Your cuticles are for more than just aesthetics. Lots of people trim, or cut, or push back their cuticles, but they're there to keep bacteria from literally getting under your skin. They fuse the skin to your nail bed as a physical barrier against pathogens. If you cut or push them too far back, you could end up with paronychia, which is basically inflamed cuticles. And that is a cycle that feeds itself. Because the cuticles aren't providing a barrier between irritants and your innards, more pathogens have an opportunity to get in, causing your cuticles to regenerate slowly. And a slowly growing cuticle means your fingers are exposed to more irritants. Topical steroids might fix the irritation, but in most cases, you're probably better off not messing with your cuticles, if you can. Yeah, and that includes during manicures.