How do I prevent the little bits of nail/skin which make you cringe on fingernails?

cashmonger

Cuticles are they called? I get these really quite often and it is so annoying when it happens because for days the little bit of half nail half skin is so sensitive and it catches all the time! on loads of things, clothes, playing cards, when playing violin.

I read it is better to let them grow out rather than cut them and I have also found they will grow back if I cut them before they turn big enough to be non sensitive. So I currently wait till they are bigger and rejoining the normal nail then cut them but this still leaves several days where they are really a nuisance and as I said I seem to get them alot. So how do I prevent them? is it some vitamin or other dietry deficiency or what?

fairy_lights

Huh? You can't prevent your cuticles from growing and I'm not sure why you'd want to, they're a normal part of your anatomy - certainly not caused by a vitamin deficiency. What are you using to cut them with? You can get cuticle cutters to trim them down but you shouldn't need to be cutting them to prevent them from catching on things.

fixx

I agree - you shouldn't be cutting your cuticles.

There are lots of cuticle creams on the market to soften them, which might help. The no7 one is quite good - massage that in regularly and the massaging might also help desensitise around your nails too.

donnac2558

If at the side of the nail they are called rag nails. Pulling cutting your cuticles will only make them sore or you can get an infection.

As said get some cuticle cream and massage in.

DigForVictory

And if cuticle cream seems expensive, any hand cream will do & if supermarket own discount brand is too expensive then almost any oil you cook with (sunflower etc) can be dabbed on & rubbed in.

In the slightly longer term, wear gloves as the cold does a number on hands? Plus be careful with hand driers which can be a bit severe on fingernails whilst getting the skin dry.

sheramber

Do you really mean cuticles?

Cuticles are the bit of skin that covers the area where your nail emerges from the nail bed. It protects the nail bed.

teddysmum

I believe the OP is referring to strips of skin which harden or peel from near the base of the nail (ie not cuticles).


When I was a child they were referred to as 'backfriends'. They are sore, but I' just put up with them, applying a palter if too much sore area was exposed. (I'm in Staffordshire)


http://www.astilla.co.uk/2009/04/origins-of-back-friend/

bluebells100

Do you mean hangnails? Keeping your hands moisturised in general might help you to get them less often.

cashmonger

Ye hangnail is the term. I forgot it

DD265

I'm afraid they have to be "grown out".

Plasters will help stop you catching them if they're sore. I try to cut them down before they get to that point.

The best way to prevent them though is to keep the skin moisturised as others have said.

Living_proof

DD265 wrote: »

I'm afraid they have to be "grown out".

Plasters will help stop you catching them if they're sore. I try to cut them down before they get to that point.

The best way to prevent them though is to keep the skin moisturised as others have said.

I have always been aware that defficiencies come into it with hangnails:

http://www.diagnose-me.com/what-causes/hangnails-agnails.php

I have one or two myself at the moment and with me it would probably be a vitamin C problem so I am off to try a supplement first.