Cuticles are the most overlooked aspect of our nails. They can determine the health of our nails, and leaving them unkempt can make your nails look dry and crusty.
What if you just got a fresh manicure and noticed your cuticles are red and inflamed? That is a sign to address the situation immediately. The cuticles may seem useless however, they are essential to keep healthy.
So why do cuticles get itchy, and what can you do about it? Your itchy, inflamed cuticles can mean several things. They were probably not cleaned, or they were cut off. Avoid the irritation by keeping cuticles moisturized, not cutting them, and ensuring good manicure hygiene.
While it’s a normal process to nip the cuticles during a manicure, it could be a reason why they are inflamed. Other causes can be an allergic reaction to gel polish or other nail products, a tool that was not disinfected, or your cuticles were infected from another source.
The good news is, there is a way to solve the problem ASAP. Keeping up good manicure habits – at the salon or at home – and sticking to a skin and nail care routine for your cuticles is crucial to prevent the problem as well.
In this article, we’ll talk all things cuticles, especially why they might be itchy and how to care for them properly. We’ll share some tips as well as some key tools to help you keep this underrated part of your nails healthy and happy. Let’s get started.
Itchy Cuticles – Why It Happens
Before we know why it happens, we need to understand what the cuticles are.
I know, you may be thinking this is common sense doesn’t everyone know about their cuticle? Surprisingly enough, no.
All About Cuticles
It never hurts to go back and learn the basics.
Do cuticles serve a particular purpose? Yes! Cuticles help us protect our nails from various types of bacteria or fungus, and they also combat infections.
According to Currie Day Spa, they describe cuticles as “ the dead skin at the base of the fingernails or toenails; they are a barrier at the base of your nail to prevent infection.”
Cuticles are a highly delicate area of our nails. They can get dry, cracked, or itchy very quickly. Without healthy cuticles, you could risk receiving other nail diseases. It will help them do their job to keep you healthy if you take care of your cuticles daily.
Paronychia
When your cuticles do get itchy and red, there is a technical name for it. It’s called paronychia.
Healthline defines paronychia as “an infection of the skin around your cuticles.” It can even spread to the sides of the nail wall.
In the same article, Healthline has also listed symptoms of paronychia:
- Redness of the skin around the nail
- Sensitive or Tender Feeling
- Inflammation/Itch
- Nail detachment
- Changes in nail, texture, or color
- Pus-filled blisters
There are two kinds of paronychia to look out for:
One is acute paronychia, which is a mild form of infection and will usually go away in a short time. It can also be treated with home remedies.
Then there is chronic paronychia. This form of the infection lasts for long periods of time, or it is recurring. Family Doctor states that “moisture can allow certain germs, fungus, and bacteria to grow.”
If your hands are always wet, there is a higher chance of developing paronychia. It can also come from a specific type of dermatitis. Usually, extreme forms of paronychia are treated with an antibiotic cream.
Other factors contributing to infected itchy cuticles are trimming the cuticle, biting nails/hangnails, physical damage, allergic reaction, and skin conditions.
Your Gel Manicure Could Be The Problem
Whether you get your nails professionally done or do them at home, you could be putting your cuticles at risk. Your cuticles are being exposed to all kinds of products, tools, and chemicals.
Why can gel polish inflame or infect your cuticles? According to NailsFAQ, “Cuticles itch after gel polish because the immune system reacts to chemical components in the gel polish and liquid products used together.”
If there isn’t enough time for the chemical components to evaporate, it can cause a problem. Trapping liquids with a moisturizer or oil can start a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus on your cuticles. If there’s anything we learned earlier, it’s that itchy cuticles can lead to a serious case of Paronychia.
NailsFAQ list the following conditions that can be caused by gel polish:
- Swelling, red cuticles
- Itching begins right after gel polish application
- Uncontrollable itch
- Irritation can not be reduced
What to Do – At The Salon
The salon is a tricky one. It can be challenging to find a nail tech who knows the proper hygiene techniques. Yes, you are trained to learn to practice good hygiene; however how it’s carried out is the most important.
Your nail salon may carry various brands of products and tools. Sometimes, especially for gel, those products can create a chemical irritation on the nail if mixed from different brands.
If tools are not disposable or cleaned correctly, this can also create some issues for your cuticles. Using devices, with residue from a previous client can do some damage.
