Dry, flaky skin around nails– how to help dry cuticles

Our hands can experience a lot of wear and tear and the skin on hands can become dry and cracked, particularly during cold, dry weather. The delicate skin around fingernails is no exception. Read on to learn about what causes dry cuticles and how to help keep the skin around your nails feeling soft and smooth with Aquaphor®.

The cuticle is the delicate, clear layer of skin at the base of the fingernails and toenails running along the nail bed. This skin acts as a barrier to help protect your nails and the skin around them from dirt and debris.

Here are some common causes of dry skin on the hands that can lead to dry, flaky cuticles:

Unless you’re wearing gloves, your hands are constantly exposed to the external environment. Especially during cold, dry, weather, hands can become dry, and may even experience cracked skin, dry, cracked cuticles, or flaking and itching from dryness.

Handwashing is an important part of personal hygiene, but frequent handwashing, as is common in healthcare or food preparation careers for example, can lead to dry skin, particularly when washing with hot water, using abrasive soaps, or using hand sanitizer. This can strip the skin of its natural oils which can then lead to dry, cracked hands.

Washing hands with drying soaps or exposing the hands to harsh chemicals commonly found in detergents or products like nail polish remover can also lead to dry skin on the hands and nails.

Since the hands are exposed to the elements, this leaves hands vulnerable to the effects of unprotected sun exposure known as photoaging. Extended, unprotected sun exposure can damage skin and cause dry skin.

Some people are more prone to a dry skin type than others due to their genetics.

As we age, our skin naturally produces less sebum, leading to a higher likelihood of experiencing dry skin.

Getting a manicure or pedicure can be a relaxing form of self-care, but proceed with caution. In addition to exposing skin around the nails to harsh solvents like nail polish remover, it’s common practice in many nail salons to push or trim cuticles. Pushing back the cuticle or removing the cuticle can lead to fragile nails and can also leave the area vulnerable to harmful dirt and debris.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and when the body is dehydrated, it can affect the moisture level in the skin as well.

Though dry cuticles can be an uncomfortable inconvenience, thankfully they can be managed with some attentive care. Here are some steps you can take to help soothe dry cuticles if you notice that you’re getting hangnails or other signs of dry, cracked skin around your nails:

Keep the skin around your nails soft and smooth by frequently applying a skin protectant ointment like Aquaphor Healing Ointment® any time skin feels dry, and particularly after potentially moisture-stripping activities like bathing or washing your hands.

Take advantage of the restorative power of sleep by giving your hands and overnight moisturizing treatment to help restore smooth, healthy-looking skin. Apply a skin protectant like Aquaphor Healing Ointment® before bed and sleep with cotton gloves on.

If you suspect that your cuticle has become infected, contact a healthcare professional right away for proper diagnosis and treatment.

With any case of dry skin, it’s best to try to prevent it before it starts. Here are some tips for helping prevent dry cuticles from forming:

Just as moisturizing helps to soothe dry cuticles, keeping hands soft and smooth helps to prevent dry skin from happening. Be sure to frequently moisturize your cuticles, particularly after washing your hands, to help support the skin’s moisture barrier.

When possible, use gentle cleansers and avoid overuse of drying products like harsh soaps, hand sanitizers and nail polish remover.

When spending time outdoors, be sure to apply and reapply sunscreen to any exposed areas of skin, following directions on the packaging, and take other sun protection measures like avoiding direct sun exposure during peak hours of the day and seeking shade whenever possible.

On cold, dry, windy days, protect your hands with gloves or mittens to help avoid the drying effects of the weather.

Though it may be tempting, avoid biting or picking the skin around your nails, and avoid pushing or trimming cuticles. If you notice skin around nails starting to flake, apply moisturizer at the first signs of dryness.

Yes! Aquaphor Healing Ointment® is a multi-purpose ointment perfect for dry cracked skin around the nails and cuticle care. Formulated to create a semi-permeable, protective barrier over the skin which reduces water loss and allows skin to breathe, Aquaphor Healing Ointment® has been clinically and dermatologically tested to nourish & soothe dry to very dry, as well as cracked skin. This soothing ointment is formulated with Panthenol to help soothe dry skin, plus Glycerin to moisturize and replenish the skin's moisture barrier. Its hypoallergenic formula is also non-comedogenic, fragrance-, paraben-, and dye-free and to help prevent skin irritations due to dryness. Use Aquaphor Healing Ointment® on your hands and around your fingernails to help soothe dry cuticles and help prevent them before they start.

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin
2. Improve the appearance of the skin
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin