July 19 (Fri) "It irritates me, so I keep peeling it off"... Why do hangnails keep forming?

What is a hangnail? It is when the skin around the nails turns white! If you frequently immerse your hands in water, such as when doing dishes, hangnails tend to develop easily.

 

When the cuticle around the nails becomes thin and raised, it may seem insignificant but can be bothersome. Ignoring it feels uncomfortable, and unconsciously peeling it off can easily lead to bleeding.

The cuticle is a protective barrier that guards the nails and skin.

Prevents skin moisture from evaporating and blocks external pathogens from penetrating. When this cuticle lifts and peels, it becomes hangnails. Based on materials from American women's health magazines such as 'Women's Health,' we explored hangnails.

 

"Habit of biting nails" = If you habitually pick or bite around your nails, hangnails are likely to form. The cuticles left after biting dry out, crack, and peel. It is advisable to have a professional safely and neatly remove the cuticles.

 

"Getting your hands wet often" = Repeatedly getting hands wet and dry from household chores, etc., makes them look good. This is why hands of chefs, bartenders, and others frequently develop hangnails. During the wetting and drying process, cuticles crack and break.

 

"Protein deficiency" = Skin and nails are made of protein. The same goes for cuticles. If you do not consume enough protein, they become weak and develop hangnails. Protein deficiency is usually accompanied by thinning hair or a foggy head, so you should consult a doctor to improve your diet or take supplements.

 

"Being too dry" = When hands and nails become dry, it is easy for problems to occur. Just like how the tips of hair split when exposed to hot hairdryer air for a long time, the same phenomenon happens at the fingertips.

 

"To trim properly without bleeding" = If you tear off hangnails carelessly, you often end up bleeding as flesh and cuticles come off together. Wounds are prone to infection. When removing hangnails, first disinfect the area with alcohol, then use cuticle nippers to carefully cut the base of the hangnail.

 

If there is already a wound, apply a medicinal ointment. Regularly doing water-related tasks or washing your hands, and applying hand and nail lotion can prevent hangnails.

 

Source: Comedy.com