How long should cuticles be

This results in an overgrowth. Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that might trigger overgrown cuticles. It typically causes a range of symptoms such as itching and dry, scaly skin. Sometimes eczema can develop near your cuticle and trigger nail changes.

When eczema forms near your cuticles, excess scratching or rubbing can cause this skin to overgrow. Never cut your cuticles. Instead, use a cuticle stick to gently push back cuticle overgrowth. Here are the instructions. Additionally, you can take other steps to keep your cuticles healthy. This not only prevents splitting, but also helps prevent further overgrowth. Keep your hands and cuticles moisturized with lotion or oils to prevent dryness.

Nail polish remover, hand sanitizer, and even washing your hands can dry out your cuticles. You can treat your toenails or fingernails at home. But you should contact a doctor if you develop signs of a nail infection.

This can happen if your cuticles split. Signs of an infection around your nails include not only pain, but also:. Cuticles serve a valuable purpose which is to protect your nail from bacteria, dirt, and fungus. Geeky…but that was an exciting discovery for me. I started oiling and massaging that skin several times a day. Within a week my proximal folds were back to normal and looking beautifully healthy.

Simply use your fingernail to gently push back the proximal fold to break the death grip about every 4 to 7 days.

If your nails are really short, you can use an orange wood stick. Just be gentle. If you keep your skin hydrated with a high quality, jojoba wax ester based penetrating nail and cuticle oil , then it will be easy to push back your nail folds. This can also be done in the shower.

Just make sure you are wearing one coat of base coat when showering. Again, some people are able to scrape the cuticle off with their fingernail in the shower. Lye is largely used in the soap making process. All cuticle removers contain lye.

Personally, I love using a cuticle remover. Some people hate it. You can see some of those hangnails in the photo farther up in this article.

The directions on all cuticle removers tell you to apply it to only the nail plate, and do not let it touch your skin.

I have much more control with a cream or gel type of remover. Watery removers wick all around on your fingertip skin. Or metal cuticle tool that follows the curve of your nail plate? Doug Schoon prefers that people use the orange wood stick. If you use too much downward pressure near the proximal fold, you can cause damage to the matrix. This damage is often seen as white spots in the nail plate. These are nail bruises.

Personally, I like the metal, spoon shaped tool. I also use the tool correctly, which I explain in more detail below. Nippers are often used to trim cuticles, but their long pointed blades are perfect for trimming hangnails as well.

Angle the trimmers to get as close as possible to the base of the torn skin, then snip the hangnail away in one smooth cut. If you don't trim your hangnails, they can tear more, leading to more pain and an increased risk of infection. Wash your hands in warm soapy water when you're finished. You may have residue from the cuticle oil left on your hands, or there may be small pieces of skin left from the exfoliation process. However, these should come off easily when you wash your hands. It may be helpful to wipe each nail with a cotton ball dipped in a non-acetone polish remover to help dry them out.

Part 3. Moisturize your cuticles daily. To keep your cuticles healthy, you should moisturize them every day. You can use moisturizing lotion, petroleum jelly, or your favorite oil, depending on what you prefer. Apply the moisturizer, then rub it so that your cuticles can absorb the moisture. If this happens, it can be very painful and can lead to infection, and it can also cause your cuticles to grow back thicker than before.

Push your cuticles back once a week. Over time, your cuticles won't need to be pushed back as much, but it's still a good idea to keep them touched up. Keep an orange stick near your hand cream and take a few minutes to moisturize and push back your cuticles about once a week after you take a shower. Don't bite your nails or the skin around your nails. Biting your nails can irreparably damage your nail bed, and chewing on your cuticles, hangnails, or the skin around your nails can lead to dangerous infection.

In addition, damaging your cuticles can cause them to grow back thicker, making them harder to push back. Use a new orange stick each time you push back your cuticles. Wooden orange sticks are porous, meaning it's difficult to completely sanitize them.

It's best to just toss out the stick after you're finished using it so you don't have to worry about spreading bacteria the next time you give yourself a manicure. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Mia Rubie Nail Artist. Mia Rubie. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist.

Laura Martin. Not Helpful 1 Helpful Not Helpful 8 Helpful Not Helpful 12 Helpful Not Helpful Helpful 3. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2. Not Helpful 7 Helpful Sometimes you can use your other nails instead, but make sure your hands are clean.

Not Helpful 15 Helpful Yes but it's called an orange stick, it's basically a stick with a slated tip designed for your nails. Not Helpful 25 Helpful If it burns stop, and soak. If you do decide to push your cuticles back at home, WebMD recommends using a wooden orange stick meant for doing just that. Real Simple further explains that you should remove your nail polish, moisturize your nails, soak your hands in warm water to soften the skin, and then use a soft cloth or a cuticle tool to lightly push back the cuticle.

While it is okay to push cuticles back, you should always stay away from cutting, as this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your nails. Aside from bacteria entering through the cut cuticle, dermatologist Ella Toombs, MD, explains, "Cuticles don't want to be cut.