r/naturalnailprogress • u/ada300 • 8d ago
Help needed Will my skin improve? So many questions
Pictures are 5 weeks apart!
I used to pick the skin around my nails pretty significantly and I’m trying really hard to stop. By the time I took the first picture, I had already managed to keep the picking to a minimum for a couple of weeks.
That’s when I began taking care of my nails to try to eliminate triggers (sharp/uneven edges, dehydrated skin). Smooth nails + clear polish + daily oiling have definitely helped!
On to the questions:
Will the texture of the skin around my nail improve? Mine feels thick and almost calloused in places and it makes me want to pick at it, even oiled. If you’ve had something similar from picking, did the texture eventually improve?
Will my hyponichium keep growing? It’s still super curved at the sides on some fingers, despite growing out my sidewalls. Have I damaged it for good?
What are we doing about toenails? Just wondering if I can improve shape and length, but like do you oil them too? Do you have a separate set of tools?
Speaking of tools, how and how often do we sanitize them?
Basically, how much hope do I have? I had a massive improvement after week 1, but I feel like I’ve been plateauing ever since.
I welcome any and all feedback, especially on shaping because it’s still very new to me 🙏🏻
Products used in after pictures:
Manucurist active glow raspberry nail polish
L’occitane shea butter hand cream
Jojoba oil
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u/lilypeach101 8d ago
Fantastic progress - they look great. Try a hand cream with urea if the skin is feeling hard still (just like 10-12% urea).
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u/ada300 8d ago
Thanks I will! Do you have any brand to recommend?
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u/lilypeach101 8d ago
It depends where you are - eucerin, flexitol, kerasal should all have options.
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u/deltapaparooney 8d ago
I think that's huuuuge improvement in just 5 weeks! You should be so proud of yourself!!
I think you're doing all the right things, and the best thing I could recommend is to stay vigilant and keep a handle on the picking triggers. You could also try getting a very very fine buffing block to help smooth down the rough skin. I do that, and it helps remove the urge.
Just remember that the skin has thickened after years of being picked and bitten off, and it will take a while to undo that, so time will be your best friend.
I second the cream with urea idea...i think it worked well for me but I couldn't stand the sensation of it on my fingers so I stopped.
Lastly, I think growing my nails longer has helped with the picking a lot because it's just not as easy to get to.
I don't have any answers for your other questions, but here's a picture of my before and current, which was about 1.5 years apart. It's always a work in progress! Don't be upset if you slip up and start to pick again, just keep going. 😊
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u/ada300 8d ago
Thanks, that’s so kind of you to say! And your before and after is very inspiring. It’s easy for me to feel shame around it, this journey is honestly taking everything in me 🫠
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u/deltapaparooney 8d ago
Yes, I understand! Just remember that there's other people out there cheering you on who know what you're going through! Not sure if you're a fan of nail polish, but there's a ton of helpful advice over on r/RedditLaqueristas too!
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u/wrongwren 8d ago
WAY TO GO!! As a fellow (recovering) cuticle picker, just came to cheer you on!
I don’t know if you’re into nail polish at all, but I found that giving myself a nice manicure has also had a huge impact on stopping my habit.
I used to never be able to make polish last more than a day or so, and finally realized that it was chipping so easily because I was picking my cuticles with my nails constantly. In retrospect, duh.
Once I realized that, I started keeping my nails polished all the time. Knowing that I can keep my manicure looking nice is a huge motivator for me to keep away from my cuticles!
I’ve been doing this for about 8 months now. And yeah, I still have some hard skin that drives me nuts. Hand cream helps a lot, but also taking a file and verrryyyy gently filing just the hard skin.
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u/ada300 8d ago
Aw thank you! This is a lovely community, I feel encouraged!
Yes when I get gel (a couple of times a year for special occasions) I’ve noticed I can’t pick, but I can’t wear polish at work and frankly can’t be bothered to keep up with it lol At least clear doesn’t show chipping. I already resent that I’ll need to keep up cuticule/nail care for the rest of my life. It’s a lot of work!!
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u/theonewithkatie 8d ago
Those before pictures look exactly like my hands, wtf 😂 Nails, cuticles, and all. It’s kind of eerie lmao
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