What condition can result when the cuticle becomes overly dry and splits?

• A. Hangnail
• B. Paronychia
• C. Pterygium
• D. Onychomycosis

Answer: (A)

When the cuticle becomes overly dry, it can crack and tear at the edge of the nail. Those tiny tears create a hangnail—a small piece of skin that has split away from the nail edge. This matches the described scenario because dryness directly causes a split in the cuticle. The other conditions involve infection around the nail (paronychia), scarring that grows onto the nail (pterygium), or a fungal infection of the nail plate (onychomycosis), none of which arise merely from a dry cuticle splitting. To prevent hangnails, keep cuticles moisturized, avoid pulling at them, and use gentle care with cuticle tools; seek care if redness, swelling, or pus appears.