Don't bite your nail barbs! His wound was inflamed and his fingers were "swollen like meatballs". Doctors taught 4 emergency treatment methods
Are hangnails on nails caused by “lack of nutrition”? What behaviors will cause barbs to grow “crazy”?
The skin around the nails has “barbs”, is it caused by the body’s lack of nutrition? Dr. Tang Haoyue, director of the Dermatology and Cosmetology Center of Shin Kong Hospital, said in an interview that the main cause of nail barbs is external impact and friction on the skin, or cutting the epidermis when trimming nails. The “undernutrition theory” spread widely on the Internet is actually not true. It is related to thinning of nail tissue and incomplete nail growth. For example, nail discoloration caused by chemotherapy and spoon nails caused by iron deficiency are not necessarily the main causes of hangnails.
Dr. Tang Haoyue pointed out that nail skin is prone to barbs, which is also related to the hot and humid climate in Taiwan and people are not used to wearing hand cream. Even if they are used to taking care of their hand skin, due to the frequent spraying of alcohol, drying and hand washing due to epidemic prevention in recent years, volatile Substances dry out the skin, limiting the protective effect of hand creams. In addition, women who frequently apply nail polish, polish remover and other solvents may also make their nails brittle or even chipped. If they neglect their hands or use the wrong maintenance products, the number of hangnails may also increase.
Are psoriasis and atopic dermatitis prone to hangnails? The inflammation in his wound left his fingers “swollen like balls of flesh”
Are people with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis more likely to develop hangnails? Dr. Tang Haoyue said that for people with a history of skin diseases, the nail grooves and nail beds of the nail tissue are prone to inflammation; coupled with the long-term dryness and cracking of the skin on the hands, the condition of hangnails may also worsen. “You can imagine that the texture of a piece of white paper becomes brittle and easy to crack. Uneven pressure can easily make nails brittle.”
What are the consequences of tearing the barbs apart with your hands and biting them with your mouth? Dr. Tang Haoyue warned that after the epidermis is pulled by external force, it may easily cause bleeding, redness and swelling in mild cases, and may even cause “paronychia” in severe cases, and antibiotics will be required to show signs of improvement. “There was a patient in the clinic who suffered from chronic paronychia. His fingers were swollen in the shape of a ball, which improved after one month of liquid nitrogen cryotherapy. Indiscriminate digging and biting of nails will only make the condition worse, and there will be thousands of barbs. Don’t do this!”
How to deal with hangnails? Doctors reveal 4 simple tips to protect your skin
What is the correct way to deal with hangnails? Dr. Tang Haoyue suggests that if nail barbs are frequent, people can improve them through the following measures:
Apply ointment product. For example, Vaseline and hand cream can be applied to the edges of nails before going to bed to help lubricate the skin. As for acids such as mandelic acid, fruit acid, salicylic acid and other ointments that are prescribed by doctors, it is recommended to discuss them with the attending physician before using them.
Carry tools with you. Carry nail clippers or small scissors with you to trim nails and hangnails properly. Remember to trim off the protruding part of the barb. Do not trim too deeply to avoid bleeding or infection.
Secure the wound with tape. You can use breathable tape, acne patch, artificial skin or OK patch to patch the barb, just like patching a broken bone, which can speed up the recovery of the wound and prevent bacterial infection.
Use health supplements as a supplement. If you have skin diseases or your nails are fragile and prone to cracking, you can try taking specific health products, such as Biotin (also known as vitamin B7), to supplement the nutrients your nails need.
Finally, Dr. Tang Haoyue reminded the public not to pull out or bite hangnails when they appear; if women have the habit of regular manicures, they must pay more attention to the maintenance of nails and surrounding skin to avoid severe chronic paronychia and nail damage. Damage, even brittle, falling or deformed nails. If the wound shows no signs of improvement for several weeks or months, it is recommended to seek medical treatment at a dermatology department immediately.
Further reading:
Are black streaks on nails a sign of cancer? How to distinguish onychomycosis from psoriasis nails?
