housework with chemicals (cleaning powders, dishwashing gels and even delicate balms for washing lace underwear) without gloves dries out the skin, and dry skin is fertile ground for hangnails.

    Vitamin deficiency

    “Fringe” around the nails may be a consequence of a deficiency of vitamins - mainly A and E. And the reason sometimes does not lie in a meager menu. Absorption of nutrients is affected by problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Even if you eat caviar with spoons, not a single vitamin will be absorbed.

    Office work

    What does “clean” office work have to do with hangnails? Direct. Frequent contact with paper causes the skin of your hands to dry out. Paper, like a sponge, absorbs fat and moisture.

    Manicure

    Hangnails after manicure how can this be? Easily. If we are talking about a trimmed manicure, there is a high risk of injuring the skin near the nail; with an untrimmed manicure, there is a high risk of pushing the cuticle too deep or drying it out with an alkaline solvent.

    Air conditioning, heating, insufficient fluid intake - these are a number of other reasons why the delicate skin around the nail plate dries out and tears. We know why. We'll find out what to do.

    What to do: prevention and removal of burrs

    By observing preventive hygiene, your life will be easier and more fun.

    To prevent hangnails from disfiguring your hands, you need...

    • Wearing gloves when working with any household chemicals is a key rule that everyone knows about, but stubbornly forgets.
    • Always and everywhere carry a moisturizing or nourishing cream with you, using it as your skin dries out.
    • Keep a cuticle oil in your cosmetic bag - for example, ORLY CUTICLE OIL, or regularly “oil” your hands with baths.
    • To prevent dry skin, drink the conditional “2 liters” of clean drinking water or, more simply put, drink more.
    • Wash your hands with a creamy pH-neutral soap and dry them thoroughly after any contact with water.
    • Prefer an unedged manicure and a gentle method of softening the cuticle - for example, in a warm bath.
    • Get off the diet and enrich the menu with foods rich in vitamins A and E, and this is fish oil, liver, caviar, butter, carrots.

    What happens if a hangnail appears despite all precautions (or due to their absence)?

    Removing burrs: cutting at the root

    Hangnails are not only a sloppy looking hand, but also a problem with long-lasting consequences. Ignoring this harmless stub of skin, you can get acquainted with two medical terms - paronychia (inflammation of the periungual fold) and felon (purulent inflammation of the soft tissues).

    In advanced cases, inflammation takes the form of pandactylitis - severe purulent tissue damage, including bone.

    How to remove hangnails intelligently?

    1. First of all, forget about “tear off” and “bite off”. Of course, you want to get rid of a hangnail as quickly as possible - with your teeth, office scissors, or a penknife. This is absolutely not worth doing. Read above - paronychia, panaritium, pandactylitis...
    2. Burrs are removed with nippers or thin nail scissors, after steaming the skin in a warm bath (with salt, soda or essential oils). Before use, wipe the instrument with alcohol or peroxide. The wound after circumcision is treated with any disinfectant.
    3. In case of multiple hangnails (“fringe”), fingers are generously lubricated with nourishing cream at night, wrapped in cling film or gloves are worn, and in the morning the softened skin is carefully removed. The risks of damaging healthy areas of the skin after such a compress are minimal.
    4. If there is no hangnail, but the skin around the nails indicates its appearance (dry and rough), the keratinized layer is removed with a sanding file, and the sanded area is disinfected with peroxide and treated with a nourishing cream.
    5. You can forget about hangnails forever with the help of aloe or Kalanchoe. A paste of crushed leaves is applied to problem areas under film or gloves. This compress has strong bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, regenerating and moisturizing properties.
    6. Aloe growing on a windowsill is a luxury today. But olive or sunflower oil is always available. Warm it up, generously lubricate your fingertips and wrap your hands in film. After 30 minutes, blot off excess with a paper towel. Not a single hangnail on the nose will show, and those who are “pecked” will quickly capitulate.

    Remove burr on time and providing skin care after “restoration” is a good thing. Alas, timely measures are the exception, and an inflamed hangnail is the rule.

    In the affected area: how to treat hangnails

    The place where the hangnail on the finger is inflamed loudly announces itself with throbbing pain, swelling or even purulent inflammation. “I tore off the hangnail accidentally (read, intentionally)” or “he did it himself” – it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s important – the hangnail hurts, is swollen, or even breaks out, trying to ruin not only your manicure, but also your life. What to do? Treat without delay.

