Isla Bennett
Nail biting, also known as onychophagia, is a common habit, with up to 30% of the population doing it. While it typically begins in childhood, it can continue into adulthood. Although it rarely causes long-term damage, chronic nail-biting can lead to abnormal-looking nails and make the surrounding skin vulnerable to infection. To grow out chewed nails, it is important to address the habit and implement strategies to strengthen nail health. This includes identifying triggers, applying bitter-tasting nail polish, and taking supplements like biotin to enhance nail growth, which occurs at an average rate of 0.1 mm per day for fingernails and 1.62 mm per month for toenails.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average daily nail growth | One-tenth of a millimeter |
| Average monthly nail growth | 3.47 millimeters |
| Time taken to grow back a lost fingernail | Up to six months |
| Nails that grow faster | Nails on the dominant hand and longer fingers |
| Factors influencing nail growth rate | Age, hormone levels, overall health, and season |
| Health risks of nail-biting | Dental problems, bacterial infections, and damaged nails and skin |
| Strategies to stop nail-biting | Bitter-tasting nail polish, manicures, wearing gloves, identifying triggers, keeping hands busy |
| Ways to strengthen nails | Taking biotin, using nail hardeners sparingly, grooming nails, and avoiding glue-on nails and toxic polishes |
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What You'll Learn
Tips to stop biting your nails
Fingernails grow at an average rate of about a tenth of a millimeter per day, which is about 3.47 millimeters per month. However, this growth rate can vary depending on factors such as age, hormone levels, overall health, and which hand or finger the nail is on.
Now, here are some tips to help you stop biting your nails:
Keep your nails trimmed short: Having less nail provides less to bite and makes it less tempting to bite them. You can also apply a clear or coloured nail polish to make your nails look nice, so you're less likely to ruin their appearance by biting them.
Use bitter-tasting nail polish: You can buy nail polishes that taste bitter and are designed to help break the nail-biting habit.
Identify your triggers: Nail biting can be a way to cope with boredom, stress, anxiety, or insecurity. Identify your triggers and develop a plan to address them without resorting to nail-biting.
Take a gradual approach: Instead of stopping all at once, try to stop biting one set of nails, such as your thumbnails, first. Gradually eliminate other nails or even an entire hand once you've successfully stopped biting one set.
Keep your hands busy: When you feel the urge to bite your nails, try playing with a stress ball or fidget toy instead. This will help keep your hands occupied and away from your mouth.
Cover your nails: You can cover your nails with tape or adhesive bandages, or wear gloves, to create a physical barrier that prevents you from biting your nails.
Remember, it can take time and persistence to break the habit of nail-biting. Be patient with yourself and don't be afraid to seek professional help if you feel that nail-biting is a symptom of a more serious psychological or emotional issue.
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Factors that affect nail growth rate
Fingernails grow at an average rate of about a tenth of a millimeter per day, which is approximately 3.47 millimeters per month. However, this rate can vary due to several factors, including age, health, and genetics. Here are some key factors that can influence the growth rate of nails:
Age
Nail growth rate varies with age. Typically, infant nails grow slower than adult nails, while children's nails grow faster than those of adults. Nail growth tends to peak between the ages of 10 and 14, and it gradually slows down as we get older. This may be attributed to the decrease in blood circulation that occurs with ageing.
Handedness
Handedness plays a role in nail growth rate. Nails on the dominant hand tend to grow faster than those on the non-dominant hand. Additionally, within each hand, the nails on the longer fingers, such as the index and middle fingers, generally grow faster than those on the pinky finger.
Season
The season or time of year can also impact nail growth. Nails tend to grow faster during the warmer months, particularly in the summer, compared to colder periods.
Hormone Levels
Hormone levels can significantly affect nail growth. For example, women often experience faster nail growth during pregnancy and slower growth during lactation. Hormonal changes during puberty can also influence nail growth rates, with nails growing faster during this period of hormonal fluctuation.
Overall Health and Nutrition
Overall health and nutrition are crucial factors in nail growth. Poor circulation can slow down nail growth, and certain medical conditions can impact it as well. For instance, yellow nails could indicate diabetes, while slow-growing, yellowing, and thickening nails might signal a lung condition. Nutritional deficiencies can also cause slow nail growth, so maintaining a balanced diet is essential.
While these factors can influence nail growth rate, it is important to note that there is individual variation, and the exact mechanisms controlling nail growth are not yet fully understood. Additionally, if you are trying to grow out chewed nails, it is recommended to take a gradual approach to breaking the habit and to maintain good nail hygiene.
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Health risks of nail biting
Fingernails grow at an average rate of about a tenth of a millimeter per day or approximately 3.47 millimeters per month. However, this rate can vary depending on factors such as age, hormone levels, overall health, and which hand or finger the nail is on. For example, nails on the dominant hand tend to grow faster, as do nails on longer fingers. Toenails, on the other hand, grow much slower than fingernails, with an average growth rate of 1.62 mm per month.
Now, let's discuss the health risks associated with nail-biting:
Nail biting, or onychophagy, is a common habit that often begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. While it may seem harmless, nail biting can have several negative impacts on your health. Here are some of the health risks associated with nail-biting:
- Infection: Nail biting can create tiny cracks and fissures in the skin around your nails, providing an entry point for bacteria and viruses. This can lead to infections such as paronychia, which can cause symptoms like reddening, pus buildup, tenderness, and warmth in the affected area. In severe cases, the infection can spread to the underlying bone or finger, requiring medical attention.
