Hangnails are what the small pieces of skin next to your fingernails are called. Usually they are red and unsightly, sometimes full of pus, swelling or skin. They can often be painful and they are susceptible to infection since they are exposed skin. They come from bad biting habits, dry skin, the use of irritating soaps and more. In this article, we will provide you with home remedies for hangnails. Each one of these home remedies will come with their own instructions for use. They are all cheaper than getting them treated with special creams that can be expensive.
Hangnails often come associated with dry hair, since they tend to be caused by the same issues. If you notice this, you may want to deal with your dry hair as well, with our home remedies for dry hair.
1. Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil is one of the best ways to nourish the skin. It can help heal up blemishes and cuts, making it doubly effective for your hangnails. It is able to moisturize the nail bed while also curing your damaged skin. You can find vitamin E oil in almost any drug store or pharmacy. You can also locate it in most department stores in the beauty section.
Necessary Items
- Vitamin E oil
- Carrier oil such as olive oil
Instructions
- Mix your carrier oil of choice with vitamin E oil.
- Using a cotton swab or your clean finger, rub the vitamin E oil into your skin around the nail.
- Allow it to dry and be absorbed completely.
2. Avocado
Avocado is full of not only vitamin E, but healthy fats and other important nutrients, as well. This is great at keeping your skin nice and nourished. It is able to also act as a humectant for your skin. Avocados can be purchased at virtually any grocery store. You will find these in the produce aisle. You should only need one or two avocados for the job.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Cut an avocado down the middle.
- Dig out the pulp of half of the avocado.
- Mash it all up using a fork for best results.
- Put in two tablespoons of coconut oil into the mash.
- Mix it around well.
- Apply the mixture to the nails and the skin around your nails.
- Rinse it off after a few hours.
3. Honey
Raw honey is excellent at keeping your nails moisturized. This is the best way to get rid of hangnails. Because honey is a naturally occurring humectant, it helps to not only attract moisture but to keep it locked into the skin as well. An anti-inflammatory, it can also get rid of the redness and swelling. It is best if you use raw, genuine honey in order to get all of its nutrients.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Clean your fingers on both hands.
- Rub down the nails, nail beds and surrounding skin with raw honey.
- Allow it to sit and soak in for a few hours.
- Rinse off the honey after those hours have passed.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt is able to cure inflamed and painful hangnails in only minutes. It has a creamy, soothing quality that can take away the pain. It is also full of probiotics which allow it to help with the swelling. Not only this, but plain yogurt is also known to be a powerful moisturizer. The combination of these things makes for excellent home remedies for hangnails.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Coat the affected areas of the nail, skin around the nail and nail beds with plain yogurt.
- Allow it to soak in for a few hours.
- Rinse it off after those hours have passed.
- Repeat this process a minimum of one time a day. Do it twice a day for best results.
5. Almond Hand Mask
An almond hand mask affords your hands plenty of vitamin E to help treat your hangnail. It also comes with a number of essential fatty acids that are able to get rid of the swelling and inflammation. Finding almonds is as simple as going to your grocery store; you can find them in whole or crushed form; if you cannot find them pre-crushed, then you can crush them yourself.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Put the almonds in a glass of water to soak overnight.
- In the morning, peel the almonds and crush them up.
- Mix the almonds in with a bit of raw honey and a beaten egg yolk.
- Put the mixture onto your hands before sleep. Rinse in the morning.
6. White Clay
White clay is a good remedy for those who have sensitive skin, dry skin or both. It is able to deliver important minerals to the skin to keep it healthy and stave off hangnails. You can find this white clay at just about any department store. Health stores are likely to have it, too. It is a cheap home remedy for hangnails.
Necessary Items
- White clay
- Olive oil
- Lavender oil
Instructions
- Mix in a teaspoon of both white clay and olive oil.
- Add in three drops of lavender oil.
- Stir until it makes a paste.
- Massage and rub this mixture into your nail bed and the surrounding skin.
- Allow it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing it off.
7. Beeswax Balm
Beeswax balm is great at both strengthening your nails and softening your skin all at once. You can mix it with an oil in order to form a soothing and protective layer on the skin. This helps stop it from peeling and tearing. You can get premade beeswax balm at any department store or pharmacy. You can also make your own to make it more effective.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Mix together two teaspoons each of almond oil, coconut oil and olive oil. Then, add three teaspoons of honey and three tablespoons of beeswax.
- Heat the mixture up in a double boiler. You can also use a microwave.
- Remove from heat and stir in a few drops of essential oil.
