It’s easy for that annoying bit of torn skin around your nail to catch on something and become painful. To remove a hangnail without causing further injury, soak your hand in water for a few minutes to soften the skin and then clip the hangnail as short as possible. Cutting a dry hangnail can tear the skin, which can lead to more discomfort and possibly even cause an infection to start. Clean nail clippers and scissors with a cotton swab that’s been dipped in alcohol prior to their use – this will help minimize the chance of getting an infection. Avoid biting your nails because it can encourage hangnails to form and infections to start in the nail folds (the skin that hangs over the side of the nail). Another common cause of hangnails is dry skin, so regularly condition your hands and cuticles with a moisturizing lotion or cream that’s enriched with vitamins.
