Hangnail

Hangnail

A tiny sliver of skin splits off from your fingernail. And there it hangs, a little skin-thick piece of pain just waiting to happen. The trouble is, when a hangnail catches on something, this most minor of injuries can cause major-league pain.

The best way to avoid hangnails (which have nothing to do with the nails themselves) is by keeping your hands well moisturized. The splits usually occur when the skin around the nails dries up and dies; nail biting is another common cause. Here are some of the best ways to cure them.

Soften before clipping. "A lot of people make the mistake of clipping a hangnail when it's still hard and dry and end up ripping the skin more," says Trisha Webster, a hand model with the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency in New York City whose livelihood depends on perfectly groomed hands. "So before you clip a hangnail, soak it in a little water--or a water-and-oil solution--to soften it." To make the solution, just add two capfuls of mild bath oil or two tablespoons of olive oil to a bowl of warm water.

Clip and cover. "The best thing to do with a hangnail is clip the little piece of skin with a pair of nail scissors--but be sure to wipe the scissors with rubbing alcohol before using them," advises Karen E. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in New York City. "Then put on an antibacterial ointment to prevent infection, and cover your finger with a bandage."

Go for soaks. Soaking your nails in a mixture of oil and water on a regular basis is a good way to make sure you don't get future hangnails. Regular water-and-oil soaks replenish lost moisture. "I tell my patients to mix four capfuls of bath oil such as Alpha Keri with one pint of warm water and to soak their fingertips in it for maybe 10 or 15 minutes," says Rodney Basler, M.D., a dermatologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Wrap it up. It's a good idea to bandage your finger after removing a hangnail, but if the bandage falls off (because of the moisturizing soak), wrap your finger in a piece of plastic wrap and secure the wrap with some tape, advises Dr. Basler. "The plastic will keep the moisture in overnight. Just be sure to remove the plastic in the morning, because you don't want to keep it on too long."