Stop Cutting Your Cuticles! Here’s Why It’s Damaging Your Nails

 Cuticles are the thin layer of skin that surrounds the base of your fingernails and toenails, and they play an important role in protecting the nail matrix, which is where new nail growth originates. Cutting or manipulating cuticles can be harmful and lead to several problems, such as infections, inflammation, and even permanent nail damage.

When you cut or manipulate cuticles, you can create small openings in the skin that can allow bacteria, viruses, and fungi to enter, leading to infections like paronychia, which is an infection of the skin around the nail. This condition can cause redness, swelling, pain, and pus-filled blisters. In some cases, it can also cause the nail to detach from the nail bed.

Furthermore, cutting or manipulating cuticles can also damage the nail matrix, which can result in deformed or irregular nail growth. This can lead to ridges, bumps, and discoloration of the nail.

To maintain healthy nails, it is best to avoid cutting or manipulating cuticles. Instead, you can keep them healthy by regularly moisturizing them and gently pushing them back with a cuticle pusher or orange stick after soaking your nails in warm, soapy water. This will help keep your cuticles soft and prevent them from becoming overgrown, while also reducing the risk of infection and damage to your nails.