What causes hard skin around fingernails?

Are you feeling self-conscious because the skin around your nail looks like it could be used for exfoliating? Do you openly weep at the thought of shaking hands with someone new? Then congratulate yourself, because welcome to the club! No seriously, there are millions of people who have hard skin ‘issues’ and honestly, who wouldn’t want to be in a club where we can all compare our rough finger calluses?

What is this mysterious skin formation called?

It goes by different names depending on what country or cultural background you come from. Some might refer to it as picket fence fingers (not exactly flattering), while others may call them sausage fingers but nobody really knows that name originated. They might even gift wrap their nails (with weird looking hard patches) and present them to prospective neighbours or colleagues thinking they could use an extra layer for Christmas.

Why does it happen?

Well let’s just say that stopping a NASA satellite mid-flight would probably garner less puzzling responses than this question amongst dermatologists, scientists and knowledgeable health experts alike.

One reason could be our genes play a bit role in how prone we are to experiencing bumpy cuticles. If either one or both parents had craggy cuticles then expect yours might follow suit.

Another possibility stems from work-related overuse of the hands such as carpentry or brick laying which cause friction against drill bits causing some form of hand injury without us realizing until after damage has been done.

Then again, those nailbiters desiring their long magic dragon-like talons will find themselves constantly unawarely picking at their cuticles leading to hardened stones being created.

And some more bad news…the harder your fingernail beds become, the more likely bacteria will grow underneath crusty exposed areas thus increasing chances inflammation cue painful redness. It’s a vicious circle really.

How can you get rid of the harden skin?

Firstly, this might seem like an obvious one, but put down the nail clippers and walk away slowly. Cutting off or tearing rough skin could lead to further inflammation that may result in moisture loss thus drying it out more than anticipated eventually leading to thicker cuticles.

However if desperate measures are needed then go ahead with nipping using sterilized equipment.

Secondly, try mixing a small amount of olive oil and brown sugar together making sure it forms into a paste texture. Rub mixture gently onto your nails and use circular motions until rough patches become smoother/polished looking. Give them some TLC!

Can I prevent this from happening again though?

Yes! And here are some tips below:

Moisturize Regularly

This tip cannot be stressed enough as moisturizing helps keep cuticle tissue plump and soft which eventually results in less epidermis layering around nails areas people tend to ignore/not notice.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals (If possible)

Some disinfectants contain substances such as formaldehyde or benzalkonium chloride that can further inflame already sensitive finger tissues so trying ‘green’ cleaning products might make all the difference.

Wear Gloves

It not only protects those precious manicured fingertips from injury but also prevents direct tear-like contact on surface areas inadvertently causing forming crust under nailbeds whilst typing endlessly away for work or play

Now let’s conclude our investigation into the mishap affairs of dry cuticles/hardened under-skin bumps. Although root causes vary between individuals, treatments done today adoptions by hygiene routines like:

  • olive oil
  • brown sugar exfoliation
  • avoid using formaldehyde/benzalkonium chloride cleaning agents
  • wearing gloves when performing hands-on duties

Are the best options one could consider to prevent them from forming. If all else fails then why not join a club with fellow sufferers and create a support group – bet you’ll make some interesting acquaintances! So no more weeping over hardened fingers anymore because voila. You have just turned another problem area into quirky conversation starters…enjoy!

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