Hangnails are common. Most people don’t notice a hangnail until after it has fully developed and they feel the pain from it. Hangnail pain relief is the first step to treating the issue. They may be small, but the pain, irritation, and discomfort hangnails cause are not. Most people experience hangnails when their skin is dry, such as in the winter or after being exposed to water for a prolonged period. Hangnails cause inflammation, and that swelling can press on the nerve endings and irritate them, leading to more pain and desiring instant hangnail pain relief.
Hangnails occur when small portions of skin get a tear near the cuticle. Anything that dries out the skin of your hands can make you more prone to hangnails. Finding quick hangnail pain relief is important.Hangnails hurt since there are a lot of nerve endings in the fingertips. People who bite their nails, or clip their cuticles down too closely to the nail bed, may also get hangnails more often. The one upside of hangnails is that they’re preventable. Moisturizing can help prevent hangnails, particularly when you see an ointment or balm since they hydrate and shield skin better than cream or lotion.
You should avoid cutting your cuticles yourself. Instead, apply a cuticle-removing cream and gently push them back with a cuticle pusher. This will keep nails looking clean while preventing hangnails. If your hands are exposed to water, cleansers, or other chemicals often, wearing a pair of rubber or plastic gloves to protect the skin on your hands. Don’t rip or pull off a hangnail. It can leave an open wound and introduce bacteria, which can result in an infection. If a hangnail is still attached to the live portion of the skin or nail bed, it can be painful when pulled. Pulling a hangnail off is most common type of hangnail pain. You know that throbbing feeling that comes with the raw, red territory after you’ve pulled off a hangnail? Yeah, that is why you’ll need fast hangnail pain relief.
5 Remedies for Hangnail Pain Relief
1. Aloe Vera
Thank to its soothing, healing, and moisturizing benefits, aloe vera can be used for hangnail pain relief. Packed with vitamins, minerals and enzymes, the gel from an aloe leaf not only moisturizes damaged skin but also has natural analgesic and antibiotic properties that help reduce pain. Aloe vera gel can heal and repair the damaged skin near the hangnails and speed up the growth of new skin. Simply apply aloe vera gel extracted from an aloe leaf on your painful hangnail and leave it on for as long as possible. Leave it on for a minimum of 30 minutes to let it completely absorb into the skin before washing it off. For best results, apply before going to bed and leave it on overnight.
2. Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is an age-old method of treating many different disorders in a number of cultures. Bentonite clay has anti-inflammatory properties that help to relieve painful hangnails. Using bentonite clay on your hangnail will protect the site from new infection, draw out any infection already present, reduce swelling and soothe the sore skin. The presence of healthy minerals in bentonite clay will remove any pus in your hangnail as well. Bentonite clay also increases circulation in the body, which can provide faster hangnail pain relief.
Mix a small amount of bentonite clay with cold water (adding more slowly until you have a thick paste). Do not use metal when working with this clay. Put the paste onto the hangnail, cover with a tiny piece of wet gauze and then wrap with a band-aid. Replace with fresh clay several times a day, until pain relief.
3. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt can significantly provide hangnail pain relief and relieve inflammation due to the hangnail. Epsom salt can help disinfect the area around the hangnail and flush out the toxins from the skin. It is made of magnesium sulfate, which is easily absorbed into the skin to exfoliate and prevent swelling. Soaking the hangnail in 1 cup water and 1 tsp. Epsom salt three to four times daily can provide hangnail pain relief. The soak should be repeated until the hangnail is healed, which can take two to three days. Add some drops of lavender oil, avocado oil, olive oil or vitamin E essential oil for their soothing antiseptic properties.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt is an another effective remedy for hangnail pain relief. Yogurt is very soothing, and it is an excellent anti-inflammatory so it will help to take down any swelling. The probiotics, or the healthy bacteria, present in the yogurt help relieve inflammation in the hangnails. The cold temperature of the yogurt will also bring much relief. It’s important to use plain unsweetened yogurt for this remedy.
5. Neroli Essential Oil
Neroli essential oil is excellent at soothing agitated nerves. Neroli essential oil or orange blossom oil is a potent painkiller as well as being anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Neroli has been shown to be an effective and therapeutic choice for the management of pain and inflammation. This oil also repairs damaged skin like around the hangnail. Neroli essential oil has been shown to to regenerate the skin cells and improve the elasticity of skin. It is important to dilute this oil as it is extremely concentrated. Use one teaspoon of carrier oil and 2 drops of neroli oil. Message into your hangnail. Wipe off excess oil and cover with a band-aid.
While prevention of hangnails is important you can always refer to this list for hangnail pain relief. Regular use of aloe vera, vitamin E oil, yogurt, petroleum jelly or honey can keep your cuticles moisturized and prevent hangnails. If your hangnail doesn’t cure on it’s own in a few days or shows signs of excessive puss or discoloration your doctor should examine your hangnail for signs of infection.
If your hangnail does become infected and you want to treat it yourself, check out How to Draw Infection Out of Hangnail