It is crucial to make sure your nail tech is carrying out proper hygiene to ensure the safety and health of their clients. Ask if they mix products from different brands or politely request they use compatible products on your manicure. Watch and ensure they clean and dispose of tools properly as well.
What to Do – At Home
You can cause some severe damage at home.
- Those all-inclusive gel nail kits online can be very tempting to purchase. However, the quality of the gel nail kit might be questionable. When the ingredients are unknown or not disclosed, using mystery products can result in severe allergic reactions, especially if you are prone to sensitive skin.
- Not implementing the proper techniques can lead to damage. It is not recommended to trim or cut your cuticles. This can lead to bleeding, infection, and irritation if not executed properly.
- Nail products that are not professional grade can damage the cuticle and damage the nail bed. Even when you are doing a regular manicure it is crucial to make sure you are using the proper technique.
The biggest struggle doing your nails at home is trying to perform a manicure on your non-dominant hand. Imagine trying to cut your cuticles with your non-dominant hand. You’re in for a mess!
Spare yourself the risk by not cutting your cuticles and using only high-quality, trusted products and brands which disclose the ingredients and materials they use.
It sounds scary hearing all the causes of itchy cuticles. Who knew they could turn into something more extreme? However, there are millions of things you can do if you ever come across itchy cuticles. Let’s read more about them.
How To Alleviate Itchy Cuticles
The good news is, itchy cuticles can be alleviated. There is a fix for this irritating problem.
The severity of the itchiness can help determine what remedy will be the best option for you. Home remedies are a practical option if you have a mild case. The best part is, you don’t need to buy any crazy miracle product. Everything you need is most likely already in your house.
If it’s a severe case, you may need to slow down with the gel manicures, let your nails and cuticles breathe while you are tending to them. Your cuticles will thank you in the long run.
For chronic and recurrent irritation, it may be time to see a doctor. They will most likely assess the situation and determine the solution for you. In most cases, it’s an antibiotic cream.
Regardless of what remedy you think works for you, let’s dive in-depth and explain how exactly we can treat inflamed and itchy cuticles.
Form New Habits
To help prevent itchy cuticles, you can implement daily habits to make sure you are keeping your nails as healthy as possible. These habits can easily be thrown into your getting-ready routine to make sure you never miss a step.
Here are some regular habits to keep up for your cuticle health:
1. Trim, shape, or cut your nails regularly. This will make sure that your nails always continue to grow healthy. Regularly tending the length and shape of your nail will help avoid it breaking and getting an infection.
2. Moisturizing your cuticles will keep them from getting cracked and dry. You don’t have to moisturize constantly, but once a day should improve the state of your cuticles. This cuticle oil works wonders to nourish them properly. We love putting it on before bed!
3. Don’t bite your nails! This will save you in the long run. If you always need to fidget with your hands, find a fidget spinner or something similar to keep your hands and mind off your nails.
4. Push back your cuticles. Cutting or trimming cuticles is not always necessary. Soften your cuticles in warm water and take a wooden orange stick to push them back gently—no more overgrown cuticles.
5. Avoid irritating and drying products if you are constantly cleaning or washing dishes; wear gloves instead. The less contact with hot water, the better. If you work with your hands often, especially with solvents or chemicals that can dry them out, protective gloves are a great tool.
6. Apply a nail strengthening treatment. Applying these treatments once a week can protect the nail from breaking. Nail strengthening treatments are great for people who want to grow their nails healthily.
7. Supplements also help strengthen from within. Check with a doctor to see how your diet can change and what supplements you can benefit from. Biotin is a popular supplement to improve hair, skin, and nails.
Cuticle Care Home Routine
Follow this quick and easy routine once a week to keep cuticles healthy. It’s fast, easy, and your nails will thank you for it later on:
- Remove any remaining nail polish.
- Trim, cut, and file your nails.
- Soak finger in warm water or a cuticle remover solution.
- Push cuticles back with a wooden orange stick.
- Apply a high-quality cuticle oil.
This routine is easy to maintain at home. You also don’t have to be a professional to perform this routine. After the first few weeks, it will become second nature to take care of your cuticles.
Alleviating Severe Itchy Cuticles
If you are finding yourself constantly irritated around your cuticles, there are several steps to take.
First, stop all manicures and remove all the products from/around your nails. Let them breathe, and slowly encourage them to return to their natural state.
Try treating cuticles with ointments like Neosporin. These ointments are formulated to relieve infection around the body. It’s a first aid ointment that is accessible to anyone.
