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• Part 2 of 2: How to Prevent Burrs

1 Soak your fingers. Soak your fingers in warm water for about 10 minutes. Warm water will soften your skin and nails, making it easier to trim the burrs.

• For extra hydration, add a couple of drops of vitamin E oil or olive oil to the water.

2 Cut off the burrs. Cut off any burrs with clean, sharp nail clippers. Try to trim as close to the base of your nail as possible. The closer you cut to the base, the less likely the burr will snag on something (like clothing).

• Do not pull or rip off the burr. This will lead to uneven skin tearing, which will further irritate the skin. Pulling out the burr may cause minor bleeding.
• Don't trim more skin or nail than you should. This can lead to a deep cut that can easily get infected.

3 Apply antibacterial ointment. An antibacterial ointment will help speed up healing, as well as kill bacteria and prevent them from entering the wound. Apply very little ointment all over the affected area.

• If the burr was deep, bandage your finger to prevent possible infection.

4 Moisten the damaged area. If the burr was small and shallow, apply vitamin E oil to the wound. Vitamin E is easily absorbed into the skin, providing it with the necessary hydration. In addition to vitamin E, you can moisturize your hands with just about any moisturizer to prevent dry, brittle cuticles (which is the main cause of burrs).

• Apply oil or moisturizer several times a day, especially after touching hot water or washing your hands.
• Use moisturizers such as petroleum jelly, honey, olive oil, and coconut oil to help prevent burrs and keep your hands soft and hydrated.

Part 2 of 2: How to Prevent Burrs

1. 1 Moisten the nail bed. Dryness is the main cause of burrs, so it is very important to moisturize your hands with oils and / or deep-acting lotions.
   • Dry your hands dry. Water acts as an irritant and can cause more pain.
   • Drink enough water throughout the day to maintain a healthy fluid balance.
   • Wear gloves when handling cleaning products or water. This is an additional measure to protect your hands from drying out that can occur from contact with soap and water.
2. 2 Remove the burrs while they are small. Rather than touching the cuticles and irritating your skin even more, trim the burrs as soon as you notice them. Sharp nail clippers or scissors are perfect for this. This will prevent the burrs from clinging to clothing and increasing in size.
   • If the burr is red and swollen, it is most likely an infection. In this case, you should start treatment and start soaking the burrs in hot water three times a day. If after a few days you do not feel or see improvement, see your doctor. You may be prescribed a course of antibiotics.
3. 3 Don't bite your nails. This only harms the nails and surrounding skin, increasing the risk of burr formation.
   • Do not put your fingers in your mouth or touch the area around it to avoid the spread of bacteria from the mouth to the skin of the fingers.
   • If you bite your nails a lot, try painting them. The taste of the varnish will discourage you from chewing on them again.
4. 4 Trim your nails often. Use nail clippers to trim your nails to keep them from getting too long. This will prevent burrs from forming.Alternatively, you can take an orange stick and gently push the cuticles off the nail plate to keep them from growing. Do this 1-2 times a month.
   • An orange stick is a thin manicure stick with an angular end to push back the cuticles and a pointed end to clean under your nails.
   • Trim your nails by soaking them in warm water. This will make it much easier to trim them.
   • Regular manicure will keep your nails healthy and keep their growth in check.
5. 5 Do not use acetone-based nail polish removers. Acetone nail polish remover is very effective, but it can dry out your hands and nails. Since burrs are caused by dry skin and nails, stay away from products that cause it.
   • Consider using less aggressive nail polish removers such as ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, or propylene carbonate. You can also use glycerin and soy nail polish removers.
6. 6 Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Eat foods high in iron, calcium, and B vitamins to strengthen nails and prevent burrs. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses (2 L) of water a day to maintain a healthy fluid balance.
   • Start taking vitamin supplements if your diet doesn't provide you with the elements you need.
   • Biotin is a vitamin that helps strengthen nails. Ask your doctor if this vitamin supplement is right for you.