    Rash salt on the wound

    Frequent and long baths with soda or salt (at the rate of 1-2 tablespoons per half liter of water) are a folk method, but officially approved. The solution has strong disinfecting properties. During the Second World War, compresses with table salt saved a huge number of people from death. A salt or soda bath will also save your fingers from suppuration.

    "Anointing"

    After the bath, blot the skin with a sterile napkin and apply a compress with dioxidine ointment, levomekol or Vishnevsky ointment to the inflamed area, loosely bandaging your finger. Instead of ointments, the bandage can be soaked in a solution of dimexide: 3 tsp. water – 1 tsp. dimexide.

    To the office

    The “out” option is iodine and a bactericidal patch. Carefully treat the wound with a cotton swab dipped in an alcohol solution of iodine, and cover the “weak spot” with a band-aid. Upon returning home, treat with an antiseptic, take a bath and apply bactericidal ointment.

    If the result of self-medication is increased inflammation (pus has accumulated, the temperature has risen), see a surgeon. Using a scalpel and antibiotics, the doctor will work on the mistakes, and you will firmly learn the lesson: hangnails are not a toy.

    VIDEO INSTRUCTION

    Non-child problems: hangnails in a child

    Children and hangnails seem to be made for each other. No matter what mom does to separate them, the efforts are most often in vain. All that remains for a caring mother is to make sure in time that the child does not tear off, pick out or chew off a section of loose skin.

    A “childish” hangnail is treated like an adult. Steam your finger in a warm bath with salt, soda or herbal infusion (for example, chamomile). Carefully, flush with the skin, cut off the hangnail with nail scissors. The wound is washed with peroxide or treated with iodine. For swelling and inflammation, use bactericidal ointments.

    Memo to a caring mother

    1. If the cause of permanent hangnails is that the baby bites his nails, buy a special bitter varnish at the pharmacy. It is absolutely harmless to the baby.
    2. A child can be weaned off finger sucking, which dries out the skin of the hands, by playing. “Animate” the finger and ask the baby to feel sorry for it: “Look how thin he has become, but he wants to grow and be strong.”
    3. Teach your child proper hand hygiene - wash with soap, wipe dry and moisturize with cream.
    4. After each walk, conduct an inspection, looking for burrs, splinters, scratches and other damage on the child’s arms. Once found, treat with an antiseptic. Before a walk, protect your hands with nourishing cream and cover all wounds with a bactericidal bandage.
    5. Analyze the menu. Perhaps there are too few products with vitamins A and E. Carrot puree or a salad of grated carrots with a teaspoon of olive oil solves the problem of deficiency of these vitamins at once. How to persuade a child to eat carrots is another question. Remember, the best solution to all conflict situations with a child is play.

    On the contrary, you should not play with hangnails. It is necessary to take action. Correct and timely. How do you solve the problem with untidy “fringe”?

    Adults and children often experience tears and separations around the nail plates. Hangnails on fingers look unsightly, cause discomfort and can lead to complications (for example, infection with bacteria or fungi). Painful microflora can provoke a periungual abscess. To avoid all these problems, you need to not only avoid the appearance of burrs, but also be able to deal with them.

    You can get an infection with a hangnail

    Causes of hangnails on fingers

    There are many external factors that influence the appearance of hangnails. Such skin lesions can also occur due to a lack of vitamins or the development of internal diseases.

    The main reasons for the appearance of burrs:

    1. Bad habits. Even adults sometimes bite their nails, for example, in tense situations. But this bad habit manifests itself much more often in children. Therefore, many kids are susceptible to hangnails. Sucking fingers is also one of the reasons for the appearance of “bullies”.
    2. Diseases. Diseases of the digestive system can provoke the appearance of tears on the skin.
    3. Lack of vitamins. “Bulls” occur if the human body lacks vitamins A, E, B, D.
    4. Overgrown cuticle. Excess skin on your nails can also lead to hangnails.
    5. Regular use of household chemicals or low-quality varnishes. For this reason, hangnails often occur after manicure or cleaning.

    Poor quality varnishes can cause burrs

    These are not all the answers to the question of why “bullies” appear. They can occur due to mechanical damage, dryness or chapping of the skin. Often the cause of their appearance is onychomycosis. If the skin on your fingers or toes is yellow, and your nails are split and thin, then the problem is most likely a fungus.

    What causes hangnails in babies? In a child, similar injuries may occur due to injury to the skin by sand or pebbles. A similar problem can arise due to frequent sandbox games. In infants, “tears” are formed due to sucking of the fingers. Therefore, in children, hangnails most often occur on the thumb.

