How To Safely (& Painlessly!) Get Rid Of A Hangnail In 4 Easy Steps

So how do you get rid of those jagged pieces of skin without leaving your poor digits irritated and raw? While it's always best to see a professional nail tech if you can, experts say it is possible to mend the nail beds at home. Find the step-by-step method below: 

"You should never pull or tug a hangnail because it may cause damage to the surrounding tissue and lead to an open wound vulnerable to infection," says Evelyn Lim, chief educator of Paintbox—an important tip to mind as you wield the nail clippers later on, but even more so if you're one to pick and prod the area with your fingers. Not only can it cause tears and irritation to the delicate skin, but you can also introduce bacteria into the small wound. 

Although, you do want to make sure your hands are clean. Says Amy Lin, founder of sundays—a nail care brand focused on wellness—washing your hands with soap and water should be your very first step. Make the area pristine before you perform self-surgery.  

Instead, Lim notes, "Apply cuticle oil to differentiate between live and dead skin," (aka, the hangnail). You can also use lotion or hand cream—whatever you have on hand—to help soften the area. 

Instead of grabbing the hangnail and pulling it from the root, think about clipping right where the skin juts out from the nail bed. After all, cutting the cuticles too close to the base can cause even more hangnails to crop up. 

Hangnails may be tiny, but they can cause quite a lot of pain, irritation, and sometimes infection if you poke and pull. To help the skin stay clean and snag-free, make sure to follow the tips above and keep those hangnails from living in your nail beds rent-free.