- Dental Issues: Chronic nail biting can lead to dental problems such as misaligned, cracked, or chipped teeth. Additionally, it can contribute to the development of a teeth-grinding habit known as bruxism, resulting in headaches, jaw soreness, and TMJ syndrome.
- Germs and Illness: Nails harbor a variety of germs and bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella, and pathogens that can cause the common cold. By biting your nails, you introduce these germs into your mouth, increasing the likelihood of getting sick or developing stomach infections.
- Bad Breath: The constant introduction of germs and bacteria into the mouth due to nail-biting can also contribute to bad breath.
- Skin Damage: Repeated nail biting can damage the tissue around your nails, making the skin feel sore and causing abnormal-looking nails.
- Psychological Impact: In some cases, nail biting may be a sign of underlying emotional or psychological problems. It is often associated with anxiety, boredom, loneliness, or nervousness and can be challenging to break once it becomes a habit.
While long-term damage from nail-biting is rare, it is important to be aware of these potential health risks. If you struggle with nail biting, gradual behavior modification techniques, finding alternative ways to occupy your hands and mouth, and keeping your nails trimmed short can help you break the habit.
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Healing damaged nails
Healing Nails and Surrounding Skin
If nail biting has caused an open wound in the cuticle, healing will take a few days with the aid of an overnight antibiotic cream. For hard skin around the nails, it will take a few weeks to heal. It is recommended not to cut the skin and to use a moisturiser or cuticle oil as often as possible. Buffing the skin with a very soft file before moisturising can also help, but it is important to be gentle.
If the nail biting habit extends to the cuticles and the skin around the nails, sores and scabs may appear. This can also lead to abnormal-looking nails as the tissue that makes nails grow is damaged. Chronic nail biting can also leave you vulnerable to infection as harmful bacteria and viruses are passed from your mouth to your fingers and from your nails to your face and mouth.
Breaking the Nail Biting Habit
Some strategies to stop nail biting include:
- Keeping nails clean and trimmed short to promote nail hygiene and reduce the risk of infection and the urge to bite.
- Applying an unpleasant-tasting nail polish to reduce the satisfaction of nail biting.
- Getting a professional manicure to incentivise protecting nails from biting.
- Wearing gloves or bandaging fingers to make biting nails more difficult.
- Identifying triggers, such as boredom, stress, or anxiety, and developing a plan to avoid or address these situations.
- Replacing the habit with a positive and health-friendly alternative, such as playing with a stress ball or fidget toy, rubbing cuticle oil into nails, or making a cup of tea.
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How to strengthen nails
While there are many ways to strengthen nails, it's important to first understand the underlying causes of weak nails. Weak nails can be caused by internal factors such as genetics, certain medical conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and aging. External factors include nail-care habits, the products used, and environmental exposures. These factors can dry out and damage nails, leading to weakness, peeling, and breakage.
- Limit water exposure: Nails are highly absorbent, and overexposure to water can strain the bonds between nail cells, leading to weakness. Wear gloves when washing dishes or cleaning to protect your nails from water and harsh chemicals.
- Choose the right products: Avoid nail polishes and removers that contain acetone, as these can dry out and damage nails. Opt for nail strengtheners, such as a base coat, to prevent peeling and weakness.
- Moisturize: Use moisturizers or oils, such as sunflower oil or Aquaphor, to hydrate and strengthen nails. Oils rich in phospholipids, such as sunflower or canola oil, can increase nail flexibility and combat brittleness.
- Address underlying conditions: Weak nails may be a symptom of underlying medical conditions such as fungal infections or nail psoriasis. Consult a doctor to address any potential conditions and treat the root cause.
- Supplements: While there is no "miracle supplement," some supplements may help strengthen nails. Biotin (vitamin B7) can help strengthen nails, but it should be consumed daily as it is water-soluble and not stored by the body. Collagen, an essential protein for nails, can also promote healthy nail growth. Consult a healthcare professional before taking any supplements.
- Diet: Ensure your diet is rich in nutrients and vitamins that support nail growth, including calcium, protein, vitamin C, biotin, and vitamin E.
- Nail care habits: Keep your nails trimmed and neat to reduce the chance of breakage. File your nails regularly, always filing in one direction to avoid splitting. Avoid biting your nails or picking at your cuticles, as this can damage the nail bed.
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Frequently asked questions
On average, fingernails grow about a tenth of a millimeter per day, or 3.47 millimeters per month. However, this rate can vary depending on factors such as age, hormone levels, overall health, and which hand the nail is on.
While there are no scientifically proven methods to make nails grow faster, you can increase the overall health of your nails by taking biotin supplements, using nail hardeners sparingly, avoiding glue-on nails and toxic polishes, and keeping your nails clean and trimmed.
Here are some tips to help you stop chewing your nails:
- Apply bitter-tasting nail polish to your nails to deter nail biting.
- Get a manicure or paint your nails, so you are less likely to bite them.
- Wear gloves or use stickers made to cover nails to prevent access to your nails.
- Identify triggers and find alternative ways to cope, such as chewing gum or fiddling with a stress ball.
Nail chewing can have several downsides, including:
- Damage to the tissue that makes nails grow, resulting in abnormal-looking nails.
- Increased vulnerability to infection as harmful bacteria and viruses are transferred from your mouth to your fingers and face.
- Dental problems such as misalignment and chipped teeth.
While nail chewing is generally considered a bad habit, some people believe that the constant trauma of nail biting may actually encourage nail growth. Ex-nail biters often have strong nails due to this increased circulation and nutrient supply to the nail area.