    Characteristics of burrs

    What is a hangnail? The appearance of such damage can be seen in the photo. As a rule, hangnails appear on the side of the nail plates. They can be single or multiple, small or large. Adults with sensitive and delicate skin, as well as young children, are more susceptible to the appearance of hangnails.

    This problem also manifests itself as mild discomfort, which increases over time. The finger affected by the scuffs hurts, breaks out, and in some cases festers or bleeds. The hangnails themselves do not emit an unpleasant odor. A similar symptom refers to the development of a fungal disease.

    If a person tore off a hangnail with his teeth or roughly pulled it out with scissors, the finger will hurt and bleed much more. Such actions provoke complications in 70% of cases.

    Hangnails usually occur on the arms, not the legs. This is due to the fact that the skin on the toes is thicker. Separation of the skin of the feet is often a symptom of a fungal disease.

    Hangnails cause pain and discomfort

    How to get rid of hangnails?

    What to do if burrs occur? It is recommended to begin treatment immediately in order to quickly get rid of this problem and protect yourself from infection by pathogenic microorganisms. Unhealthy microflora attracts bacteria and helps them easily enter the body. You can combat skin peeling at home. Traditional and medicinal methods of therapy help cure hangnails.

    Drugs

    The drugs are used to treat inflamed or multiple hangnails that cause severe discomfort. To get rid of several mild injuries, you can use healing creams (“Granny Agafya’s Recipes”, “Velvet Hands”). The cream is applied in a thick layer to the damaged area and left for several hours.

    Medications that help get rid of bullies:

    1. D-Panthenol. Available in ointment form. Contains the active substance dexpanthenol. The product has a powerful healing effect. The drug should be applied to the fingers in a thin layer 2 to 4 times a day (depending on the degree of damage). The course of treatment usually takes no more than 10 days. Cost of the ointment: about 200 rubles.
    2. Ascorbic acid. The well-known ascorbic acid helps strengthen the skin and relieve it from dryness. It is used for the treatment and prevention of hangnails. Excellent for treating children. You need to take 2 tablets per day (adults). The recommended dose for children is 1 tablet. Cost of ascorbic acid: up to 100 rubles (depending on the manufacturer).
    3. Pantoderm. Available in the form of an ointment, it contains dexpanthenol and petroleum jelly. The drug nourishes the skin, accelerates regeneration and helps fight abscesses. The ointment should be applied to the affected area in a thin layer 2-3 times a day. This remedy helps even in cases where the finger is swollen and festered. Cost of the medicine: about 250 rubles.

    Permanent hangnails that appear at short intervals can be treated with vitamin complexes (Aevit, Complivit, Alphabet). A person who suffers from the regular appearance of “bullies”, . Sometimes the problem is a serious illness that requires separate treatment.

    Pantoderm ointment will help you get rid of hangnails effectively.

    In salons

    Salon procedures that can help you get rid of “bullies”:

    1. Spa manicure or pedicure. The skin is steamed in a bath with aromatic oils. During the procedure, all kinds of growths and overgrown cuticle are removed. After this, the nails are covered with protective varnish.
    2. Peeling. Special products containing microscopic scrubbing particles are applied to the skin of the hands or feet. With the help of cosmetic products, all growths are destroyed. After the procedure, the skin becomes soft and smooth.
    3. Trim pedicure or manicure. The specialist trims excess skin and nails. During the procedure, excess cuticle is also removed.
    4. Paraffin therapy. Paraffin is heated in a special bath, after which the client’s hands or feet are placed in the solution. The therapy rejuvenates the skin, nourishes it and restores it.

    All these procedures can be done at home, but there is a risk of doing something wrong and aggravating the situation. The choice of a specialist also needs to be approached carefully, because some beauty salon workers allow themselves to use low-quality or dirty tools.

    Paraffin therapy will improve not only the nails, but also the skin of the hands

    Treatment with folk remedies

    The most common and effective method of treating “bullshit” is baths. They are easy to make at home using the most available components. Recipes for therapeutic baths:

    1. Paraffin. You can carry out the salon procedure yourself. You will need cosmetic paraffin (cost: about 200 rubles per 500 grams). Under no circumstances should you use paraffin, from which candles are made, as it contains harmful impurities. The material needs to be straightened out in hot water, then cooled a little and placed in the bath with your feet or hands.
    2. Based on aromatic oils. You can add any oils to such a bath (for example: almond oil, mint oil, apricot kernel oil). For 2 liters of water you will need 10-20 ml of aromatic liquid. After the procedure, the skin must be additionally moisturized with a restorative and nourishing cream.

