If your torn skin is bleeding, apply pressure with a clean, dry paper towel or cloth for about 10 minutes to stop the bleeding before you apply a bandage.
A hangnail is just like any other wound, so it’s important to keep it clean to avoid an infection. The warm water will also soften up your skin and make the hangnail easier to treat.
If you don’t have a clean towel, use paper towels instead or shake your hands off and let them air dry. Don’t ever use a dirty towel that could transfer dirt and bacteria into your torn skin.
If you don’t have cuticle trimmers, you can use manicure scissors or nail clippers instead. If you don’t have some kind of disinfecting liquid, you can wash your cutting utensil in warm water and detergent.
If the hangnail is on your dominant hand and you are having trouble trimming it with your non-dominant hand, you can get someone to help you trim it.
The ointment will keep your hangnail moist to help it heal faster, as well as prevent infection while the wound heals.
The bandage will also help keep dirt and bacteria from getting in your torn skin and potentially infecting it or slowing down the healing process.
As long as you take care of your hangnail like this every day, it should heal in about 5-7 days.
Since hangnails are caused by dry skin, if you keep your skin moist after your hangnail heals, it will decrease the chances of it happening again. [12] X Expert Source Mohiba Tareen, MDFAAD Board Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
