How can I get Rid of Hangnails?

I use a new nail file to file down the hangnail until it's smooth. If I use clippers, the ends end up getting caught on everything and hurting like crazy. I also use Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. It stays put for a long time and the lemon would also discourage bacteria.

@Perdido – Cuticle oil is better than lotion, in my opinion. Once you apply it, your nails and fingers stay moisturized for a long time.

I put some on my nails and fingertips and massage it into them. I wait awhile before applying any polish, because I really want it to soak in and do the job.

However, if you are in a rush with no time to spare for drying, you might want to use lotion instead. Generally, you only need to apply cuticle oil once or twice a week, so lotion should be fine to use every day to help with ordinary dryness.

Is lotion really the best thing to use on your hands to prevent hangnails? I've been reading about something called cuticle oil, and it sounds like it might be more effective. Is it good for preventing hangnails?

I didn't know that trimming hangnails while they were moist would work. I have always found that trimming them when they are very dry works for me, because they snap off and don't give me any trouble.

I get the clippers as close as possible to the base of the hangnail before snipping it. I work slowly, so if I feel any sensation at all, I know that I am about to cut into live skin and I can back off with the clippers before it's too late.

There have been times when I've been caught somewhere with a hangnail and no clippers. If the hangnail is dry enough, I can get rid of it by pressing it against the side of my nail with another nail until it snaps.

Since that day, I haven't tugged at a hangnail. I will use clippers on it, but I won't pull it with my finger at all.

@SarahSon -- One thing I have done when my hands get dry and cracked and I have a lot of hangnails is put a heavy moisturizer on them before bed, put some socks on my hands and keep them on all night. Sometimes I have to do this several nights in a row, but this has always really helped me.

Once I get my hands and hangnails softened it seems to be a little easier to keep them that way. I will use a cuticle tool to push them back and keep them trimmed, but I never try to do this unless they are really soft. Otherwise it can make them worse and then they can start bleeding and really hurt.

It's amazing how something so small as a hangnail can be so painful. I usually get these in the winter when my skins gets so dry. It seems like no matter how much lotion I put on my hands I still get hangnails. They can easily catch on just about anything your fingers get close to and cause pain. I would love to find a way to keep from getting these hangnails so often.

I'm only 13, and every time I place my hands somewhere I can't help but think about if anyone notices my hangnails. I am a moisturizing freak. I always wash my skin completely and thoroughly, but every time I look down all my eyes can see are pesky hangnails.

They're really painful, and I can't help but try to pull them off. I could forget them for a second, then look down, and they're still there! Please help.

It is really important not to tear off hangnails.

Aside from being unnecessarily painful, the open wound so near your nails leaves you susceptible to paronychia, an infection of the skin around the finger or toenails which requires medical treatment.

If you're having chronic hangnails even with good hand care, you may want to consider seeing a doctor so they can check to see if everything is OK with your hands and nails.

Some forms of nail fungi can also cause problems with your cuticles, which could show up as hangnails.

You can buy cuticle cream that is supposed to help keep your fingers moisturized, but it can get expensive. If you want a cheap preventative treatment try using petroleum jelly. Even in a pinch you can you regular unflavored lip balm. The lip balm is actually easier and less messy to apply for that matter.

Use whatever treatment you decide on at night though. That way it sits on the fingers for at least a few hours before being washed off.