    Such baths should be taken for 15-20 minutes. After steaming your arms or legs, you can remove the growths yourself. To do this, you need to take cosmetic scissors and remove all the “tears”. It is also recommended to get rid of excess cuticle using an orange stick.

    An oil bath is a simple and affordable remedy for treating hangnails.

    How to cure hangnails on a child’s fingers?

    You can safely remove growths even from a newborn. To do this you need to use a soft baby cream. It must be applied in a thin layer several times a day (3-4).

    Another option: an olive oil bath. This component is the safest for treating children. For 1-1.5 liters of water you need to take 200-250 ml of oil. The water must be warm and purified. The child will need to keep their hands or feet in the bath for 20 minutes.

    Under no circumstances should adult creams and preparations be used to treat skin separation in children. This will negatively affect the condition of delicate and thin skin.

    Olive oil is good for treating hangnails in children

    What to do in case of complications?

    If your finger becomes inflamed and swollen, you should consult a doctor. Such symptoms indicate the development of an infection. Some people roughly tear off the growths, after which their fingers begin to hurt and break out. In such a situation, you need to immediately go to the surgeon.

    Oral antibiotics are often used to prevent abscesses. Medicines are prescribed strictly by a specialist; you cannot choose medications yourself.

    With a periungual abscess, complete or partial removal of the nail plate is possible.

    In some cases, growths can be cured with folk remedies: baths and compresses (aloe pulp is needed to make them). But, despite the possibility of conservative treatment, a person should still visit a doctor first.

    If your finger begins to fester and swell, be sure to visit a doctor.

    Prevention

    You can prevent the appearance of “bullies” with the help of a vitamin diet. During periods of changing seasons (winter-spring, summer-autumn), the diet should be filled with fruits, vegetables and fresh juices. Other effective prevention methods:

    • do not wash your hands too often (this can dry out your skin);
    • do not go on strict diets;
    • regularly moisturize your hands with nourishing creams;
    • take vitamin complexes;
    • do manicures only with high-quality varnishes and treated tools.

    Hangnails never just happen. To prevent their occurrence, you need to monitor the condition of the skin on your hands and feet. Especially when it comes to small children.

    Almost everyone knows firsthand about hangnails on their hands, which sometimes cause concern. Their harmlessness is deceptive. When the wound becomes infected, the inflammatory process begins and pain is felt. Ignoring treatment leads to an abscess. When burrs form on the fingers, how to treat them is not an idle question.

    To prevent this problem from becoming a nuisance, it is important to take proper care of your hands and carry out preventive measures.

    Features of hand care

    If proper care is provided for your hands, this perfectly complements the appearance of both men and women.

    Hand care

    Distinctive features of the epidermis on the hands include:

    • vulnerability;
    • sensitivity;
    • small number of sebaceous glands, their absence on the palms.

    On a note. The susceptibility of hands to dehydration and the weakness of natural defenses are explained by the moisture content being 5 times lower than that of the face.

    In addition, hands constantly suffer from exposure to aggressive environments: solar ultraviolet radiation, wind and cold. This causes redness of the skin, thickening and cracking. Housework and contact with detergents negatively affect water-fat parity.

    On a note. If you don't protect your hands, they age and suffer from skin diseases.

    To properly care for your hands and protect your skin from external environmental influences, adhere to the following rules:

    1. Use of gloves. Carrying out wet cleaning and washing clothes is not complete without gloves that will prolong and preserve the health of your hands.
    2. Using warm water for hygiene procedures. Cold or very hot liquid provokes the leaching of the lipid layer, the restoration of which takes a significant period of time.
    3. Wearing mittens or gloves made of natural texture in winter. Synthetic materials cause moisture deficiency; neglect of mittens provokes roughening of the surface.
    4. Compliance with the drinking regime - 2.5 liters of clean water daily will benefit the body as a whole, and the hands in particular.
    5. For hand hygiene, use liquid soap that contains nutritional ingredients. Avoid regular toilet soap, which causes drying and thinning of the epidermis. At worst, they replace it with baby soap, which is universal and suitable for everyone.
    6. After the water procedure, be sure to wipe your hands dry. Excess water does not have the best effect on water-fat balance.
    7. The diet includes foods rich in vitamins A, E, C, or vitamin complexes to ensure the integrity of collagen fibers and protect against pigmentation.
    8. Maintain a balanced diet. It would be preferable if vegetables and fruits appeared on the menu for every day.
    9. Don't forget about caring for the skin of your elbows. There it is especially rough and dries quickly. Wipe your elbows weekly with pumice and apply a rich cream.
    10. Remember the condition of the nail plates. Ungroomed nails will spoil your overall appearance and show your age. In the absence of desire and means for manicure, cuticle oils are treated. Use the same cream for treating nails as for hand care.
    11. Lubricate the epidermis of the hands with a nourishing composition at least twice a day. Don’t forget to put the cream in your handbag, where you take it out in the office to show care for your beautiful hands. Experts advise keeping cosmetics for various purposes at home: for protection from sun rays, moisturizing and nutrition.

