September 7, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Get Rid of Hangnails (And Stop Them Coming Back)
Hangnails are those annoying little tears of skin that show up along the sides of your nails, and they hurt way more than something that small has any right to. They're not actually part of your nail at all. They're bits of the skin around your nail edge that have dried out, caught on something, or been picked at until they tore. The good news is you can get rid of them safely, and with a few simple changes you can keep them from coming back.
What Causes Hangnails in the First Place?
Dry skin is the main culprit. When the skin around your nails loses moisture, it gets brittle and starts to crack or peel away from the nail bed. Cold weather makes this worse, as does washing your hands a lot (which we all do). Picking or biting at your cuticles also weakens the skin and leads to tearing. And if you're someone who gets gel or acrylic nails regularly, the removal process can leave the surrounding skin dried out and more prone to hangnails.
Sometimes a hangnail starts because you pushed your cuticles back too aggressively or clipped too close to the nail. The skin there is delicate, and once it's damaged it takes time to heal properly.
How to Remove a Hangnail Safely
First, don't pull it. I know it's tempting, but pulling a hangnail almost always makes it worse. You'll tear healthy skin and end up with a bigger, angrier wound that might even bleed or get infected.
Instead, soften the area first. Soak your hand in warm water for five to ten minutes, or apply a warm, damp cloth. This makes the skin more pliable and easier to trim cleanly. Then use a pair of clean, sharp cuticle scissors or nail clippers to snip the hangnail as close to the base as you can, cutting straight across so there's no jagged edge left behind.
After you've trimmed it, apply a small amount of cuticle oil or a rich hand cream to the area. This helps the skin heal and prevents new hangnails from forming in the same spot.
How to Keep Hangnails from Coming Back
The key is consistent hydration. Your cuticles and the skin around your nails need moisture to stay flexible and intact. A daily cuticle care routine makes a huge difference. Apply cuticle oil or a nourishing balm at least once a day, ideally after washing your hands or before bed.
If you want something that handles hydration and gentle exfoliation in one step, the Velluva Pen is built for this. It combines an angled ceramic tip to gently buff away dry, dead skin with a blend of jojoba, squalane, and meadowfoam oil that sinks in fast. One glide and you're done, no soak or separate oil needed.
It's also worth looking at what's drying your hands out. If you're washing them constantly or using harsh soaps, switch to something gentler and follow up with hand cream. In winter or dry climates, a humidifier in your workspace or bedroom can make a real difference. And if you're someone who picks at your cuticles when you're stressed or bored, keeping your nails trimmed and smooth (so there's less to pick at) can help break the habit.
When to See Someone About a Hangnail
Most hangnails heal on their own with basic care, but sometimes they need attention. If the area around the hangnail becomes red, swollen, warm to the touch, or starts oozing pus, that's a sign of infection. Don't try to treat that at home. See a doctor or dermatologist, especially if you're diabetic or have circulation issues, since infections in those cases can escalate quickly.
If you're getting hangnails constantly despite keeping your hands moisturized, it's worth checking in with a dermatologist. Chronic hangnails can sometimes point to an underlying skin condition or nutritional deficiency that needs treatment.
The Bottom Line
Hangnails are fixable. Trim them carefully, keep the area hydrated, and tackle whatever's drying out your skin in the first place. Once you've got a simple daily routine in place, they stop being a recurring problem. For more on keeping cuticles healthy and intact, take a look at how to fix dry, peeling cuticles at home and how to push back your cuticles safely.