Finally, I know it can be uncomfortable and frustrating to deal with itchy cuticles constantly. However, visiting a dermatologist or doctor will be beneficial to see if a more potent antibiotic cream is needed to treat the area.
Best Tools For Itchy Cuticles
Let’s go over the essential tools needed to avoid itchy cuticles – especially after a gel manicure. We’ll also share our best recommended product for each, below:
| Rank | Products | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Fiezkaa Orange Sticks For Nails | Pushing back cuticles safely |
| 2. | Sally Hansen Nail Nutrition Nail Strengthener | Naturally strengthening nails |
| 3. | Neosporin Original Antibiotic Ointment | Treating infections safely and early |
| 4. | Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab | Moisturizing nails regularly |
Picking up these or similar tools will put you well on your way to developing a routine to keep those cuticles healthy, happy, and itch-free.
1. Nail Strengthener
A nail strengthener will add a clear coat of product to the nails to protect them from damage. Apply a fresh coat once a week to grow your nails out healthy, long, and strong.
Recommended: OPI Nail Envy
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You can keep your nails healthy and resilient with this nail strengthener from OPI. It has a beautiful shine if you want to wear it alone and also doubles as a great base coat.
This classic has been around for a long time for a reason. Plus, there are multiple versions of Nail Envy so you can find the perfect formula for your specific needs.
2. Wooden Orange Stick
These sticks are cut perfectly for manicures and to push back the cuticles. The rounded scoop edges make it perfect for sliding on the nail bed and gently pushing back cuticles. You should use them when the cuticles have been softened.
Recommended: Fiezkaa Orange Sticks For Nails
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This is the universal tool for taking care of your nails. These orange sticks will help remove gel polish while also pushing back cuticles and cleaning the nails.
These doubled-ended tools are sharp on one side and have a scooped edge on the other—making them the essential manicure tool.
3. Antibiotic Cream
It’s never a bad idea to purchase a first aid cream or ointment. They are formulated to treat common infections on the skin universally. Put on a band-aid after the cream to ensure no outside factors will affect the area.
Recommended: Neosporin Original Antibiotic Ointment
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This is the best product to treat burning, itching, cuts, and scrapes, not just around your cuticle. Neosporin is accessible and affordable. This topical cream provides 24-hour protection when applied to an affected area. It promotes a healthy recovery and nourished skin.
4. Cuticle Oil Pen
Keep your cuticles hydrated. Having a designated cuticle oil will keep them from building up dry, dead skin. These cuticle oil pens dispense the perfect amount of product in just one swipe.
Recommended: Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab
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This cuticle pen from Sally Hansen will quench the driest of cuticles. It is formulated with Jasmine and Rose to soothe irritation. Vitamin E conditions the skin. Follow directions on the label for best application and use it regularly to keep those cuticles well hydrated.
Itchy Cuticles – The Takeaway
Itchy, red, and inflamed cuticles are never fun. Thankfully there are multiple ways to deal with this inconvenience.
There are many reasons why cuticles get itchy and inflamed. Your gel manicure could even be the culprit. You may be improperly taking care of your cuticles. Or maybe you just had an infected hangnail.
For mild cases, treating your cuticles at home is a breeze. Establish a quick and effective cuticle care routine to practice weekly to both treat and prevent irritated cuticles. Even an antibiotic cream like Neosporin can heal the aggravated area.
For severe cases, stop all manicures and visit a doctor. Resist the urge to self-diagnose your itchy cuticles. You could be damaging your nails even further, leave it to the professionals. A doctor can determine the best treatment.
A professional medical opinion can save you a lot of pain in the end. It’s always important to make sure other areas don’t become infected.
Regardless, always make sure to have the following products stocked up in your house and use them in your cuticle care routine:
- Orange Wooden Nail Sticks
- Nail Strengthener
- Antibiotic Cream
- Cuticle Oil
- Gloves
Avoid exposing your hand to drying agents and avoid wetting your hand for long periods. Remember to wear gloves and apply cuticle oil daily.
Are you ready to leave itchy, inflamed nails behind? You’ll have healthy, nourished nails in no time. Be ready to be rid of dry, brittle nails. Now is the perfect time to start your new cuticle routine, just in time for summer. You should notice your nails will transform in a matter of weeks.
Up Next: How To Stop Cutting Cuticles – The Best Way
