Staying Healthy
Are cracked cuticles harmful?
Ask the doctor
Q. Every year when the weather turns cold, my cuticles become dry and cracked. They look ghastly, but can they also harm my health?
A. Potentially, yes. That's because the layer of clear skin forming the cuticles isn't there to look good. It serves as a barrier to hinder germs from entering our body, much like nose hair, and keeps bacteria away from new nails growing from the root.
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About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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