许多人都有指甲周围长倒刺的经历，这些倒刺不仅影响美观，还很容易引起疼痛。为了省事，很多人习惯顺手撕掉，这种错误方式会让你感觉特别痛，甚至还会出血。

 

当手指出现倒刺时，长辈总会说是平时蔬菜吃得少，缺维生素了。事实果真如此吗？人为什么会长倒刺呢？

 

为什么会长倒刺

 

Despite what its name suggests, a hangnail isn't part of a ripped nail still tenuously¹ attached to the base. It's a sliver² of skin that hangs off your finger on either side of your nail. Though it often seems like they pop up out of nowhere, they happen when the skin around your nails gets weak and brittle³ to the point of cracking.

“倒刺”并不像它字面所指是一根倒长的刺，而是指挂在指甲两侧的一小块手指皮肤。倒刺看似是无缘无故冒出来的，但其实当指甲周围的皮肤变得脆弱、易破裂时，才会长倒刺。

 

"They can result from a variety of things, like biting your nails, a bad manicure, dry skin, using harsh soap and detergents⁴, cold temperatures, and 'waterlogged' hands,'" dermatologist⁵ Dr. James Collyer told GQ.

皮肤科医生詹姆斯·科勒博士告诉《GQ》杂志：“倒刺可能是多种原因造成的，比如咬指甲、修甲不当、皮肤干燥、使用粗糙的肥皂和洗涤剂、低温和手部长期浸水。”

 

Spending a day in the pool or scrubbing your bathroom with a chemical solution can definitely make you more susceptible⁶. And unless you live in a place that stays balmy year-round, you probably have more trouble with hangnails during the winter.

在泳池里呆一天或用化学溶液擦洗浴室肯定会让你更容易长倒刺。除非你住在一个四季如春的地方，否则到了冬天，倒刺问题可能会更严重。

 

为什么长倒刺这么痛？

 

The reason hangnails cause a surprising amount of pain for such a small wound is because of all the nerve endings and blood vessels⁷ in your fingertips. The more inflamed⁸ your hangnail gets, the more it pushes on those nerves.

倒刺是很小的伤口，但是造成的疼痛感却是惊人的。这是因为指尖上有所有的神经末梢和血管。倒刺发炎越严重，对神经的刺激就越大。

 

如何预防倒刺

 

You can't exactly avoid winter or washing your hands—but you can routinely use lotion⁹ to keep them moisturized. If you're cleaning with chemicals or doing lots of dishes, don a pair of rubber gloves first. And when you're clipping your nails, try not to cut the cuticles¹⁰. Some people trim cuticles intentionally¹¹ because it makes nails look especially neat and well-manicured, but it can also weaken your nail beds against bacteria.

你不可能不过冬天、不洗手，但你可以经常使用乳液保持手部滋润。如果你会用化学品做清洁或经常洗盘子，要戴一副橡胶手套。剪指甲的时候，尽量不要剪到角质层。有些人故意修剪指甲周围的表皮，这样会使指甲看起来特别整洁，修剪整齐，但这也会削弱甲床抵抗细菌的能力。

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