How To Push Nail Cuticles Back

The Cuticle

What is it?

Where is it?

And what the heck are we supposed to do with it?

I volition respond all of these questions and more nearly this really important blast care topic.

We've Been Duped

The unabridged planet has been taught the wrong definition for the "cuticle".

The tight ring of pare at the base of your nail plate is NOT the cuticle.

That band of skin is called the "proximal fold of the eponychium" or "nail fold".

In human anatomy, cuticle (sometimes confused with eponychium) refers to several structures. It refers to the layers of epidermal cells or keratinocytes that produce the horn protein keratin, and besides to the superficial layer of overlapping cells covering the pilus shaft (cuticula pili) that locks the hair into its follicle (See also Cuticle (hair). ~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuticle

So where is that elusive cuticle if what we've been taught is wrong?

The cuticle is a sparse layer of expressionless tissue riding on the nail plate to form a seal between the nail plate and eponychium to prevent pathogens from infecting the matrix area.

The cuticle pulls abroad from the underside of the eponychium and attaches tenaciously to the nail plate.

The cuticle should NOT be confused with the "eponychium". ~Doug Schoon, Smash Structure and Product Chemical science

The Proximal Fold of the Eponychium

Cuticle - Proximal Fold of the Eponychium

Healthy Proximal Fold

Please, please, please…DO Not Cut THIS SKIN!

The proximal fold is a required guardian seal that prevents germs and bacteria from getting to the nail matrix, where new cells are created.

I always know when girls and women are clipping and nipping. Their unabridged cuticle line is scarlet and inflamed. Basically, their eponychium is infected all the time.

If you go to a salon for a manicure, practise not ever allow your nail tech cutting this skin.

The all-time mode to proceed this skin soft and tight to the smash plate is with a high quality, jojoba wax ester based penetrating nail and cuticle oil.

Where Does The Cuticle Come From?

How the cuticle is created is fascinating to me and sounds like it should be painful.

Merely information technology isn't.

The Expiry Grip

Cuticle - Image of parts of the nail

CLICK Motion picture FOR LARGER Detail (or zoom in on your telephone)

The eponychium is living skin that covers approximately 20% of the smash plate, right over the the matrix.

The eponychium is a very important guardian seal preventing germs and bacteria from getting into the matrix.

Non surprisingly, the tissue that sits upon the nail plate is very different from the visible eponychium.

The underside of the eponychium nail fold has a strange, viscid texture. This is why it is so important to Non dig a tool underneath the nail fold.

Equally the nail cells are created and pushed forrad, the nail plate literally rips the lesser layer of eponychium cells with it.

It is these cells that are the cuticle.

Cuticle cells also tightly grip the proximal fold of the eponychium. This creates a nice, tight guardian seal.

For some people, the proximal fold releases from the cuticle on it'south own.

For people like me, that death grip is besides strong. My cuticle will pull the smash fold and stretch information technology out very thin.

In the photo in a higher place, you can see both examples. One half of the proximal fold has released on information technology'due south own and the other half is withal being stretched.

Almost people can't see their cuticle since the skin is so sparse, but this photo captured information technology perfectly.

Breaking the Cuticle's Grasp – Push Back

Should you lot button back your proximal fold?

I do (very gently with my other blast when I'm in the shower), merely it'due south completely up to you.

When you release the grip, your proximal fold is able to stay nice and tight. As long as y'all don't push button too hard with your fingernail, the healthy seal under the eponychium stays in tact, and your matrix stays healthy.

You lot don't ever desire to push so hard that your fingernail or tool goes under the proximal fold.

My Experiment

I did an experiment to figure all of this out. I stopped pushing dorsum my nail folds for 3 weeks to encounter what would happen.

The proximal folds were stretched an boostedthree millimeters! I as well started getting those painful, thin hangnails that tear and bleed on my eponychium.

When I released the nail folds from the cuticle, the pare remained stretched out.

Within 24 hours that skin was drying out and I had a potent desire to prune it.

Ah-ha!

I had finally figured out why people clip their proximal folds!

Geeky…just that was an exciting discovery for me. Since I've always pushed back my proximal folds, I've never had the desire to prune before.

I started oiling and massaging that skin several times a day. Within a week my proximal folds were back to normal and looking beautifully healthy.

