These powerful natural treatments can both cure and prevent painful, irritating hangnails that cause pain and infections like paronychia to the cuticle area of the nails.

A hangnail, also known as an agnail or stepmother’s blessing, is an irritating and painful condition in which a skin tear or a small sliver of abnormal skin irritates the cuticle, which is the skin immediately surrounding your fingernails or toenails. When left untreated, hangnails can lead to paronychia, a bacterial infection that causes painful swelling and redness along the cuticle area.They generally affect the fingernails, but they can sometimes appear around the toenails, as well.

Generally caused by extreme dryness, excessive exposure to cold weather, harsh chemicals like acetone polish remover, and/or nail biting, hangnails are easy to treat at home. Most DIY remedies employ extreme hydration with natural ingredients that not only treat current hangnails but also prevent new hangnails from forming.