Nail biting, medically called onychophagia, is the habit of chewing on fingernails or the surrounding skin. It’s a common habit among children, teenagers, and some adults, often linked to stress, anxiety, or boredom.
Immediate Effects
- Damaged nails
- Pain or tenderness around the nail bed.
- Bleeding or inflammation if biting breaks the skin.
Complications
- Infections: Bacteria and viruses from hands and nails can enter the skin causing infection.
- Dental Problems like misaligned teeth or bite issues or Chipped or broken teeth.
- Gastrointestinal Infections.
- Skin Damage can occur due to chronic biting like calluses, scarring, or nail deformities.
- It can be associated with stress, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
- Social embarrassment or low self-esteem due to appearance of nails.
Prevention and Management
- Keep nails trimmed and clean.
- Use bitter-tasting nail coatings.
- Manage stress or anxiety through relaxation techniques.
- Seek behavioural therapy for chronic nail biting.
- Practice good hand hygiene to prevent infections.
“Do you bite your nails when stressed, bored, or anxious?”