Sep 17, 2024 · Learn about treating hangnails, including where they come from, how to treat them safely, and more.

A hangnail is a small piece of skin or nail next to a fingernail or toenail. [1] Hangnails are typically caused by having dry skin, trauma to the fingers, or ingrown nails.

Jan 15, 2025 · A hangnail is a small, torn piece of skin that appears at the edge of a fingernail. Despite its name, a hangnail isn't part of the nail itself but instead a sliver of skin that can peel away from the …

Sep 10, 2025 · A hangnail is a torn piece of skin near your nail. You can typically remove a hangnail with nail clippers. Avoid chewing or biting hangnails, which may lead to infection.

Dec 8, 2021 · Even though it’s called a hangnail, that little piece of skin isn’t part of the nail. Instead, it’s a torn piece of skin that hangs loose next to your nails. And it’s rare to have hangnails on your toes, …

Mar 10, 2025 · Hangnails are pesky little skin tears that develop when a sliver of skin splits away from a cuticle or fingernail. Hangnails are small in size, but they can cause a great deal of pain if they get …

Dec 12, 2025 · An infected hangnail is a form of paronychia (a condition where bacteria or fungi enter the skin around the nail). The infection can often be treated at home, but sometimes seeing your …

Oct 11, 2018 · Hangnails are very common and can be caused by several things. Many people experience hangnails when their skin is dry such as during the drier, colder days of winter or with …

Jul 29, 2022 · This article explains more about what can cause a hangnail, how to treat a hangnail, when to contact a doctor for a hangnail, and other frequently asked questions about hangnails.

What Hangnails Actually Are A hangnail isn’t part of your nail at all—it’s a tiny piece of torn skin that lifts away from the cuticle or side of the finger.