1. Biting Your Nails is a Terrible Habit
You should never bite your nails. This is true for a number of reasons. Not only is it really gross because the stuff under your fingernails is icky, but you can really damage your nails and cuticles too. In fact, biting your nails is probably the top thing that damages cuticles. If you bite, take action to break the habit now.
2. Cutting Your Cuticles is a Bad Idea
If you get professional manicures, make sure you tell your technician not to cut your cuticles. This can really damage them. One slip of the trimmers and you could wind up with a cuticle that is cut too far back, which can be painful, but can also lead to an infection. You should never cut your own cuticles either.
3. Not Wearing Gloves While Cleaning is Damaging
If you work in a profession that requires constant handwashing, such as daycare or nursing, you could probably save your cuticles by wearing gloves instead of washing all the time. Likewise, if you use a lot of cleaning supplies, your cuticles could be paying the price. Again, wearing gloves is the answer.
4. Being Too Rough when Pushing Back Cuticles is Terrible Too
Pushing back your cuticles is an important part of keeping your nails healthy. You can easily do this yourself at home, but you’ve got to use caution. If you get too rough, you can cut or tear your skin and cuticles, leading to a higher risk of infection, damage and pain. Use an approved tool and if you don’t know what you’re doing, ask someone to show you how to do the job just right.
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5. Not Moisturizing Often Enough is Never Good
Your cuticles are essentially skin, though they are a bit thicker than the skin on your fingers. What that means is that you need to be sure you are moisturizing your cuticles just like you do the rest of your hands. Anytime you apply hand lotion, make sure to spend a bit of time rubbing it into your cuticles as well. You’ll be so glad you did.
6. Skin Infections Can Ruin Your Cuticles
If you get a skin infection, make sure you treat it appropriately to prevent damage to your cuticles. Anytime you’re having an issue on the cuticles or the skin around them, see your dermatologist right away to get proper treatment before the issue turns into something way worse than it already is.
7. A Poor Diet Can Cause Nutritional Deficiencies That Mess with Your Cuticles
Your nails and cuticles need certain nutrients to stay healthy and strong. When you eat too much junk food and don’t get enough vitamins and minerals, your cuticles might wind up ragged and dried out. Make sure you’re eating a variety of foods from each food group to cover your needs.