    What are burrs

    Damage to the skin of the nail fold is what a hangnail is. It is formed on the side of the nail plate, which experiences mechanical action. Hangnails appear on the lower extremities, but rarely. In appearance, hangnails are flaps of skin or an area where the epidermis peels off.

    On a note. This phenomenon does not add beauty to the nails; in addition, it causes pain, bleeding, and is the culprit of purulent inflammation of the periungual tissues.

    The appearance of hangnails is characterized by:

    • dimensions – small and large, number – many or a few;
    • pain on tactile contact;
    • the owner of such hands feels mental discomfort due to their unattractiveness and tries to quickly hide them;
    • In addition to difficulties in terms of aesthetics and medicine, hangnails complicate regular life, get caught in the dress and hair, causing pain.

    Why do burrs appear?

    When hangnails form on the fingers, the reasons for this are:

    • duration of skin contact with liquid, household chemicals, refusal to use gloves when cleaning;
    • poor hand hygiene;
    • drying, hardening, hand injuries from cold;
    • handling chemicals without using personal protective equipment;
    • walking barefoot on sand and pebbles - resulting in injury to the feet;
    • excess cuticle that grows on the nail;
    • second-class materials for nail plate extensions, including methyl acrylate;
    • the use of low-quality varnishes that leave much to be desired in the liquid for cleaning them;
    • mechanical damage during pedicure or manicure;
    • A child has a bad habit of sucking fingers, biting the skin on the sides of the nail plates, and biting his nails.

    Why hangnails appear, the following root causes are to blame:

    Dryness, hardening, hand injuries from cold

    • intestinal dysbiosis;
    • gastrointestinal diseases;
    • dehydration;
    • diabetes;
    • poor nutrition;
    • diet;
    • lack of vitamins.

    Complications

    On a note. If the skin is damaged, hangnails are responsible for fungal pathologies and bacterial infections.

    When hangnails are systematically gnawed and torn off, tissues are exposed and areas are formed that bleed and become wet, causing pain upon contact.

    Paronychia is a dermatological disease that is caused by microtrauma and is characterized by an inflamed periungual fold.

    Symptoms of the disease are accompanied by:

    • redness of the epidermis;
    • swelling and pain in the area of ​​the cushion;
    • possible abscess.

    With chronic inflammation, the structure of the nail often changes. Next, a softened tissue zone is formed, the epidermis appears yellowish in color, which signals the formation of pus.

    On a note. A deformed nail is characterized by changes in thickness and color.

    How to get rid of hangnails

    To counteract hangnails at home conditions, you will need to steam your fingers:

    • Keep your hands in hot water for about 10 minutes. Mix baking soda or sea salt into the liquid (you will need 1 tablespoon of the product per 500 ml). Carrying out the manipulation in a warm bath with the addition of 5-10 drops of essential oil of lemon, bergamot along with petitgrain will remove the hangnail. Refined vegetable oil will replace oils.
    • Next, the exfoliated pieces of cuticle are painlessly removed.
    • Dry your hands carefully with a towel.
    • The instrument is treated with medical alcohol. Use nail scissors to carefully remove the cuticle. It is forbidden to pick or pull burrs.
    • Next, the skin is disinfected: with peroxide or calendula tincture and treated with Dexpanthenol. Ointment analogues are appropriate: Bepanten and Panoderm, Panternol and D-Panthenol, use cream for moisturizing.
    • A patch with a fabric center is glued on, so users will get rid of involuntary injuries on clothing.

    If you are afraid of cutting off burrs, use the following methods:

    Soak hands in hot water for about 10 minutes

    1. In the evening, carefully apply calendula ointment to the hangnails and cover it loosely with an adhesive plaster. The next day, softening and spontaneous removal of hangnails occurs when washing hands.

