Is there any benefit to removing/pushing cuticles?

[GoodVibesHere]

I have terrible nails, they break easily, and never grow to a nice shape.

One thing I've wondered is why do people push cuticles? You can buy special little cuticle sticks but what for, what is the purpose of pushing cuticles away does anyone know. Does it make nails grow quicker or make nails look nicer? I'll give it a go but does it hurt?

I'm curious about this, I've never done mine.

If I do not push mine down, I get ragnails. I do just do it with my nails though.

I can't do it, even the thought of it goes through me. I can just about tolerate getting it done by someone else when I've had a manicure as long as I don't look!

I do it because if I don't I get split cuticles that I pick at. They're uncomfortable and bleed sometimes. Pushing and trimming them stops that and I think they just look nicer too.

It makes your nail bed look better and your nail plate look longer. I do mine fairly regularly. It doesn’t make your nails healthier and if you don’t know what you’re doing you risk damage and infection.

I don't push but I cut around with the cuticle tool as I don't like the hard and sharpness.

Have you tried nail oil?

I haven't, but I did recently wonder about trying it. Do you recommend a particular one?

No never. I have never pushed mine back. They are there for a reason. I'm a podiatrist and I'm always seeing horrible infections from this practice (paronychia). They are there in order to protect that area from infections. It's better just to massage nail oil into them if they are dry and flaky.

Oh see now this is interesting because I did wonder whether cuticles serve an actual purpose. It seems not quite right to remove or mess about with something that is on our body for a reason.

It makes your nail bed look better and your nail plate look longer
This is why I do it. I also use gel polish and the gel lifts if you get it on the cuticle. So I push them back and buff them to make sure there's none left on the nail before I apply the gel.

I use CND solar oil. If I've had gel polish on for a while and it's been removed, I switch to Rescue RXX.

I like cuticle oil pens. I have one handy in the Living Room I can paint on when I'm watching mindless TV and one at work for mindless Teams calls. Just generic ones from Amazon. I find they do strengthen my nails when used regularly.

My dermatologist told me never to cut or push them back with anything, not even one of those orange stick things! He says he sees infections from when people do that and they're supposed to be there as a protective seal at the base of the nail. Just oil them to keep them moisturised.

I had a manicure and my cuticles were pushed back, however 3 days later I was in A&E crying in absolutely agony, begging them to lance the infection that had built up. Honestly it was an incredible throbbing pain and the nurse said she sees at least one person a day with the same.

I use cuticle oil every day, to keep them soft so they don't need cutting or vigorous pushing back