What is the eponychium, and how should you treat it during a manicure?

• A. The living skin at the base of the nail; gently push back with a cuticle pusher and avoid cutting living tissue.
• B. A dead cuticle that should be trimmed with scissors.
• C. A layer of nail plate.
• D. The visible portion of the nail bed.

Answer: (A)

The eponychium is the living skin at the base of the nail that forms a protective seal over the matrix. Because it is living tissue, you should not cut it during a manicure. The proper approach is to soften the area and gently push the eponychium back with a cuticle pusher, keeping it intact to protect against infection. If there’s dead skin around the edge, remove only that non-living skin with the correct tool, but never cut the living eponychium. This differs from the dead cuticle (the non-living skin on the nail plate) and from the nail plate or nail bed areas, which are not the eponychium.