How can I manage thick and hard cuticles to keep them soft and clean?

My cuticles are thick and hard.

So sometimes I suffer from inflammation.

That is exactly the situation right now.

It's especially like that on both sides of my fingernails.

My cuticles have been hardening since last week, and it's been subtly bothering me, so I guess I've been touching them out of habit.

Maybe it irritated me, but it hurt today, and when I checked, inflammation had started.

I'm curious if anyone else has large, hard cuticles like mine that sometimes even lead to inflammation, and how those of you manage to keep them clean.

I think I should apply some ointment and put on a bandage before going to bed tonight.