If your hangnail does not improve within two weeks or shows sign of infection, contact your doctor. THE REASON WHY THEY HURT: The simple reason why they hurt is their location. Why do Hangnails Hurt ~ What Causes Hangnails and How to Treat Them. Katie E. 1 decade ago. Hangnails are extremely common. Many people experience hangnails when their skin is dry such as during the drier, colder days of winter or with repeated hand washings. Hangnails are very common and can be caused by several things. They're pesky, and even though they’re so small, they can hurt like hell. Although it would be logical to think it is a condition that affects the nail — since hangnail has the word “nail” in it — a hangnail is specifically a skin condition. Pin. To prevent infection and irritation, wash your hands before touching the hangnail. They occur on the sides or at the nail base, where blood vessels and nerve endings abound. That’s because skin dryness leaves your skin more vulnerable to damage from elements like cold weather or water, which can trigger the skin separation. Instead, if you do notice a hangnail, follow these steps to take care of it. It is quite inevitable therefore that when one experiences having hangnails, one will feel pain. Putting antibiotic ointment or cream on the area is a good idea to protect the area from bacteria. Why do Hangnails Hurt. Paronychia is an infection of the skin around your fingernails and toenails. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. unlocking this expert answer. First of all, hangnails aren’t part of your nail at all—they’re actually made of skin cells that form small, tag-like projections near the nail, says Dawn Davis, M.D., dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic. This thread is archived. "Apply a lotion with low alcohol and water content, as these will dry the skin out more," he says. If you have concern that there may be an infection, you should seek medical attention, as you may need oral antibiotics. They occur when the skin separates from the surface, but still remains anchored at the base. ELI5 : Why do hangnails hurt so much? Last medically reviewed on October 11, 2018, Swelling and redness alongside your fingernail may be caused by an infected hangnail. "Most people don’t notice a hangnail until after it has fully developed and they feel roughness around the nail or pain from inflammation," says Benjamin J. Jacobs, M.D., hand surgeon at Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery in Portland, Oregon. Support wikiHow by The symptoms such as discoloration of nails, formation of blisters and accumulation of pus in the blisters, nails which are separated from skin, diabetic with hangnail, all these are alarming conditions and you need to consult your health care provider immediately. While it may be hard to believe that something so small can hurt so much, the reason why has to do with location and skin composition. This New Collab Has the Coolest Winter Gear, This Pushup Dropset Builds All-Angles Muscle, 'It's a Sin' Offers Better Sex Ed Than High School, 9 Delicious Snacks That Are Great for Your Heart, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. It's important to treat ingrown toenails as soon as they occur to prevent infection. The skin composition and location of the hangnail makes it unbelievably painful. Have you observed the fact that you get a lot of hangnails during the winter rather than during the summer? Since they can be painful and may become infected if they rip, it’s a good idea to get rid of them. Another reason people pick is that the thing being picked—whether it’s a hangnail, a scab, a pimple, or whatever else—actually hurts. Granted, I did have a hangnail on my finger last night which woke me up more than once which resulted in me resorting to scissors to ease the pain (to the nail not the finger itself! Relevance. It is the same reason why your skin feels drier during winter. Should I go to the doctor for a hangnail? Before you ask how to get rid of hangnails, you should know what they are and why they appear on your hands. About Us. Why do hangnails hurt? I am here to give you a solution for this condition. level 1. An antibiotic ointment can help prevent an infection from developing. Why Do Hangnails Hurt? Another telltale sign? Sanitize a fingernail clipper or nail scissors with rubbing alcohol, and then cut the hangnail off close to the normal skin level, says Dr. Jacobs. Wash your hands with soap and water.. Cut off the extra skin with a clean nail clipper or small nail scissors.You might want to have your mom or dad do this. Hangnails can also be caused by trauma such as a paper cut or excessive finger picking. One simple fact you should know is that hangnails can cause paronychia, a condition in which the area around the nail is infected. People with hangnails might not even notice they have them in some cases. Ingrown fingernails can often be treated at home, but sometimes they'll require a trip to the doctor. Tani. The result is pain, redness, swelling and, sometimes, an infection. Not only is your mouth full of germs, but so are your hands, so you’re putting yourself at a much higher risk of infection. "Using topical hand lotion on a regular basis will help keep the skin softer and avoid dryness. In that case, the pain will likely be more severe, and the redness and pain can spread over a larger area.

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