Cuticle

Definition

The cuticle is a thin layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toe nails, acting as a protective barrier for the nail matrix. It serves to protect new nails from bacterial and fungal infections as they grow.

Related terms

Nail matrix: The nail matrix is the tissue (located under the skin) at the base of the nail responsible for producing cells that become the nail plate.

Nail plate: The hard part of the nail, made of keratin, that grows out from the nail bed.

Keratin: A type of protein found in skin, hair, and nails that helps make them strong and resistant to damage