Hangnails have a misleading name, since they are not part of the nail. Instead hangnails are small strips of skin that separate from the cuticle. If they catch on our clothing, or anything we are touching they can become quite painful. Fortunately treatment is relatively simple and prevention even easier.

The principal reasons we get hangnails are dry or cracked skin and nail biting. Nail biting is a frequent cause, and often explains why children get hangnails. Of course, there are many adults who get hangnails from nail biting too, and this is further complicated by the adult being more likely to have dry skin.

To remove a hangnail, you simply use nail scissors to cut off the dry tag of skin. Many people recommend soaking the afflicted finger in warm water for about five minutes prior to removal. Cutting a dry hangnail can often result in tearing of the skin, which will lead to more hangnails and more discomfort. Because there’s a slight chance of infecting the skin when removing a hangnail, you should dip the scissors in alcohol prior to using them. This will help reduce the chances of getting an infection.

If you are not a nail biter and get hangnails frequently, the cause is most commonly dry skin. Medical experts recommend using a good hand lotion twice a day to minimize drying of the cuticles. Some also recommend soaking the hands in an oil and water solution for about 15 minutes daily. Before you do any work on your nails, like pushing down the cuticles, moisturizing the fingertips is an excellent way to prevent creating hangnails.

Doctors also suggest covering the skin after removing the hangnail with antibacterial lotion and a bandage. A hangnail that looks very red or is filled with pus is most likely infected. If you have an infected hangnail, it is a good idea to see a doctor for treatment, since infection can spread underneath the nail and damage it.

Getting regular manicures can also help reduce hangnails, since the hands are usually soaked in an oil solution. Most manicurists are very good at removing pesky hangnails. Treating yourself to a weekly or bi-weekly manicure can also help curb nail-biting habits. If you do have nail-biting problems, you might want to ask the manicurist to use colored nail polish, as opposed to clear nail polish. You will really notice the difference if you nibble on colored nails, because you’ll destroy the polish. Yet, if you try this technique with a child, be sure to use non-toxic nail polish so that any nail polish ingested will not cause illness.