    Attention! Quick elimination of the cuticle completely is not guaranteed; small pieces of skin will again cling to things and provoke the formation of new hangnails.

    1. Rub the area of ​​hangnails with rosehip or sea buckthorn oil; they have a protective and wound-healing effect.
    2. A paste made from indoor houseplants Kalanchoe or aloe will help in the fight against hangnails. A couple of plucked leaves are ground and placed on the fingers, and the hands are covered with polyethylene on top. Leave for at least half an hour. It is advisable to carry out the procedure at night. The operation is repeated 1-2 times weekly. Several sessions and the skin will be unrecognizable due to its elasticity. The problem will no longer irritate and bother you.
    3. Oil baths. Heat 100 ml of vegetable oil (take almond, sunflower or olive). Usually 10 to 20 minutes are enough for the procedure. The oil serves to soften and nourish the epidermis. The product does not require rinsing. It is rubbed into the epidermis and cotton gloves are worn. The manipulation is carried out daily before bedtime.
    4. Among folk remedies, honey is distinguished. It is used in a liquid state along with cocoa butter, mixed in equal proportions and heated in a water bath. Problem areas are lubricated in the evening hours. If you are allergic to bee products, replace it with sunflower or olive oil. The solution successfully fights not only with hangnails, but is also suitable for treating keratinized feet.
    5. Beer baths. A reliable and affordable remedy will cure hangnails. Moisten a cotton pad with heated beer and apply it to the affected areas. If you plan to have a manicure, add a couple of drops of essential or vegetable oil, as well as freshly squeezed lemon juice, to the solution.

    Cosmetics in the treatment of hangnails

    On a note. There are no separate cosmetic products that are intended to treat hangnails.

    Care cosmetics include ingredients that are necessary to nourish the skin of the hands and that take care of the nails and cuticles. The cream is applied to the base of the nail and massaged until completely absorbed. The manipulation is relevant every day after housework.

    Prevention

    The problem of hangnails is fought regularly and persistently. Careful personal care includes:

    • nutrition, moisturizing and softening with creams;
    • use of medicinal oils;
    • use of herbal baths;
    • reducing interaction with an aggressive environment.

    In case of minor contact with detergents, you will need to carefully wash your hands with liquid soap. It is useful that it includes moisturizing and bactericidal components and gently dries the epidermis. Hands are dried with a paper towel and lubricated with a nourishing or moisturizing fatty cream.

    An important reason why hangnails appear is failure to follow the drinking regime. A lack of water can lead to dry skin, cracking and flaking. To combat hangnails, essential oil from tea tree leaves is useful as a disinfectant and moisturizer.

    On a note. With the arrival of the spring season, you will need to take a vitamin-mineral complex to strengthen your skin, nails and hair follicles.

    A properly composed daily menu will help solve the problem. The inclusion of foods rich in retinol or vitamin A is encouraged. It is recommended to consume carrot salad with sour cream, which moisturize the epidermis and activate its regeneration. Replenishing vitamin supplies is possible with a drug from a pharmacy.

    Trimming manicure is a productive preventive measure - the entire cuticle is removed. Regular manipulation will allow you to forget about the trouble. They carry out the procedure at home, but in this situation they do not abuse drugs to soften the cuticle. In addition, remember to use sterile manicure instruments. It is preferable to use professional manicure instruments; they are made from surgical steel and are sharpened thoroughly.

    On a note. To soften the keratinized areas of the epidermis, use weekly hand scrubs that contain salt or ground fruit seeds.

    High-quality removers, which consist of fruit acids, make it easier to combat fresh formations.

    Everyday finger massage will make it easier to push back the cuticle with a wooden stick, otherwise it may grow into the nail bed.

    If shellac varnish is applied, then the fingers are 2 times more moisturized compared to gel nails.

    Use hand scrubs weekly

    Nippers for removing cuticles are replaced or sharpened once every six months with constant use, otherwise injury to the epidermis and the development of diseases are ensured.

    Vitamin E is considered invaluable for the skin. When buying cosmetics, you should not be lazy to get acquainted with its composition.

    Attention! Nail polishes that dry quickly are harmful and are responsible for the occurrence of hangnails. The main thing is not to harm yourself.

    To prevent hangnails from interfering with life, adults should regularly care for their hands, eat right and follow preventive measures. This will give your hands tenderness and health.

    Similar articles