The Solution?

Only use your fingernail to gently push button back the proximal fold to break the death grip well-nigh every 4 to 7 days.

If your nails are actually short, you tin can apply an orange wood stick. Just exist gentle.

If you keep your skin hydrated with a high quality, jojoba wax ester basedpenetrating smash and cuticle oil, and then it will be piece of cake to push dorsum your nail folds.

This can too exist washed in the shower. Just make sure you are wearing i coat of base coat when showering.

Many of my readers know that my #1 Rule is "Never Shower Naked".

Proper Cuticle Removal

Since polish and nail enhancements don't bond to skin on the nail plate, the cuticle should be properly removed with gentle scraping.

Again, some people are able to scrape the cuticle off with their fingernail in the shower.

Others like to use a cuticle remover.

How Cuticle Removers Work

The all-time ingredient to dissolve human protein cells is "lye". Y'all'll also find information technology labeled equally potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or caustic potash.

Lye is largely used in the soap making process. All cuticle removers contain lye.

Personally, I honey using a cuticle remover. Some people hate it.

Currently, I utilise the Sally Hansen™ remover that looks similar a bluish gel. Some other favorite of many blast artists is Blue Cross™.

I've used Blue Cross™ and I don't care for it for 3 reasons: It's as well watery, it eats my live skin, and causes those tiny strips of shredded skin below the proximal fold. Y'all can see some of those hangnails in the photo farther upwardly in this article.

Lye Dissolves All Skin

The cuticle is dead skin.

The eponychium is live pare.

Cuticle removers have no preference.

The directions on all cuticle removers tell you lot to apply information technology to merely the nail plate, and practise not let it touch your skin.

Equally many of you lot know, that is easier said than done.

I have much more control with a cream or gel type of remover. Watery removers wick all around on your fingertip skin.

What's In Your Toolbox?

Orangish wood stick?

Plastic cuticle tool?

Or metallic cuticle tool that follows the curve of your nail plate?

Doug Schoon prefers that people use the orange woods stick. I think it's most likely because the metal tool is widely driveling.

If yous use too much downward pressure most the proximal fold, you tin cause damage to the matrix. This impairment is often seen as white spots in the boom plate. These are nail bruises.

Personally, I like the metal, spoon shaped tool. It'due south faster.

As a decorated mom and business woman, I don't frequently go the luxury to practise my nail care the slow way. I likewise use the tool correctly, which I explain in more particular below.

I was recently looking through my nail photographs to find 1 with those white bruises. I've been photographing my naked nails for 3 years and not one has any white spots! I was lucky enough to borrow one from a friend.

Depending on your budget, try dissimilar tools to run into what you adopt.

The Solution?

For two years I have been looking for a solution to the strong, dissolving power of cuticle removers without damaging my skin. And I finally found it.

Simply encompass your skin with a layer of a latex barrier like Bliss Buss™ Only Peel,or watered down white gum (25%/75%) if you have a latex allergy.

Allow it dry out then you are free to apply cuticle remover safely.

From Beginning to Finish

Employ your skin barrier and allow to dry.
Apply the remover post-obit the manufacturers directions.
Using a cuticle removal tool–gently, gently, gently–scrape back and stop correct at the proximal fold. Glide the tool against the surface of your boom plate. The remover solution will have dissolved the cuticle so downward pressure is unnecessary.
The cuticle will build up on the back of the remover. Wipe that onto a paper towel.
Turn the tool xc degrees to your your boom plate, and slide the tool forth your proximal fold to scoop away the remaining cuticle and remover.
One time you are finished, remove the bulwark and rinse your hands with water.

In Conclusion

I promise you've plant this article helpful. For all of my loyal readers who have been patiently waiting, I'm sorry it took then long to write it.

Only call back, with all of your nail care and boom enhancement product apply… if information technology hurts… stop.

Remove Your Cuticles the RIGHT Manner for Healthy Nails

It is extremely dangerous to cutting proximal folds (cuticles) considering they protect the nail matrix where nail cells are created.
Cuticle cutting, removing dead or live pare with a drill is too very dangerous.
AVOID from Dry Manicures/Russian Manicures.

The dead cuticle peel needs to be removed with the correct tools.