Story at-a-glance
- Biting or picking at your nails and cuticles creates small tears in your skin that often lead to hangnails — tiny but painful skin flaps that could become infected
- Hangnails hurt because the skin near your nails contains dense nerve endings and blood vessels, making this area especially sensitive to trauma, inflammation, or infection
- Common triggers for hangnails include dry air, frequent handwashing, harsh soaps, chemical exposure, and chlorinated water — factors that damage and dry out the nail bed
- Habits like thumb-sucking, cuticle cutting, and soaking your hands in water often increase the risk of skin tearing, especially if your skin is already dehydrated or your nails are brittle
- Preventing hangnails is simple — Moisturize regularly, avoid biting or tearing skin, use safe grooming practices, and protect your hands with gloves when exposed to water or chemicals
