Home remedy against chapped cuticles | Chapped cuticles

Home remedy against chapped cuticles

It is important to find the cause of cracked cuticles. Accordingly, lifestyle modifications and, if necessary, underlying diseases should be corrected. In some cases the use of home remedies is sufficient or additionally helpful.

A household remedy of choice is olive oil. The oil should be rubbed generously onto the affected areas. Then the hands should be wrapped in warm, moist cloths.

The application time should be between 15-30 minutes. It is also possible to let the oil work over night. Cotton gloves can be used instead of cloths.

Usually the cuticle is less cracked after this. This household remedy can be used regularly, depending on the needs. In some cases, the addition of sugar is additionally supportive.

In this case a quantity ratio of 1:1 should be achieved. An individual adjustment of the quantity ratio is conceivable. The more sugar is added, the greater the peeling effect.

Depending on the condition of the cuticle, this effect may or may not be desired. In other cases the addition of lemon juice is preferred. This has a disinfecting effect and kills certain pathogens on the cuticle.

Furthermore, almond or tea tree oil can counteract cracked cuticles. To a certain extent, tea tree oil is considered a kind of natural antibiotic. It kills some bacterial and viral pathogens that are present on the cuticle. After the oil treatments, the cuticles should be rubbed with a moisturizing hand cream.

The right cuticle care

There are a number of different ointments and creams for the care of hands and cuticles that can be purchased in drugstores and over-the-counter in pharmacies. What they have in common is that they are moisturizing and contain soothing extracts such as chamomile or almond oil. There are also ointments with antiseptic components that keep the skin “clean” and thus prevent inflammation and infection.

These products can be tried if necessary and it is best to seek advice in a pharmacy. Apart from that, there are also some home remedies that can effectively help against chapped and brittle cuticles. These self-experiments should not be attempted, however, if there is already pronounced purulent inflammation, or if there is very severe pain.

High-quality oils are very well suited to care for chapped and cracked cuticles. A very good combination is almond oil with a few drops of tea tree oil. The almond oil shows fast good results and cares the skin effectively.A few drops of tea tree oil have a slightly antiseptic and soothing effect on sore cuticles.

The oils can be applied directly to the cuticles and massaged in gently. If the direct application of the oil is unpleasant, you can also add some cream or vaseline to the oils. The creams should be as free as possible from perfumes and fragrances, as these can irritate the skin.

More effective is the care if it is left on overnight. To do this, apply a thick layer of the oil or the cream/oil mixture to the affected areas and cover your hands with cotton gloves while sleeping. In the morning, simply wash off the excess cream residue with a little lukewarm water.

Excess cuticles should never be cut off just like that. This only promotes the development of inflammation. Also protruding cuticle shreds, as they are common with cracked cuticles, should not be cut off and certainly not bite off.

Chewing on the cuticle only leads to the entry of bacteria. If the excess cuticle bothers you, you should soak the cuticle a little in warm water and oil and then push it back carefully. People with chapped cuticles should be careful not to wash their hands with detergent or other aggressive soaps.

In addition, rough paper towels, as they are sometimes found in public toilets, and air dryers should be avoided. They only dry out the skin even more and make it more chapped. You should get into the habit of putting cream on your hands after washing them.