- Once it is cool, apply the moisturizer onto your cuticles and nails. Leave it on overnight.
- Repeat daily on a regular basis.
8. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is an excellent choice for curing hangnails. It is able to decrease the inflammation and swelling while also removing harmful toxins. This can help prevent the hangnail from becoming inflamed. Epsom salt is common and cheap. You can find it in any department store and in pharmacies. You may also have it at home, making this a totally free home remedy for hangnails.
Necessary Items
- Epsom salt
- Water
- Bandages
Instructions
- Fill up a cup with warm water.
- Mix in a teaspoon of Epsom salt.
- Stir up the mixture for a few seconds.
- Dunk your fingers into the solution.
- Let them soak for around 15 minutes.
- Dry off the fingers and wrap them with bandages.
- Do this for up to three days.
9. Emollient Cream
Emollient cream is designed to trap in moisture and soften your skin. This can help keep the skin around your nails hydrated so it does not peel off. By applying emollient cream, you can soften up the hangnail and treat it. Emollient cream can be found at any drug store. You may also find it in department stores in the beauty section.
Necessary Items
- Emollient cream
- Plastic wrap
Instructions
- Put a dab of emollient cream onto clean fingers.
- Massage it into the hangnail.
- Cover up the hangnail using plastic wrap.
- Allow it to sit overnight inside of the plastic wrap.
- Take off the wrap in the morning and wash it off with cool water.
10. Oatmeal Scrub
Oatmeal scrub is a great way to exfoliate and cleanse the skin around the nail. It helps to get rid of the dead, dry and rough skin that can often cause hangnails. You can find plain oatmeal in any grocery store. For this scrub, be sure you are not using flavored or otherwise sweetened oatmeal; that will only make things worse and it may hurt.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Crush up a single cup of rolled oats. It is best if you use a blender to get it as fine as possible.
- Place the crushed oats into a shallow bowl.
- Place your hands into the bowl and massage it all over your hands, including the cuticles.
- Rinse it off.
11. Water and Oil Soak
Water and oil can go a long way in nourishing and hydrating the skin. You can use just about any sort of oil you’d like. Body oil is best, such as vitamin E oil, as it is able to soften and nourish the skin. You can find this oil in the health and beauty section of a department store. You may also find it in drug stores.
Necessary Items
- Water
- Body oil, such as vitamin e oil
Instructions
- Mix one pint of warm water with a bit of body oil of your choice.
- Put it into a small bowl.
- Dip the tips of your fingers into the water and oil mixture.
- Wash your hands off after 15 minutes.
- Cut off the softened hangnail.
12. Salt water
Salt water is a great cleanser, disinfectant and softener for the skin. The best salt for this solution is going to be using sea salt water or Himalayan salt. This is because not only is it fresh and natural–it has bigger grains which will help exfoliate the skin. You can find both types of salt in any grocery store local to you.
Necessary Items
- Warm water
- Sea or Himalayan salt
Instructions
- Fill a small sized bowl with one cup of warm water.
- Pour in a tablespoon of salt.
- Dip your fingernails into the solution.
- Repeat this every hour. This will prevent infection.
- Not only this, but it can soften the skin. Once the skin is softened, you can cut off the hangnail.
13. Turmeric
Turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory. When you have hangnails, they can often become inflamed and painful. The turmeric, which is full of curcumin, can significantly help with this. Not only that, but turmeric also is able to minimize the chance of infection. This will reduce the pain and take away the redness and swelling. You can find turmeric fresh or in powdered form. To locate it, look in the spice section of any grocery store.
Necessary Items
- Turmeric powder
- Mustard oil
- Bandage, optional
Instructions
- Mix together equal parts mustard oil and turmeric in a bowl.
- Heat up this mixture.
- Apply the hot blend to the edges of the nail.
- Allow it to sit for an hour.
- You can also leave it on for the whole night covered by a bandage.
14. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is deeply moisturizing. This can soften up the skin and treat the hangnail.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Massage petroleum jelly into the hangnail.
- Let it sit overnight and soak in.
15. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is able to soothe, soften and heal your skin. It is even more effective for hangnails when mixed with turmeric powder. Aloe vera gel and turmeric are available in most stores.
Necessary Items
Instructions
- Mix a bit of turmeric into aloe vera gel.
- Rub it into the hangnail.
- Rinse it off after 30 minutes.
Conclusion
Hangnails are painful and can make doing things with your hands difficult. Getting rid of them is simple with these home remedies for hangnails. What are your go-to remedies to treat hangnails? Tell us all about them in the comments section below.
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