A hangnail or agnail is a small, torn piece of skin near a fingernail or toenail. Unlike whitlows, hangnails are usually caused by dry skin or (in the case of fingernails) nail biting, and may be prevented with proper moisturization of the skin.
When attempting to remove a hangnail, additional skin may be painfully ripped off of its attachment if not broken properly. This may lead to a painful infection called paronychia. Therefore, hangnails should usually be cut using nail scissors or a nail clipper; biting them frequently makes it worse. People with a hangnail should be careful to cut it all off and rub hand lotion into the cuticles two to three times a day.
The term "hangnail" is misleading, as a hangnail is not an actual part of the nail. It is dead, dried skin, not nail, the latter being mostly made up of keratin, a tough fibrous protein. It can, however, also include a bit of nail, hanging loose from the rest of the body of the nail, attached to the nail bed.
Colloquial terms for hangnail in the UK include "catchy" and "stepmother's blessing".
Colloquial terms for hangnail in New Zealand is known as "kwik"
Agnail is the Middle English term meaning "corn". It comes from the Old English term angnægl (from ang - tight/painful + nægl - nail). Agnail was adapted to hangnail by a process of folk etymology.
Nail biting is seen in children and sometimes in adults too. It is a sign of controlled emotion, like anger or aggression. Children with nail biting habits bite nails until they ...
... of a physical routine, or can be indicative of deeper psychological root causes. ... Nail-Biting-offer-a-hand-for-quitting: Stopping Stress to Prevent and Treat Finger Nail Biting
Nail biting could damage your nails or make you sick. Read more.
Nail-biting can cause your fingertips to be red and sore and your cuticles to bleed. Nail-biting also increases your risk for infections around your nailbeds and in your mouth
Learn about compulsive nail biting or onychophagia, cuticle picking, and self-mutilation. Repetitive nail biting and skin picking can cause scars and shame. Support, articles ...
Learn how to stop nail biting successfully. Find all about nail biting treatments, product reviews and causes, also check our articles and news section.
The Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, NJ, is part of Valley Health System which also includes Valley Home Care and Valley Health Medical Group. Telephone: 201-447-8000. E-mail ...
Nail biting could damage your nails or make you sick. Read more.
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Frequent Nail Biting Can Cause Bruxism June 17th, 2008 - 1 Comment - Category: Precautions and Treatments. Experts are of the opinion that frequent nail biting can lead to what is ...