What it is
Externally, a hangnail appears as raised skin near the nail. It usually occurs on the lateral side, but can also occur on the posterior area of the cushion.
Its appearance gives the hands an unkempt appearance and creates a bad impression. Hangnails are one of the most common problems on the fingers and toes.
A single burr is not a cause for concern. It is necessary to sound the alarm if skin tears systematically appear on several fingers.
Constant friction and exposure to tearing leads to even greater injury to the skin. Due to the fact that the hangnail clings to foreign objects, a bloody wound appears. When wet, it hurts and brings discomfort.
Hangnails are quite dangerous . They can cause the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, which, in turn, provoke the development of internal inflammation and dermatological diseases.
In advanced cases, pus accumulates in the nail space, and the plate becomes deformed. In the practice of doctors, there are cases when it was necessary to remove a nail or amputate part of a phalanx.
panaritium develops .
The person feels throbbing pain and redness occurs. The skin turns yellow and pus accumulates.
Why does a hangnail break out on a finger?
In most cases, the finger breaks due to the fact that a person has torn off a hangnail. A wound forms at this site and becomes infected. The finger swells and begins to rot. Therefore, it is impossible to tear off and gnaw the burrs; they must be removed using other methods.
However, this is not the only reason why an abscess may appear. If a person has a weak immune system, even small cracks in the skin can become infected. Since the body is weakened, it is not protected from germs. The inflammatory process may begin immediately.
Why do they appear
A tear in the skin on the nail fold is usually caused by the following reasons:
- lack of proper hand skin care;
- prolonged contact with water or chemicals;
- exposure to excessively humid, cold or dry air;
- unbalanced diet;
- abrasions and cuts of the upper layer of the epidermis;
- improper manicure;
- use of low-quality manicure products;
- lack of fluid in the body;
- starvation.
Hangnails can appear in people who have the following health problems:
- avitaminosis;
- diabetes;
- pathologies of the digestive system;
- decreased immunity;
- chronic organ diseases.
People who bite their nails suffer from skin tears. Most owners of hangnails try to eliminate them on their own. However, we must not forget about possible complications.
Features of the problem
Manifestations of hangnails are severe pain in the area of their appearance, the separation of a piece of skin, which can be either relatively small in size or significant, from the skin near the nail plate. When this piece of skin is torn off, significant damage to the skin can occur; in the absence of special disinfectant treatment, an infection can enter the wound, which significantly aggravates the course of the disease.
When hangnails appear on one finger, there is a high probability that they will appear on other fingers, since this phenomenon indicates the presence of organic negative changes in the body, a failure of the metabolic process. By eliminating the root cause that caused the formation of hangnails, it is possible to prevent relapses, the manifestations of this unpleasant process become minimal, and the general condition of the body is stabilized.
To eliminate hangnails as quickly as possible, it is recommended to remove the torn skin on the fingers as quickly as possible, for which it is necessary, in compliance with the necessary rules to prevent the penetration of infection into the resulting wounds, to use disinfectants, and to carry out preventive measures to stabilize all processes occurring in the body. First of all, this is the elimination of vitamin and mineral deficiency, the elimination of all inflammatory processes and the treatment of the skin around the nail plate.
The doctor will tell you what hangnails are in this video:
How to remove burrs
Hangnails on the hands, the cause of which is related to dry hands or other similar problems, can be removed quite simply at home.
The main thing is not to bite off, rip off or tug at them!
The following procedure will help you get rid of hangnails:
- The fingers are kept in a bath of warm water. You should add a little olive oil to the liquid.
- The protruding skin is cut off with special tweezers with sharp edges. It is important not to cut off too much to avoid creating a wound.
- Lubricate the site of the former hangnail with antiseptic ointment to prevent infection and speed up healing. A product with vitamin E or moisturizer will do.
- If there is a large wound at the cut site, cover it with a bandage.
It is prohibited to use antiseptics containing alcohol . They dry out the skin and promote irritation. It is better to use hydrogen peroxide, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
If a hangnail appears at work and hurts, it should be covered with an adhesive bandage and treated at home.
