Despite the name, hangnails aren’t part of your nails, but they are a jagged piece of the skin at the edge of the nail.
Hangnails are often seen at the end of a digit near the nail. There are many blood vessels and nerve endings in this part of the nail. Hangnails also cause inflammation and swelling that may press on the nerve endings. As a result, it can lead to more pain and irritation. Additionally, you may also notice redness and swelling.
What are hangnails?
Hangnails are a small piece of dead skin at the side or base of your fingernail, slightly detached from the skin. The leading causes of hangnail include:
- Dry skin
- Excessive hand washing
- Picking your nails
- Protein deficiency
- Winter season
- Nail clipping
- Manicure
- Hand sucking
- Cuticle trimming
Hangnails occur when the skin around the nails dries up, especially during the winter season. Most people don’t realize they have hangnails until they feel some sort of roughness or pain around the side of their nails.
What is the safest way to remove hangnails?
It is essential not to give in to the temptation to rip the hangnails. Tearing off can worsen the symptoms rather than improving them. Moreover, these habits may also increase the risk of infection. The safest way to remove hangnails follows these steps:
- Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap.
- Soak your hands in warm, soapy water to soften the nails and pat them dry. You can also apply mineral oil or petroleum jelly to the area to soften the hangnails.
- You can clip the hangnails with the help of a sanitized nail clipper. You can also ask for someone’s assistance if you are unable to cut it yourself.
- If you accidentally cut the skin beneath and if it starts to bleed,
- Rinse with water.
- Coat with antibacterial.
- Bandage the area until completely healed.
If you have diabetes, you may need to show it to your doctor and start medications to avoid pus formation.
How can you care for your nails?
To keep your nails healthy and protect them from infections, you should follow these steps:
- Avoid trimming your cuticles to keep infections at bay.
- Avoid ripping any hangnails. Use sanitized clippers to clip the hangnails.
- Regularly moisturize the nails with petroleum jelly or any other regular moisturizers.
- Avoid untrained or rough manicurists who may vigorously push the cuticles back.
- Keep your hands out of your mouth because the saliva in the mouth breaks down the skin.
- Limit your use of harsh nail care products, such as frequent use of nail polish remover or drying agents such as dishwasher liquid.
- Avoid biting your fingernails or picking your cuticle because these habits can damage the nail bed.
- Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves while washing dishes, gardening, and cleaning or using harsh chemicals.
- Practice good nail hygiene by trimming your nails and rounding the tips in a gentle curve.
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See Slideshowhttps://www.aad.org/public/parents-kids/healthy-habits/parents/kids/hangnails
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/nails/art-20044954?pg=1
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Yes, nails have good regeneration capacity, but they grow slowly. Fingernails may grow one-tenth of a millimeter each day, so completely removed fingernails usually grow within 6 months. Toenails may grow at about one-half or one-third the rate of the fingernails, so completely removed toenails may grow within 18 months.
Clubbed Nails Picture
Clubbed nails occur when your fingertips bulge and the nails curve down and get shiny. The condition is usually one you are born with, but you may have other health issues as well such as heart disease or lung disease. It’s unclear what causes clubbed nails, but it happens when there are certain substances in your blood such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Your body produces more VEGF when it can’t get enough oxygen.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Fungal Nails
Fungal nails (onychomycosis) may be caused by many species of fungi, but the most common is Trichophyton rubrum. Distal subungal onychomycosis starts as a discolored area at the nail's corner and slowly spread toward the cuticle. In proximal subungal onychomycosis, the infection starts at the cuticle and spreads toward the nail tip. Yeast onychomycosis is caused by Candida and may be the most common cause of fungal fingernail.
How Do You Fix a Laceration on a Nail Bed?
Nail bed injuries are the most common type of fingertip injuries seen in emergency rooms. If you get injured on your nails, you must remove jewelry, clean the area with soap and water, trim the nail, stop the bleeding, apply ice and elevate the area. Seek help in the ER for a more serious nail bed injury.
Ingrown Toenail (Onychocryptosis)
Ingrown toenails are caused by the growth of the toenail into the surrounding nail fold. Symptoms and signs include toe pain, swelling, redness, and yellow drainage. Treatment at home involves soaking the affected foot in diluted white vinegar or Epsom salts, elevating the foot, and trimming the nails straight across. Surgery is also an option for severe cases. Prevent ingrown toenails by wearing shoes with a wider toe box and avoiding repeated injury to the toenails. Avoid curving or cutting the nails short at the edges.
Perfect Pedicure Guide
Explore tips for a perfect pedicure. From cuticles and calluses to nail polish and tools, strive for perfect toes and feet with these tips on how to get the most out of your pedicure and prevent infections.
Should you Push Back your Cuticles?
Your cuticle is an important part of your nail. This small strip of skin at the bottom of your nail acts as extra protection from germs entering your nail bed. Pushing them back incorrectly or cutting them too short can put you at risk of infection. A licensed nail technician can do this for you safely.
silicon
Silicon is taken as a dietary supplement to strengthen bones and improve hair, skin, and nail health. There are no known side effects from oral ingestion of silicon supplements. Inhaled silicon can cause: liver disease, kidney injury, increased risk for tuberculosis, and autoimmune disease. Consult with your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.