How To Get Rid Of Hangnails + Causes & Prevention, From Experts

Here's the 101 on hangnails, from causes to treatment and prevention, so you can be prepped and ready next time one pops up—plus, why you might be extra prone to getting them in the first place.

So hangnails actually have more to do with your cuticles than the nail itself. That being said, certain nail habits, practices, and products can make the cuticle become dry—which in turn creates a hot spot for hangnails.

Once you have a hangnail, there are at-home measures you can take to get rid of it. This protocol should happen early on—read: before your finger is swollen and filled with pus.

In the next step, you'll want to use a cuticle trimmer, so be sure to clean it beforehand. Swipe an alcohol tab over your tool before using it, or soak it in alcohol and dry off with a clean towel.

Plus, "There are so many nerves around your finger area, it can be very painful if the skin gets pulled or dragged by your clothes or other objects," notes Amy Ling, the founder of sundays—a nail care brand focused on wellness.

Moisturize the affected area with a fragrance-free ointment or oil. Here's a list of our go-to clean formulas to get you started. Keep up with the topical hydration for a week after your hangnail is trimmed to prevent the hangnail from coming back and future hangs from popping up.

If you regularly get hangnails, there are a few different parts of your routines and habits to take a closer look at. The most common include:

If you pick or bite your nails—don't be too hard on yourself. Oftentimes this can be a nervous tick or a coping mechanism for chronic or situational anxiety. We'll dive deeper into a few ways to ease this habit to follow.

"Hand eczema, or hand dermatitis, is characterized by redness, blistering, cracking, flaking, and itching of the palms and fingers," board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., once told mbg. Of course starting with preventing dry skin is a great first step, but hand eczema will likely require more intervention than just a great hand lotion—so it's best to see your dermatologist if you suspect you have eczema on the hands, or anywhere else on the body for that matter.

If your nail is broken, the sharp clipping could potentially poke into your cuticle and cause it to become irritated and lift from the nail as well. So if you break a nail, be sure to file it down smoothly to prevent any loose or sharp edges.

If you constantly wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, the skin around your nails will become dry. If you don't replenish the moisture, you're more susceptible to peeling cuticles and hangnails.

Certain occupations that call for frequent hand-washing are particularly prone to dry cuticles, including anyone working in the food industry, health care, hairdressers, etc. 

"Choice of products will impact your risk for the development of hangnails," Stern says. Nail polish removers and alcohol-based products can be particularly drying. If you're using an astringent product, be sure to rinse it off ASAP.

Of course, not everyone can—nor wants to—avoid acrylic tips or gel polishes and that's perfectly fine. However, you should be extra mindful of tending to your cuticles, so take note of the preventive measures below.

If you swim frequently, whether it be in saltwater or chlorinated pools, be sure to pay special attention to moisturizing after you hop out. If you can, rinse off right as you exit the pool to ensure the chlorine doesn't sit on the skin for too long.

Treating a hangnail is immensely more difficult, risky, and possibly painful than prevention. Whether you're prone to a hangnail or two every once in a while or you get them all of the time, proper nail and cuticle care will save you from some discomfort.

As mentioned earlier, picking or biting your skin and nails is often a nervous tick or a product of stress. If you know this is a habit you want to kick, check out this story for more info. Here are a few quick tips to get you started:

The cuticle area is extremely prone to dryness, so keep it moisturized at all times. Pack a cuticle oil in your bag, keep one by your vanity, on your desk, etc. If absolutely nothing else, be sure to slather on some oil before bed every evening—here's a list of top picks to make it easy.

If you want to go all out, apply hand lotion, followed by a cuticle oil to seal in the moisture—think of it like slugging but for your nails.

"Always wear gloves when doing a lot of wet work or if you have a lot of exposure to chemicals," Stern says. This means cleaning, washing dishes, etc. 

Especially for those with sensitive skin, ingredients like formaldehyde can wreak havoc on more than just the nail itself. Instead, opt for nontoxic nail polish—here are 13 A+ brands to shop.

Plus, manicures serve as a moment of self-care, where you have no choice but to be mindful while your nails are being tended to. Nail and skin care are part of full-body health care and shouldn't be viewed as just an appearance-based or frivolous investment.

Not sure if it's time to schedule a visit? Here are a few signs you might not be able to DIY your hangnail, according to Stern and King:

Trust, you should definitely see a medical professional if any of those signs ring true for your hangnails. If you don't, you'll run the risk of the infection getting worse, causing more pain, and possibly even spreading. It's always better safe than sorry, after all.

Hangnails are certainly annoying to deal with, but if you're not careful, they can actually turn into a much larger problem. If you're prone to hangnails, focus on avoiding drying products and picking at your nails and prioritize moisturizing every chance you get. And when pain, redness, or swelling starts to creep up on you, seek professional help ASAP. If you want to dive deeper into cuticle care 101, start here.