If the white or transparent watertight seal of skin at their base where your nails grow from your fingers is rough and white, or you have peeling pieces – known as hangnails – around the sides of your nails, you are likely not alone.
Though they are often removed during a manicure, your cuticles actually do an important job. They offer a barrier of protection to help prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the nail matrix where the nails grow from.
But at this time of the year hands are challenged from the dry, cold environment, leaving skin dry and dehydrated.
It means cuticles can get dry and hard, become more visible than normal, or worse, begin lifting or peeling in strips that can be painful.
Excessive washing of hands or prolonged exposure to water can exacerbate weakening of the skin.
Other reasons your cuticles are peeling or lifting may include certain medical conditions, like eczema or psoriasis, or your diet. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B, vitamin E, and zinc, can affect skin and nail health.
Exposure to detergents, cleaning products, or other chemicals can also irritate the skin around the nails.
How to heal peeling cuticles
Push back, don’t cut
Though it can be tempting to cut them away, this should be kept to a minimum.
Dermatologists say there’s no good reason to cut them, except for aesthetic reasons. You could even leave your nails at risk of being exposed to bacteria or infection through the trimmed areas. Cutting too often can also cause cuticles to harden and become even more rough and obvious.
Hangnails can happen, but don’t be tempted to rip them off, this can only cause more damage. Only clip what’s loose by using a clean clean pair of sharp cuticle nippers.
For regular care, instead of cutting your cuticles, after applying moisturiser and nail oil, gently push back cuticles using a metal cuticle pusher with a beveled or square edge.
It’s important not to pick at your cuticles or peel them.
Hydrate and nourish
The best way to treat peeling cuticles is adequate hydration.
Make sure your water intake is good and then concentrate on supplying your hands with lots of gentle moisture.
Regular application of a rich, nourishing hand cream with natural oils can help form a barrier that helps skin and nails hold on to moisture.
Apply a nail and cuticle oil (often made of natural oils like apricot kernel and jojoba) regularly throughout the day and massage into the skin around your nails and the nail beds themselves.
Nail oil comes in the form of a bottle with a brush or more useful on-the-go options, like cuticle oil pens and Essie’s Roll-On tube of oil.
Use a gentle cleanser
Use a non-soap or hydrating handwash to clean your hands.
If you’re particularly prone to dry hands, carry a small hand cream with you and apply after washing or using hand sanitiser, that can be very drying.
Remember to wear gloves when washing the dishes or doing jobs where your hands will be exposed to the water for a longer period of time.
Choose your manicurist wisely
Avoid nail salons that vigorously strip your cuticles using an electric file, and ask your nail professional not to cut away your cuticles, but push them back instead.
