Hands were meant to be babied with creams and lotions to help them feel supple and soft. But, an unsightly hangnail can add a jagged edge to their softness, and can mar the appearance of your hands. Here are some tips on how to prevent hangnails.
Hangnails are little bits of skin that are still attached to the outsides or base of the nails. They can cause pain if caught on something causing the skin to tear further and in extremely rare cases can become infected. They generally occur when the cuticles become dry, or when nails are picked at or bitten.
The best prevention for hangnails is to have a good nail care routine. A routine that is quick, simple to follow, and is easily incorporated in to a regular night time ritual.
Start by keeping your cuticles moist by rubbing in lotion each day. There are creams and oils available that are specifically designed for moisturizing cuticles. Look for ones that contain vitamin E which penetrates deeper in to your skin. You can also use petroleum Jelly or lip balm in a pinch for a quick softening boost.
Massage the cream gently around the cuticle areas and base of your nails. The best time to do this is at night so that the creams will have a chance to work on your hands while you sleep and won't become diluted by soap or other environmental interactions during the day.
Don't bite or pick at hangnails. Although, its tempting to do this when you notice a hangnail and you want to get rid of it, it is better to wait to take care of it when you can do it properly with nail scissors. keep a pair of nail scissors in your make-up case or purse, so you can eliminate the hangnail as soon as it appears.
Trim your nails and do a cuticle once over weekly. This is easy to do if you like to polish your nails. It just takes a few extra seconds to add the nail examination to the polish routine.
Get a professional manicure. If your budget allows it make regular manicures a part of your monthly-beauty budget. Nail technicians are trained in the care of cuticles and you get the added benefit of a hand massage.
Creating a regular nail maintenance plan, and keeping your cuticles moist are the basic steps for preventing hangnails.
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Comments
I like this article alot, very helpful tips. I just want to add one point to this article is be carefull using any hands/cuticle cream around the cuticles. Because it may trap moistures around the cuticles & under the nails. Instead, use cuticle oil. It's a lot better for your cuticles and use the cream for your hands & fingers. Even better, use on your feet and toes, too.
