topic Re: Help with Nails in Beauty

Help with Nails

Icegoddess — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:05:49 GMT

Mostly I am happy with my nails. They do often break off right at the quick, but that's probably because I let them get too long. If you look at the picture, the skin next to the middle finger is the problem. It gets hard and overgrown, kinda like a callous. Then I pick at it until it becomes a huge hangnail. I would end up pulling the hangnail out which would then bleed and become painful for a couple of days. Occasionally, it will even become infected. I am now trying not to pull the hangnail out, but cutting it as deep into the crevice as I can get with the clippers, which works but the cycle continues. Any way to get that skin to soften up and stay soft? I use cuticle oil and every night I rub in O'Keefe's Working Hands, concentrating on the nail area. It does this only on the middle finger of both hands. There's nothing I'm currently doing that would explain that. Many years ago, maybe writing a lot since that is where a pencil would rest, but not anymore.

Re: Help with Nails

Fressa — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:13:14 GMT

Here's what works for me:

T.I.P.S. cuticle/sesame oil . Just a drop and it moisturizes the skin and nail bed. I use this all over the nail and my toes. Works great

Argan balm --since I have this in the house I'll use this around my nails at night for a deep down treatment. My hands are always in water or duting some DIY project and even with glvoes I seem to have a need for some extra care.

Either of these work great for me. Hope you get the same results.

Re: Help with Nails

Sweet_Serenity — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:42:26 GMT

Please, Don't pick at cuticles, protection against bacteria and infections.... comment below speak with a physician.

Re: Help with Nails

CatsyCline — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:28:12 GMT

Have you seen a derm? if it gets infected and comes back just never goes away, it may need to be looked at.

Re: Help with Nails

luv pzzl — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:39:34 GMT

@Icegoddess I have this exact issue on a couple of fingers. Callous is a good desc, I use "ingrown" too. For the after digging, which I have to do or they hurt like a..., I apply carmex (white pot, yellow lid) a couple times daily. I have thought about seeing a derm. Can't wait for more replies. Good luck with yours. 🤞

Re: Help with Nails

Icegoddess — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 17:14:37 GMT

@luv pzzl , I use a triple antibiotic ointment since I got that infection once.

As far as the comment about picking the cuticle, this is not the cuticle. It is the skin surrounding the nail. And while I know it's bad to pick, something has to be done with the overgrowth or the hardened skin will develop a terribly painful hangnail. BTW, I also get overgrowth like that on the tops of some of my toes.

I have wondered if something with salicylic acid to exfoliate would help, but I don't see anything for the hands/nails that do that.

Re: Help with Nails

Drythe — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 17:29:58 GMT

@Icegoddess

I saw my Derm. a few months ago for a similar issue. He told me that the ‘out grow’ product could change the shape of my nail, and I would likely be unhappy.

His recommendation was to gently buff that skin with a fine emery board as needed, and rub oil into all nails just before bed, every night. He did not specify what oil, had some Rose Hip oil and Have bee using that.

He warned it it could take 3 ~ 6 months and it has been 5, But nails are good, roughness gone. 😀

Re: Help with Nails

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 17:41:53 GMT

I've been dealing with something similar and I'm a picker when it comes to the rough skin or a hang nail. which just makes matters worse. I've recently started using a multi collagen peptide powder and trying to be more faithful with using my hand cream. Nails are growing and the surrounding skin is all smooth.

Re: Help with Nails

Icegoddess — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 17:55:21 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@Icegoddess

I saw my Derm. a few months ago for a similar issue. He told me that the ‘out grow’ product could change the shape of my nail, and I would likely be unhappy.

His recommendation was to gently buff that skin with a fine emery board as needed, and rub oil into all nails just before bed, every night. He did not specify what oil, had some Rose Hip oil and Have bee using that.

He warned it it could take 3 ~ 6 months and it has been 5, But nails are good, roughness gone. 😀

@Drythe, never heard of the Outgrow product, but I don't think I ever would've considered it anyways. I do rub cuticle oil in most nights. Haven't tried buffing with an emery.

Re: Help with Nails

depglass — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 19:27:57 GMT

TIPS is the only reason I have fingernails, period. Without it I end up with nails breaking constantly. TIPS has been a Godsend. I also switched to glass files, mine are OPI from Amazon. They are good to gently file down that hard whatever its called before it becomes a hangnail. I occasionally drop one and break it, but they are worth the extra cost over emery boards. I also use First Aid Beauty Repair Cream as my hand cream most of the time.

Re: Help with Nails

BirkiLady — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 19:39:32 GMT

Please don't pick your cuticles. You could end up with serious infection in your nailbed. I would suggest a good cuticle cream applied throughout the day or at least before going to bed.

Burt's Bees has clear cuticle balm that is in a small tin which is easy to keep in a purse or pocket. I've been using it this summer prior to working in my flower beds and my nails remain gorgeous; no breakage at all. HTH

Re: Help with Nails

Alison Wonderland — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 00:18:54 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
Mostly I am happy with my nails. They do often break off right at the quick, but that's probably because I let them get too long. If you look at the picture, the skin next to the middle finger is the problem. It gets hard and overgrown, kinda like a callous. Then I pick at it until it becomes a huge hangnail. I would end up pulling the hangnail out which would then bleed and become painful for a couple of days. Occasionally, it will even become infected. I am now trying not to pull the hangnail out, but cutting it as deep into the crevice as I can get with the clippers, which works but the cycle continues. Any way to get that skin to soften up and stay soft? I use cuticle oil and every night I rub in O'Keefe's Working Hands, concentrating on the nail area. It does this only on the middle finger of both hands. There's nothing I'm currently doing that would explain that. Many years ago, maybe writing a lot since that is where a pencil would rest, but not anymore.

You are on the right path with O'Keefe's Working Hands. I would add a product with more exfoliation, such as an AHA/BHA cream/lotion. Gold Bond Rough and Bump Skin, CeraVe SA (salicylic acid) lotion, or AmLactin will all help.

But none them will be effective if you continue to pick at the skin and make it worse.That's a habit you'll need to break to really end the problem. If it gets infected, apply Neosporin immediately. I keep lotion and cuticle oil at every sink in the house, the end table where I watch TV, on my desk at work, and in my purse. Make applying that cream after every wash your new habit and apply cream whenever you think of picking.

As someone who bit my nails for years, I know how hard those habits can be to break, but I also know how worthwhile it is when you succeeed. Good luck!

Re: Help with Nails

Icegoddess — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 15:16:02 GMT

I'm trying Kerasal on them. If I can get them soft I won't pick at them. I don't pick at my other ones which are soft and don't grow hangnails.