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What are Hangnails?
Hangnail is a piece of skin near the bottom or beside your nails that is loose or sore. Hangnails usually occur when the skin around your nails removes [1].
What are the symptoms of Hangnail?
The first symptom of hangnails is pain. Besides, there are also red coloration of skin, pus and swelling. Hangnails can lead to infection if it is uncovered [2].
What causes Hangnails?
Hangnails are usually caused by dryness, exposing to harsh chemicals or improper care of hands and feet and so on. Also people who have the habit of biting nails as well as suffer deficiency of nutrition are more vulnerable to this condition [3].
Here are the top 15 most effective home remedies for hangnails which you can try easily at home in order to get rid of hangnails and improve the appearance of your hands…
1. Honey
Honey is one of the most effective home remedies for hangnails because it can keep the skin around your nails remaining supple as a moisturizing agent. Besides, honey’s anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are also effective in getting rid of hangnails [4].
How to use:
- Apply raw honey to the hangnails and let it on for a couple of hours. Do this several times daily.
Honey is a great home remedy for many health problems. You can read more at: Home Remedies for Corns.
2. Avocado
Being a rich source of healthy fat, vitamin E and various other nutrients, avocado is one of the highly regarded home remedies for hangnails. It can nourish and heal your skin in process of getting rid of hangnails [5].
How to use:
- Mash a half of an avocado with a fork and mix it with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
- Apply this mixture on your nails.
- Let it on overnight and wash it off in the next morning.
- Apply this home remedy for hangnails three or four times a week until hangnails disappear.
In addition, avocado is also used to getting rid of split ends. You can see more at: Home Remedies for Split Ends.
3. Aloe Vera
With its moisturizing, soothing and healing properties, Aloe Vera is one of the most excellent home remedies for hangnails [6] [7] [8] [9].
To get rid of hangnails, you can do in the following way:
- Extract fresh Aloe Vera gel from an aloe leaf.
- Apply directly on your hangnails and let it on for 15 minutes.
- Apply this daily until you get rid of hangnails.
On the other hand, Aloe Vera is also an effective home remedy for stretch marks. You can read more at: Home Remedies for Stretch Marks.
4. Yogurt
You can use yogurt as one of the efficient home remedies for hangnails by relieving painful and inflamed hangnails and moisturizing the skin around your nails.
How to use:
- Dab plain yogurt on your hangnails and let it on for 2 hours.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Do this every day until you completely get rid of hangnails.
5. Almond
Almond contains vitamin E and many fatty acids, which can heal hangnails and reduce swelling and inflammation [10] [11] [12] [13]. Therefore, this nut is considered one of the brilliant home remedies for hangnails.
How to use:
- Soak a handful of almond in water overnight, then remove the skin and grind them.
- Mix them with one beaten egg yolk and a few drops of honey.
- Apply this mixture on your hangnails and put on cotton gloves before going to bed.
- Rinse it off with warm water in the next morning.
- Apply this home remedy for hangnails several times a week to have the positive result.
6. Vitamin E Oil
The reasons why vitamin E is included in the home remedies for hangnails are due to its ability in softening and moistening your nail [14] [15]. To get rid of hangnails, you can do the following way:
- Directly apply vitamin E oil onto your hangnails and let it on for few minutes.
- Do this process twice a day until you can get rid of hangnails.
7. White Clay
Being one of the greatest home remedies for hangnails, white clay helps exfoliate your skin and supplying nutrients to prevent and heal hangnails.
To get rid of hangnails, you can apply the following way:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of white clay with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 3 drops of lavender oil.
- Apply this mixture on your hangnails and gently massage for 15-20 minutes.
- Then rinse it off.
- Do this way at least 3 times a week to have the best result.
8. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt works as one of the remarkable home remedies for hangnails due to its capability in getting rid of harmful toxins and reducing swelling and inflammation
How to use:
- Add 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt to a cup filled with warm water.
- Immerse your hangnails for about 15 minutes.
- Let it dry and then apply an anti-bacterial ointment on your hangnails.
- Do this process 3-4 times daily until the condition improves.
9. Salt Water
How to use:
- Add a tablespoon of salt in a bowl filled with water.
- Dip your fingers in it after every one hour to prevent any infection.
- Apply this remedy daily to have the positive result.
10. Beeswax
Beeswax can help softening your skin and strengthening your nails. You can use this ingredient from the home remedies for hangnails in the following way:
- Mix 3 tablespoons of beeswax with 2 teaspoons of honey together with 2 teaspoons each of almond oil, coconut oil, and olive oil.
- Heat this mixture and then let it cool down.
- Add a few drops of lavender oil and apply it on your hangnails.
- Let it on overnight and rinse it off in the next morning.
- Do this process every day until you can completely get rid of hangnails.
11. Glycerin
Glycerin can moisturize your skin and prevent hangnails.
Apply this home remedy for hangnails in the following way:
- Mix one teaspoon of glycerin with one soft gel Vitamin E capsule.
- Apply this mixture onto your hangnails and let it for 5-10 minutes.
- Wash it off with warm water.
- Apply this remedy daily.
12. Turmeric
With anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is the ingredient you cannot leave out of the home remedies for hangnails.
How to use:
- Heat some amount of turmeric powder in mustard oil.
- Apply this onto your hangnails and let it on for one hour.
- Apply this home remedy for hangnails daily until you can completely get rid of hangnails.
13. Olive Oil
Olive oil works as a moisturizer agent. To get rid of hangnails, you can apply the following way:
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to 2 cups of lukewarm water.
- Dip your fingers in this mixture.
- Apply this home remedy 5-6 times a day until the hangnails disappear.
Also, olive oil is often used to deal with problems in women after pregnancy like Home Remedies for Stretch Mask.
14. Lavender
With anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties, lavender oil is very effective in getting rid of hangnails.
How to use:
- Add 4-6 drops of lavender oil to one cup of water and pour it into a spray bottle.
- Spray it on your hangnails throughout the day.
15. Calendula
How to use:
- Mix some calendula blossoms and three times amount of olive oil.
- Let this mixture in a place away from sunlight and after 15 days, twist the mixture and apply it on your hangnails daily.
15 home remedies for hangnails above are useful “how to” tips to get rid of hangnails. Besides, to prevent hangnails, you should keep your nails moisturized, avoid exposing to harsh chemicals and overworking in water, and eat a daily diet with rich amount of vitamin B, calcium and iron to strengthen your nails.
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