Beauty salon specialists can deal with the problem of hangnails more professionally. However, you only need to contact a trusted specialist.
Salon treatments include:
- hand peeling;
- spa manicure;
- paraffin therapy;
- trim manicure.
The same services are performed with the toes.
Prevention
You can prevent the appearance of “bullies” with the help of a vitamin diet. During periods of changing seasons (winter-spring, summer-autumn), the diet should be filled with fruits, vegetables and fresh juices. Other effective prevention methods:
- do not wash your hands too often (this can dry out your skin);
- do not go on strict diets;
- regularly moisturize your hands with nourishing creams;
- take vitamin complexes;
- do manicures only with high-quality varnishes and treated tools.
It is also recommended to wear gloves during cold seasons to protect your hands from damage. To prevent the appearance of growths on the legs, you can use restorative creams and special graters.
Hangnails never just happen. To prevent their occurrence, you need to monitor the condition of the skin on your hands and feet. Especially when it comes to small children.
Read: Treating shoes against fungus: the best disinfectants
How to treat
Hangnails that have caused slight inflammation can be cured with warm baths. They are done 2-3 times a day.
If after 2 weeks there is no improvement, and the inflammation progresses, you should consult a specialist.
Treatment of hangnails begins with determining the cause of their appearance.
To do this, the following types of diagnostics are carried out:
- blood analysis;
- stool analysis;
- MRI of organs;
- inoculation of purulent contents.
Typically, the doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics or drain the infected area. If fungal paronychia is detected, antifungal agents are prescribed. He may also prescribe antiseptic, healing ointments and sprays.
Folk remedies
There are several folk methods that help cope with hangnails:
- Aloe and Kalanchoe. These plants have been known for their healing properties for a very long time. They will help relieve the inflammatory process if a hangnail breaks out.
To do this, aloe leaves are crushed, applied to the microtrauma and fixed. After a few hours, the hangnail will become soft and can be removed without much difficulty. Treatment is carried out every day for a week. As a preventative measure, once every 10 days is sufficient. - Bath with soda. Dissolve a teaspoon of soda in 1 liter of boiled water.
Place your hands in the bath and hold for 10-15 minutes. Then the burrs are cut off and the rollers are lubricated with sea buckthorn oil. This method will help if the gap is inflamed. - Baths with herbal infusion. Mix sage, chamomile, yarrow and linden. Take a tablespoon of the mixture and pour it into a thermos.
Pour half a glass of boiling water. After 40 minutes, the composition is filtered and cooled. Place your fingers in it for 15 minutes. Carry out the procedure daily until improvement occurs. - Sea salt. A bath with it is useful for caring for the skin of your hands and gets rid of hangnails.
To prepare it, dissolve the grains in warm water and keep your hands in it for 15-20 minutes. Do it daily for 7-10 days. - Plantain and calendula. The leaves of the plants are crushed and applied to the abscess, then wrapped in gauze. Keep the medicine for several hours, then remove it.
Some women use special nail masks in the form of full-fat yogurt, sour cream or kefir, purchase vitamin A at the pharmacy and rub it into the cuticle.
Preventive measures
We must not forget about preventive measures, because any disease is easier to prevent than to cure.
To avoid problems with cuticle roughening, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- It is worth washing your hands with liquid soap with an emollient composition.
- It is regularly recommended to treat the area around the nail with special oils.
- It is better to carry out any work at home or in the country with gloves.
- Don't forget to use moisturizer.
- Before a manicure, you should treat your hands with an antiseptic solution.
- You need to eat right, strengthen your immune system and take care of your health. It is useful to take vitamin and mineral complexes.
- If possible, you should get a manicure twice a month.
Proper nutrition can prevent hangnails.
You should include retinol (vitamin A) in your daily menu.
It is found in the following products:
- carrot;
- fish fat;
- beef liver;
- parsley dill;
- egg yolk;
- dried apricots;
- rose hip;
- sorrel.
Most women know how to get rid of skin breaks around their nails on their own. However, it is better to remove them in the salon from a specialist, otherwise the problem may worsen. To avoid it altogether, it is advised to properly care for your hands and balance your diet.
