Background
Nail biting has an official clinical name – Onychophagia. Often the cause of nail biting is due to an underlying emotional disturbance. That may not be the case with all biters though; some people are just stuck with a bad habit. Nail biting is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact the late Princess Diana was well known for her badly bitten nails. When you bite your nails:
- You are at risk of transmitting bacteria into your mouth (especially when it is an unconscious action).
- The appearance of your fingers and hands is greatly diminished by unsightly and chewed nails.
- Your finger tips will be constantly sore and the hangnails that form will catch and bleed.
- Nail biting can be passed on as a form of learned behavior between parent and child or siblings.
Telling someone to stop biting their nails is pretty useless advice and shouting at children is completely counter-productive. Many people would love to be able to break the cycle and are distressed when they realize they've bitten whilst being engrossed in watching a movie or daydreaming. Some psychologists say that nail biting is a form of self-mutilation, similar to hair pulling or Trichotillomania.
Treatment
If emotional issues are causing nervous reactions like nail biting, they should be dealt with by the appropriate professional. In children, nail biting can begin at around 3-4 years old or with the onset of school. Dr Fred Penzel says in his book Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (Compare Prices) that nail biting is under-recognized, misunderstood, and is a Body-Focused Disorder. Dr. Penzel also suggests that there could even be a dysfunction in the brain in terms of how it stimulates the nervous system which causes the desire to self-preen to excess. There is also some really interesting information on the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health website connecting to various studies that have been carried out about nail biters.
Mavala Stop (Compare Prices) is a bitter tasting treatment that you can paint onto your nails and finger tips. It is available in drug stores or online. Another treatment for long-term biters is called Habit Reversal, this is a type of DIY therapy. The idea being that you replace one habit with another.
Recovery
When you are in recovery from nail biting you will find that the tips of your fingers appear square and swollen and your cuticle growth is much further up your nail than it should be. This is normal and is the body's way of protecting the sensitive nail bed; once the nail has recuperated the cuticle will recede again and the fingers will start to resume normal shape. Initially, you will notice nail growth is accelerated; this at least will give you encouragement to stay on track and stop biting.