Our hands go through plenty every day, and lately, with constant hand-washing and sanitizing, they’ve been under even more pressure. While keeping clean is crucial, all that soap
Our hands go through plenty every day, and lately, with constant hand-washing and sanitizing, they’ve been under even more pressure. While keeping clean is crucial, all that soap and sanitizer can take a serious toll on your cuticles. These tiny strips of skin may seem insignificant, but they play a big role in protecting your nails and need regular care to stay healthy.
When neglected, cuticles can become dry, cracked, and painful. That dryness is often the first warning sign, followed by sensitivity, peeling skin, and those dreaded hangnails. Even worse, broken skin around the nail creates an easy path for bacteria, which can lead to infection. The good news? A few quick steps can help prevent these issues and keep your cuticles in top shape.
The easiest and most effective way to care for your cuticles is by keeping them moisturized. A dedicated cuticle balm or oil is better than hand cream alone because it’s formulated to deeply penetrate and soften the skin right where it’s needed. Products that contain nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, aloe, or safflower oil work especially well.
Don’t wait until your next at-home manicure to apply it. Instead, work it into your daily routine—especially after washing your hands or before bed. A solid balm is convenient to apply on the go and helps lock in moisture longer than traditional lotion.
Just like your face benefits from exfoliation, your hands do too—especially the cuticle area. A gentle scrub made for hands can help remove dead skin cells and improve the texture around your nails. Look for products with a mix of exfoliating agents and hydrating ingredients like coconut oil or glycerin. This combo helps slough off rough patches while restoring moisture at the same time.
Doing this once or twice a week helps keep the skin around your nails soft and reduces the risk of painful cracking.
If you’re prone to biting your nails or picking at your cuticles, now’s the time to stop. Not only does it cause more damage, but saliva also weakens the skin and increases the chance of irritation and infection. What might start as a small tear can quickly turn into a sore spot that takes days—or even weeks—to heal.
You might be tempted to trim or chemically remove your cuticles for a cleaner nail look, but dermatologists advise against it. Removing the cuticle disrupts your body’s natural barrier against bacteria. If your goal is to make your nails look more polished, simply push back the cuticles gently with a wooden stick after softening them with balm or oil.
Keeping your cuticles healthy doesn’t take much—just a little consistency. With the right care, your hands will not only feel better, but your nails will look cleaner and grow stronger too. Consider these steps your low-effort, high-impact path to healthier hands.
