How to Get Rid of Dry Cuticles

The cuticle is the layer of skin that surrounds the nails on your hands. The cuticle is the exact point where your fingernail meets the skin of your finger. These skin cells frame your fingernails like a frame around a painting. They are designed to give protection to your fingernail, and to keep things like infection from getting to your fingernail. When your cuticles become dry they look awful on your hands, and they are unable to perform their function as efficiently.

Causes of dry cuticles

You get dry cuticles from doing things like washing dishes, cleaning your home, and doing laundry. Anything that you do that exposes your hands to harsh chemicals like detergents can dry the skin on your hands out.

Your cuticles are also dried out further if you expose your hands to a lot of paper, and to air conditioning, and even stressful situations can create the problem.

Prevention

You have to take the proper steps to prevent the cuticle of your fingers from becoming dry, and unattractive. Some things you can do are:

• Apply hand lotion to your hands, especially when you are at work and constantly exposing them to air conditioning and to excessive amounts of paper
• Wear plastic gloves when you do the dishes, or when you are using harsh chemicals to clean anything in your home
• You can purchase gloves that are designed to be worn when you are sleeping that moisturize your hands. These are especially recommended for individuals with a severe problem.
• Avoid certain nail treatments like silk wraps that create dry cuticles

If you already have dry cuticles you are going to need to correct the condition before you can prevent further complications.

Correcting the problem

The first thing you need to remember is to sanitize your hands, and all equipment that you use on your cuticles. You do not want to introduce infections to your nails. Now you are ready to remove the dry cuticles.

1. You will want to soak your fingers in a solution of water and olive oil, or an essential oil like olive oil. This will cause the cuticle to become softened so it is possible for you to trim it without injuring it. You should soak for at least 15 minutes.
2. Use an orange stick to carefully, and gently push the cuticle back towards the nail. Once you have done this you will be able to trim the excess amount of skin with cuticle clippers. An orange stick is specially designed for the purpose of pushing back your cuticles, and you will do less damage to your nails if you use one of these instead of a fingernail file.

Carefully clip the excess skin away. Be very careful that you do not remove too much skin as you will cause your hands to not only look worse, but to become sore and painful. If you are uncertain about trimming your own cuticles then you should see a manicurist and allow them to start your hands back on the road to good health and beauty.