Hangnails are more often than not caused by dry skin or (in the case of fingernails) nail biting, plus might be prevented with proper moisturization of the skin. When attempting to remove a hangnail, additional skin might be painfully ripped off if its attachment is not broken properly. This might guide to a sore infection called paronychia. Populace with a hangnail should be cautious to slash it all off and rub hand lotion into the cuticles two to three times a day.

The term "hangnail" is deceptive, as a hangnail is not an actual part of the nail. It's dead, dried skin, not nail, the last being made up of more often than not calcium and a fibrous protein, known as keratin. Agnail was adapted to hangnail by a procedure of folk etymology. webmd.