A hangnail is a piece of partly detached skin that hangs loose around one of your nails. Hangnails can be irritating, and they can lead to infection and abscess (pus buildup) if left untreated.
You can generally treat hangnails by washing your hands well and using sanitized nail clippers to remove the hanging skin. However, more intensive treatment is necessary in some cases. Avoid chewing or ripping hangnails as this can lead to infection and inflammation.
A hangnail is a jagged piece of skin that hangs near your nail. Hangnails tend to appear right below or on the side of your nail bed. They are most common around fingernails but can happen on toenails, too.
Hangnails are small, but they can bring discomfort. In some cases, they cause pain and redness.
What Causes a Hangnail?
The exact cause of hangnails is unknown. However, being exposed to dry air (which may be more likely during winter) might play a role.
You may also be more likely to get hangnails if your hands are wet frequently. This may occur if you don't dry your hands properly after washing them. Frequently having your hands in water—such as washing dishes regularly—can also put you at risk of infection if you already have a hangnail.
Other behaviors can also damage the skin around your nails and increase your risk of hangnails and infections. These include:
- Picking or biting your nails
- Cutting your cuticles
- Sucking on your thumb
Picking or biting a hangnail can damage your skin. If germs get inside, you may develop a skin infection called paronychia. This is one of the most common infections of the hand. It can be the result of bacteria, fungi, or both. Bacterial infections come on more suddenly than infections that involve fungi.
Generally, paronychia leads to a painful, swollen, red area around your nail and hangnail. The skin may feel warm and tender to the touch. You may also develop a pus-filled blister (abscess), especially if the infection is bacterial. Don't squeeze or push on an abscess.
Paronychia can lead to nail changes. Your nail may seem detached or look unusual in shape or color. Some nail changes can be permanent.
Paronychia is usually not serious. In some cases, though, the infection can spread beyond the nail and cause problems elsewhere in the body. This can lead to fever, chills, joint or muscle pain, or a general feeling of illness. You may also notice red streaks along the skin.
Rarely, the infection may reach the tendons, bones, or bloodstream.
Treatments for a Hangnail
Treating hangnails properly can help you avoid infection. Fortunately, most hangnails can be treated simply and effectively at home. However, rare cases may need to be addressed by a healthcare provider.
At-Home Treatments
Never try to chew or bite off a hangnail. This can further tear the skin, which can cause bleeding and open up your skin to infection.
Here are steps to remove a hangnail safely:
- Make sure both your hands and equipment are clean. Wash your hands with soap and water and sanitize your nail trimmer. Torn skin is more vulnerable to infection.
- Gently clip off your hangnail with a nail clipper or nail scissors.
- If you experience bleeding, apply pressure to the area until it resolves.
- If you would like, you can apply antibacterial ointment to reduce your risk of infection.
If your hangnail causes pain and swelling, you can relieve it by soaking your nail in warm water two or three times per day. The soaks should last about 10-15 minutes at a time. Your healthcare provider might also recommend applying an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment after the soak if you have an infection.
Medical Treatments
Although you can treat most hangnails at home, you may need professional treatment if you have complications. For example, if you develop an infection around the nail, your healthcare provider can prescribe medication to fight the infection—such as oral antibiotics for a bacterial infection.
Rarely, your healthcare provider may need to cut and drain an abscess with a sharp instrument. They may also need to remove part of your nail.
After treatment, most people recover quickly with no long-term issues.
While you can't always avoid hangnails, taking care of your nails can lower your risk of developing dry, loose skin. Here are a few ways to practice good hand and nail hygiene:
- Dry your hands well.
- Don’t pick or bite your nails.
- Don’t cut your cuticles.
- Use lotion on your fingernails, especially when the air is dry. This helps to keep them moisturized. It's best to apply lotion after washing your hands, taking a bath or shower, or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Wear gloves when you wash dishes.
If you already have a hangnail, you can take steps to reduce your risk of infection:
- Don’t trim your cuticles or push them back. Doing this can damage the cuticle and allow germs to get into your skin, which might lead to infection.
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves if your hands might be in contact with detergents or chemicals. It’s best to wear gloves with cotton liners.
- Bring your own nail tools when you go to nail salons.
People with diabetes are more prone to paronychia. Managing your diabetes may also reduce your risk of infection.
When To See a Healthcare Provider
You can treat most hangnails successfully at home. However, you should contact a healthcare provider if:
- Your hangnail doesn't heal by itself within a week
- You show signs of paronychia that don’t improve with home treatment
- You show signs of an infection that seems to be spreading beyond the area of the hangnail
- Your nail seems weak or begins to change color
Your healthcare provider can diagnose paronychia or another infection. If there is pus, they may drain it and send it to a laboratory. This will help them determine the type of bacteria or fungus causing the infection.
Return to your healthcare provider if you notice new or worsening symptoms.
You may also want to contact a healthcare provider for your hangnail if you have diabetes. People with diabetes are more likely to develop infections.
Hangnails are torn pieces of skin that may appear near your nail. Never chew or rip them off as it may lead to bleeding and infection.
You can treat most hangnails by clipping them off with a sanitized nail trimmer. Wash your hands before you do so.Some hangnails may require more extensive treatment, particularly if they get infected.In most cases, however, recovery is quick with no long-term effects.
