"Hang Nails", how to treat them, and their role in the international economy in Y2K

General Questions
#1

I recently got two “hang nails” on both middle fingers; hang nails occur when a nail cuts into the finger at the side creating a deep laceration about 4 mm in length extending towards the front of the fingernail. I have tried using Band Aid brand adhesive bandages, but we do not have Curads so the flesh underneath becomes damp and raw and never heals together, even after being held together for several hours. How should I treat these, do I have to get sutures for God’s sake?

You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right.

–Lyndon B. Johnson

#2

I am a compulsive nail-biter, Three. I’ve found, over the years, that the best solution is to gently place the hangnail itself inbetween your fron teeth, bite, and pull like a sonofabitch. It hurts like nobody’s business, and the pain takes time to go away, but at least you won’t catch it on anything. Or touch it. Or look at it too long. Cause those are sensative suckers. Just get rid of it. Like taking duct tape off a hairy part of your body, do it quick and be done with it.

#3

Perhaps I have the incorrect terminoligy here, i have two deep cuts that bleed occasionaly on my middle fingers from my finger nail.

You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right.

–Lyndon B. Johnson

#4

Well, you’re just a freak then. Sorry, can’t help ya.

#5

Don’t bite your fucking hang nails! Shit! If you grasp that skin in your teeth and tear it down you are just going to make it worse! Get a good pair of nail clippers. Clip off that bit of skin as close to the finger as you can. Don’t bite it off or you will just make it worse. Trust me. I’m not a doctor, nor do I look like one, but I do an awful lot with my hands.

For Your Information or FYI: wear gloves when you do dishes. Trust me, male or female this will save you a lot of nail hassle. Keep your nails short. Don’t bite them. If you get a rough edge or a break immediately file it down. Everything I do is with my hands and I must say at 33 they look about 25…

#6

I never bit them and I always kept my nails short, we are obviously talking about two entirely different things here.

You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right.

–Lyndon B. Johnson

#7

Okay, perhaps we are. Are you talking about hang nails or an ingrown nail? Is this on your fingers or toes?

Best!
Byz

(Edited for polite-itude)

[Note: This message has been edited by Nickrz]

#8

Trim them with clippers as short as possible without hurting then apply a drop of super glue to it…works like a charm.

#9

I’m sorry - I have to disagree. A hangnail can either be a minute of pain or a week of annoyance. Grab that puppy with tweezers and yank straight out.

Yes, it will sting for about a minute, but it’ll be over. I hate having that thing pinching me until it grows out.

You can become a captain of industry and rich beyond your wildest dreams, but to your family you’re still that dumb kid they tricked into eating a worm. - Dennis Miller

#10

I find I get fewer hangnails if I don’t use gloves. The detergent seems to deter them.

Use a clipper for hangnails – less painful than other methods. I used to fix them by using merthiolate, but the red fingers weren’t very attractive.

Read “Sundials” in the new issue of Aboriginal Science Fiction.
www.sff.net/people/rothman

#11

I used to get ingrown nails al of the time on my big toe. What my Doc suggested is that I take a small piece of a cotton ball and wet it and jam it under the nail with a tooth pick (use the kind with the blunt end because the pointy ones hurt like hell) THis apparently gently lifts the nail so when it grows it grows awat from the flesh and not into it. I did this at night every day for about a week and it worked like a charm. If yours are on the middle finger a friendly word of advise don’t be showing them off to too many people they may misconstrue your intentions.

There are only two things that are infinite…the Universe and Man’s stupidity…I’m not sure about the Universe though.

#12

I agree with Babar and Joe. I just grab hold of hangnails with my teeth and pull until they come out. It hurts, but it does the job. And I bite my nails too, so there! :stuck_out_tongue:

#13

Thank you Patricunus for actually reading the post and your advice, I will try it.

You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right.

–Lyndon B. Johnson

#14

::puzzled look::

Hmmm, I thought this was the going to be a sequel to “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” from the title…

Oh, well.

It sounds, as other posters have suggested, that you’re describing ingrown nails, not hang nails. I agree with the recommendations from PS, but these can become infected & require antibiotics. These can also keep coming back; if so a minor surgical procedure to remove the outside 2-3 mm of the nail from the nail bed on out can be done under local anesthesia to prevent recurrences.

See your doctor if home remedies don’t improve the situtaion or if redness begins extending beyond the fingertip.

Good Luck!

Sue from El Paso
members.aol.com/majormd/index.html