Is it better to cut your nails into a square or round shape? Most people probably cut their nails wrong

In our daily lives, nail trimming seems to be a trivial matter, but did you know that an improper operation may cause unexpected troubles to your fingers? Check if you have the following seemingly harmless but potentially risky nail trimming habits...

Three ways of cutting nails that can easily cause ingrown nails

1. Cut close to the flesh

Many people are used to cutting their nails very short, thinking that this can keep their hands clean and avoid dirt. However, this practice ignores the natural protective function of nails - they protect the soft tissue of our fingertips. Excessive cutting, especially cutting close to the flesh, will expose the soft tissue to the outside and make it vulnerable to injury. Doing this for a long time will also affect the normal growth of nails, causing the front edge of the nail to continuously recede and the nail cover to gradually shrink. This situation not only affects the appearance, but also increases the risk of "ingrown nails" - the edges and burrs of the new nails will gradually pierce into the flesh, causing pain and infection.

2. Cut your nails into a round shape

Another popular mistake is to cut the nails into a round shape or trim the corners on both sides of the nails. Many people think that this can make the hands look more delicate. However, this practice actually pushes the nails into the flesh. When the sides of the nails are cut too deep, the flesh that originally competed with the nail will cross the original boundary and grow toward the middle. This will not only cause ingrown nails, but may also puncture the skin and become a channel for bacteria to invade. Common bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus may invade through these tiny wounds, causing inflammation such as paronychia, resulting in redness, swelling, pain and even pus, which seriously affects daily life and health.

3. Grinding your nails back and forth and over-cleaning hard cuticles

After trimming the nails, many people are used to grinding their nails to clean the hard cuticles around the nails. Although moderate grinding can make the nails smoother and prevent them from snagging on clothes, excessive or incorrect grinding, especially rubbing back and forth, will weaken the structure of the nails and reduce their strength.
At the same time, excessive cleaning of the hard cuticles at the base of the nails and around them may not only increase the risk of ingrown toenails, but also destroy the natural moisturizing barrier of the nail bed, causing the surrounding skin to become dry and increasing the formation of hangnails.

How to cut nails correctly?

By following these three simple steps, we can not only avoid nail damage, but also promote healthy nail growth and keep our hands and feet clean and beautiful.

1. Disinfect tools carefully

Before you start cutting your nails, make sure the tools you use are clean. You can use a 90% alcohol pad to carefully wipe the nail clippers and nail polish sticks, rinse them with hot water and dry them thoroughly . This step is very important because it can prevent bacterial infection and protect the nails from possible pathogens. It is also important to choose the right tools. For example, nail clippers with half-moon blades are more suitable for fingers, while larger and straighter nail clippers are more suitable for toenails.

2. Soften your nails and skin first

Cutting your nails after a bath or soak can soften the nails and skin, making the trimming process much easier. This step is especially important for cutting toenails, because toenails are usually thicker and harder than fingernails and need more softening to make trimming easier.

3. Horizontal shearing

• When you start cutting your nails, it is recommended to start from the middle of the nail and cut in a straight line .

• Do not cut too much at one time, leave at least 1 mm white edge and avoid cutting too short.

• For both sides of the nail, if they feel too sharp, you can use a nail grinding stick to gently round the edges. Remember to grind in one direction to prevent the nail layer from splitting.

In fact, the key to correctly cutting nails is to keep the nails close to the flesh on both sides (do not cut too short and do not cut too deep on both sides). This method can not only maintain the natural shape of the nails, but also avoid the problem of the nail edges being too sharp and causing piercing into the flesh.

After completing the above steps, you may want to apply some hand cream to provide extra moisture and protection for your nails and hand skin.