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Though our nails often get all the attention with brightly colored polish and strengthening serums, cuticles are the unsung heroes of our hands and feet—with little fanfare. This often-overlooked part of the body plays a crucial role in nail health and should be treated with care. As it turns out, a lot of the advice you might have heard when it comes to caring for your cuticles may not be the healthiest approach. That’s why we’ve enlisted board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger to help set the record straight as we cover:
The tiny border of skin lining the portion of your nail bed where it meets your skin is called the cuticle. The purpose of cuticles is to act as a bodyguard for your nail, keeping out dirt, viruses and bacteria.
Though cuticle trimming is popular because it helps achieve a neatly manicured look, it’s actually not a healthy practice, according to Dr. Schlessinger. “Your cuticles are there to keep your nails healthy, and cutting them removes that first line of defense and opens you up to infection,” he says.
Dr. Schlessinger doesn’t recommend professional manicures or pedicures, but if you must get one, he suggests bringing your own nail tools for the esthetician to use and insisting they do not cut or trim your cuticles during the service. At home, you can help keep your cuticles healthy by avoiding picking at them or biting them. “If you have a bit of cuticle that is hanging off, you can safely trim it with clean cuticle clippers, so it doesn’t get caught on something and rip, worsening the situation,” Dr. Schlessinger says.
You may have grown up reading about how to push cuticles back in beauty magazines, and there’s a whole lineup of tools on the market—cuticle sticks, cuticle pushers, cuticle removers—dedicated to this practice. Again, cuticles are better off left alone. “Soaking your fingers and gently pushing cuticles back is a method used in some manicures, but I don’t recommend that either,” Dr. Schlessinger. “Your cuticles are best left alone, so they can do their job.”
Perhaps you’ve made the mistake of cutting your cuticles or pushing back your cuticles, or you suffered a cuticle injury while getting a professional manicure or pedicure. In that case, your cuticles are likely in need of some TLC.
For swollen cuticles and peeling cuticles, Dr. Schlessinger recommends applying FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm. Dr. Schlessinger and his son Dr. Daniel Schlessinger created this medicated balm to help treat a variety of skin ailments. It contains hydrocortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient that will help reduce swelling and redness for injured cuticles. “Protect the area from dirt and grime if possible, but if these areas continue to fester, it may be a good idea to see your dermatologist, as infections can sometimes occur that need to be treated with antibiotics or antifungals,” Dr. Schlessinger says.
Everyday care can help support healthy nail and cuticle growth. Here are a few dermatologist-recommended products you can try at home to help keep your cuticles and nails moisturized and healthy, so they are less likely to rip or tear and become swollen and infected.
This nourishing body cream can be used anywhere on the body and works especially well for hands, feet, nails and cuticles. It contains allantoin to promote healing and beeswax to help seal in moisture and prevent dryness.
This daily nail oil helps soften cuticles while it fortifies brittle nails and encourages healthy nail growth. Peanut and apricot kernel oils combine with neem leaf, chamomile and anthyllis extracts to help infuse moisture into skin and leave it feeling soft and soothed.
This dual-acting serum is formulated to strengthen brittle nails and hydrate cuticles, delivering visible results with fourteen days of use. The pen-shaped applicator with a brush tip makes it easy to apply this nail treatment, which contains hyaluronic acid for hydration, Pistacia lentiscus gum to promote keratin production and silanediol salicylate to promote silicon, an essential mineral for nail growth.
If you struggle with peeling, splitting or chipping nails, this daily nail treatment is an excellent option to help fragile nails become stronger over time. “Consistency is key with this product, as it takes about two to four months of use to see visible results as your nails grow. The effort is well worth it though,” Dr. Schlessinger says.
Looking to mix up your shower routine? You can learn more about some of the best body washes on the LovelySkin Blog.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
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