What are those pieces of skin that rip up beside your nail called?

The piece of skin that hurt really bad when you rip it off? And what is it caused by? I don't think it's a hangnail...What are those pieces of skin that rip up beside your nail called?
It's called a cuticle. They protect your nails from getting infected around the nail bed. Usually they become dry and become a ';hangnail'; when your hands are too dry. Massage some vaseline around your nails and use hand lotion. If the cuticle is sticking up at the corner of the nail, cut it even with the skin. Do not pull at it as that will make it worse and more sore. Good luck!What are those pieces of skin that rip up beside your nail called?
You could be referring to your cuticles. Mine get very dry and look awful. The best thing to do is to keep them trimmed down and put cuticle cream or heavy lotion on them to keep them moist. You could go to a nail salon and have them trim them for you if you are afraid to do it yourself. Good luck and try not to pick at them because it makes it worse.
Instead of ripping them off because it is painful use a finger nail cutter to gently remove the hangnails and than rub virgin olive oil on your hands and fingernails.
theyre talkin bout the nail, ur talkin bout the skin : cuticles
Hangnail.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangnail
Dry cuticles become hangnails.
Hangnails get under your nails, Cuticles grow and you have to rip (or cut) them off.
Hangnails silly.
A hangnail.
Cuticles?
its cause by dry skin, and yes they are called hangnails.
funny, before I saw this question I was just ripping some of the skin off around my nail. It's a habit for me.
its a hangnail.... and it happens because your hands arent getting enough moisture
It is called a hangnail
cuticles
cuticles
its cuticuls
pieces of skin
dry cuticle.