What are Cuticles?
Cuticles are transparent epidermis layers that are found at the end and in between your fingers and toenails. Cuticles help to prevent bacteria from entering your toenails and finger nails. Although the cuticles grant a tight seal, the epidermis and the nail beds to avoid fungi and viruses from the nails. The cuticles are dangerous because they crack and dry quickly. This damage may be observed during the cold season because of low air moistures and dry indoor exposure.
Then proper manicure involves more than just nail varnishing, but it also includes taking adequate care of your cuticles. Dry cuticles can occur for different reasons like: Skin dryness, excessive hand washing, Eczema, Malnutrition, poor nail care, and cuticles biting.
How to Know You Have Dry Cuticles?
When you have a dry cuticle, your nails will swell up, and it can affect the nails. You can also have a dried cuticle when you noticed regular nail cracking and peeling. Dried cuticles give room to bacteria to enter your nails, which can cause nail infections.
So it would be best if you opted for quick treatment whenever you detect these symptoms on your nails. Now, treatment methods vary depending on the cause of your dry cuticles. Here are some ways to prevent and treat dry cuticles.
Dry Cuticles Treatments
The fastest and simplest way to get rid of dry cuticles is by rubbing the dry cuticles areas with a cream or oil. Other essential treatments include:
Cuticle Cream
Cuticle cream is a gel which celebrates and moisturizes dry cuticles. Therefore you must choose the best cuticle cream that is fortified with rich ingredients like Vitamin A, E, and regular oil like almond and sunflower oil. The oil will hydrate your cuticles while the Vitamins will also nourish and strengthen your nails. You can rub small quantities on your nails beds after cleaning your hands using the cuticle cream. This cream can be at a pharmacy or beauty supply store. Some of these creams are: Butter cuticle cream, rich coconut cream, and hand protect cuticle cream.
Cuticle Oil
The cuticle oil enables the nail to be soft and to upgrade the cuticle area. The oil is fortified with ground oils and primarily consists of vitamins. Cuticle oil absorbs faster and also nourishes your nails to avoid further dryness. It would be best if you opted for cuticle oil-rich with sunflowers, aloe- vera, and grape to achieve special treatment.
The cuticle oil stands as a nail moisturizers brand commonly consists of vegetable oil, vitamin, and citric. You must use your fingertips or brush to apply little quantity on your nail beds for proper cuticle oil application. This oil can be at a beauty supply store or pharmacy like the cuticle cream.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an indoor cuticle treatment option that is rich in fat. Coconut oil helps to prevent cuticles and also strengthens nail beds. You can use the top of your finger to rub a small quantity of this oil on your nail beds.
Manicure
You must avoid cutting your cuticles when you opt for nail care. It is also crucial to ensure that your manicurist uses sanitized equipment for you to trim your cuticles. Sanitized equipment will help to prevent infections from your cuticles.
When you use blunt nail clippers or cutters to trim your cuticles, it can cause more cuticle dryness. You must see that your cutter and clippers are sharp enough before using them.
OPT for DIY Biotin Cuticle Shaves
The use of biotin can prevent nail cuticle dryness. Biotin can be in powdered and liquid form. You can add antioxidant vitamins rich in argan oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E to biotin to make home cream to prevent dry cuticles. You can apply the biotin every day to achieve the best result. The biotin can be used to treat and prevent dry cuticles.
Neosporin
Applying Neosporin on your cuticles and covering it with bondage is easy and simple to fix to treat dry cuticles.
Abstain from Harsh Chemicals Substances
Abstain from any nail products formulated with harsh chemicals such as harsh soaps and nail polish cleaners can cause cuticle dryness.
Moisture Hand Lotions
You can also try to use a hand lotion that is suitable to moisturize your hands.
Although the hand washing process is not an option for some people so preventing dry cuticles is vital. You must ensure that you use a moisturizer on your hands every day.
Oil and Steaming
The steaming method for preventing nail cuticles is proper to soften your cuticles to allow the nails oil to absorb into your skin for excellent results. The oil can be put on the cuticles after bath or shower.
Avoid Cuticles Cutting
Cutting of cuticles is an unhygienic practice, even as a professional or learner. When you cut your cuticles, your nails are more likely to slip or fracture. Staying away from cuticles cutting will make your nails look beautiful and remain hygienic.
Take Vitamins
Having dry cuticles may be a result of a lack of vitamins, so this can be a cure when you eat foods rich in vitamins and Zinc. Food like vegetables and plates of seafood are examples of vitamin and zinc nourishing foods.
Shea Butter
You can use a fair- trade organic Shea butter to treat your dry cuticles.
Cuticle Balm
This dry cuticle curing product is packed with a full house nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin A, and C to prevent dry cuticles. This balm is perfect for the cold and dry season.
CND's Solar Oil
This solar oil is a manicurist staple that is used regularly by nails care professionals. The solar oil comprises Jojoba oil and vitamin E to restore and heal dry cuticles.
Wear Hand Gloves
Wearing hand gloves when washing dishes or cooking is also a way to prevent dry cuticles. The wearing of hand gloves requires daily application of hand moisturizers. However, you can opt for daily hand treatments that use a protein-peptide complex for skin hydration and moisture sealing. This cuticle preventive product also features a water- reactivated formula for frequent hand washers.
Natural solutions can also opt to prevent dry cuticles. Natural solutions involve the washing of hands and gently drying the sides with a towel. Then apply oil on the Cuticles and nails. Allow the oil to soak into your nails for a few minutes before cleaning them off with a tissue.
Conclusion
Don't be embarrassed by your dry cuticles any longer. Follow all steps mentioned above to treat and prevent dry cuticles from appearing on your nails.