Nail biting: causes, consequences and remedies

Nail biting is a quite common behavior which can affect children, adolescents and even adults. In fact, it often happens that you start biting your fingernails as a child, and then later give up the habit over time. In other cases, however, it lasts into adulthood.

And if sometimes, this is done occasionally – maybe when you are going through a period of stress or anxiety – other times it is a deep-rooted habit. While it may seem difficult to avoid biting your hands, they actually are some remedies that can be adopted with good results. First of all, that of identifying the triggering cause.

What is that

The scientific term for nail biting is onychophagy. Behind this disorder there may be different causes, which is good to investigate thoroughly as it is the first step to abandon this habit.

In general, onychophagy can indistinctly affect all the fingers of the hand that can be bitten more or less at the same height. However, ignoring the disorder altogether, especially when it is ingrained, can have aesthetic and health consequences.

Causes

The reasons that lead to nail biting are different and mostly of psychological nature. We asked the Doctor Sara Baldrighi, Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Which ones are they.

“The recurring causes they are stress, anxiety, boredom and often the habit of biting nails has its origins in childhood. For example, in a family environment disturbed by quarrels and misunderstandings, the child can vent your nervousness biting his nails. It can therefore be a habit born as a reaction to stress or even to imitate parents or because doing so provides relief. In a way it is as if a connection is being made in the mind, so this becomes an automatic responseto. Even boredom can be a trigger, so in moments of inactivity you can bite your nails, ”explains the doctor.

Aftermath

Nail biting involves some consequences. First, this habit makes hands appear neglected and careless. Depending on how much they are bitten, the nails can be more or less damaged and therefore:

• have an irregular shape;
• have signs of irritation;
• being sore and swollen;
• be prey to infections.

On the other hand, under the nails they can nest germs and bacteria very easily. Bringing them to the mouth, therefore, risks introducing viruses and so on into one’s organism with repercussions also on the gastro-intestinal system.

In addition, eating what is around the nail itself (cuticles, surrounding tissue) can also cause minor injuries which can soon become a privileged access route for bacteria. In addition, nail biting can:

• making nails grow irregularly due to tissue damage;
• spoil the smile. This habit in fact, in the long run it can ruin your teeth and in some cases, even cause jaw problems.

Remedies

As suggested by the American Academy of Dermatology Association, to avoid biting your fingernails you can:

1. keep nails short;
2. do a manicure regularly. This could make you desist from biting them;
3. apply a bitter-tasting nail polish if necessary;
4. replace nail biting with something else. For example, you could release tension by holding a stress ball;
5. identify the triggering causes;
6. stop biting your nails gradually, working towards goals.

In general, therefore, nail biting is a (unhealthy) habit caused by several reasons and which can ruin the health and aesthetic appearance of the nails. Not to mention the consequences that can also extend to other parts of the body.

Also, it is good to investigate thoroughly about the causes that led to biting your fingernails and try to remedy gradually. If in doubt, the advice is to contact a specialist in the sector.

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