A hangnail is a small piece of skin that becomes detached from the side of a fingernail or toenail. It often occurs when the skin around the nail is dry or damaged, leading to irritation. Hangnails can be painful and may bleed if pulled or torn. To prevent hangnails, it is important to keep the skin around the nails moisturized and to avoid biting or picking at them. If a hangnail does occur, it is best to trim it carefully with clean nail scissors to avoid infection. Regularly caring for your nails can help reduce the risk of hangnails.