Caleb Foster
Nail picking, also known as onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or manipulate nails and the surrounding skin. It is often related to an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety, and can be a difficult habit to break. While it is not recognised as a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), nail picking can lead to changes in nail shape and appearance, with the skin becoming red, inflamed, eroded or crusted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Onychotillomania |
| Other names | Nail picking, nail picking disorder |
| Description | The urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin |
| Similar conditions | Onychophagia (nail biting) |
| Causes | Boredom, nerves, anxiety, underlying mental health condition |
| Treatment | Identify triggers, therapy, treat underlying mental health condition |
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What You'll Learn
- Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition
- Nail picking is sometimes a habit people do out of boredom or nerves
- Nail picking can lead to onychodystrophy, or changes in the nail shape and appearance
- Nail picking and biting may appear as a coping mechanism
- Nail picking is not recognised as a disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition
Nail picking, or onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin. The condition is similar to onychophagia, which is when someone bites their nails and skin. Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition. Treatment involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition.
Nail picking is sometimes a habit people do out of boredom or nerves, but it can also indicate an anxiety disorder. Nail biting, in particular, is especially common. It’s thought to start at some point during childhood, with about 45% of teens showing this behaviour. Many others persist past the age of 18. In fact, 20 to 30% of people are thought to engage in habitual nail biting. Nail picking or biting aren’t individually recognised disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, nail picking often involves the pulling and manipulation of fingernails and/or toenails leading to onychodystrophy, or changes in the nail shape and appearance. People often use their own fingers or fingernails to manipulate their other digits, they may also choose to use tools for excessive grooming. The skin surrounding the nail bed and the nail can become red, inflamed, eroded, or even crusted.
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Nail picking is sometimes a habit people do out of boredom or nerves
Nail picking, also known as onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin. It is often related to an underlying mental health condition, such as an anxiety disorder, and can be a coping mechanism. Nail picking is sometimes a habit people do out of boredom or nerves. It can be difficult to control and is often done habitually in response to anxiety.
Nail picking often involves the pulling and manipulation of fingernails and/or toenails, leading to changes in the nail shape and appearance. People may use their own fingers or fingernails to manipulate their other digits, or they may use tools for excessive grooming. The skin surrounding the nail bed can become red, inflamed, eroded, or even crusted. The nail can also become darker due to the stimulation of its pigment-producing cells, or melanocytes.
The term onychotillomania was coined in 1934 as "excessive, self-induced damage of the nail". It is derived from the Greek onycho for nail, tillo for to pull, and mania for madness. While nail picking has been underreported in the past, it has gained more attention recently due to its portrayal in popular culture, such as in the Game of Thrones prequel series, *House of the Dragon*, where the character Alicent Hightower is often seen picking at her nails when stressed or anxious.
Treatment for nail picking involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition. Learning to stop picking cuticles, nails, and the surrounding skin can be challenging, but it is important to address both the dermatological and mental health concerns associated with this behaviour.
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Nail picking can lead to onychodystrophy, or changes in the nail shape and appearance
Nail picking, also known as onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin. It can lead to onychodystrophy, or changes in the nail shape and appearance.
People who pick their nails often use their own fingers or fingernails to manipulate their other digits, but they may also use tools for excessive grooming. This can cause the skin surrounding the nail bed and the nail to become red, inflamed, eroded, or even crusted. The lunula (or half-moon) can look enlarged, and the nail can become darker due to the stimulation of its pigment-producing cells, or melanocytes. These cells reside in the lunula, so any trauma to the area can result in pigment activation.
Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety, and can be a coping mechanism. It is thought to start during childhood, with about 45% of teens showing this behaviour. Many people continue past the age of 18, with 20-30% of people engaging in habitual nail biting. While nail picking and biting are not individually recognised disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), they are often thought of as a dermatological concern when they are both a dermatological and a mental health concern.
Treatment for nail picking involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition. Learning to stop picking cuticles, nails, and the surrounding skin can be difficult.
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Nail picking and biting may appear as a coping mechanism
Nail picking and biting may occasionally appear as a coping mechanism. In other instances, these common behaviours may be difficult to control and are done habitually in response to anxiety disorders. Nail biting, in particular, is especially common. It often starts in childhood, with about 45% of teens showing this behaviour. Many others persist past the age of 18. In fact, 20 to 30% of people are thought to engage in habitual nail biting.
Nail picking, also known as onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin. The condition is similar to the more commonly known onychophagia, which is when someone bites their nails and skin. Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition. Treatment involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition. Nail picking is sometimes a habit people do out of boredom or nerves, but it also could indicate an anxiety disorder.
The term onychotillomania was coined in 1934 as an “excessive, self-induced damage of the nail”. The word is derived from the Greek onycho for nail, tillo for to pull, and mania for madness. While nail picking has proven to be underreported in the past, it’s currently having a bit of a cultural moment thanks to the new Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon on HBO. Alicent Hightower, played by Emily Carey, is often seen scratching, and picking at her nails and the surrounding skin—especially in moments where the character is stressed or anxious.
People often use their own fingers or fingernails to manipulate their other digits, they may also choose to use tools for excessive grooming. The results are that the skin surrounding the nail bed and the nail can become red, inflamed, eroded, or even crusted. Sometimes the lunula (or half-moon) looks enlarged and the nail can become darker due to the stimulation of its pigment-producing cells, or melanocytes. Because these cells reside in the lunula, any trauma to the area can result in pigment activation.
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Nail picking is not recognised as a disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Nail picking, also known as onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin. It is often related to an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety, and can be a coping mechanism. However, nail picking is not recognised as a disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). While it is often thought of as a dermatological concern, it is also a mental health concern. Treatment involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition.
Nail picking often involves the manipulation of fingernails and/or toenails, leading to changes in the nail shape and appearance, known as onychodystrophy. People may use their own fingers or fingernails to manipulate their other digits, or they may use tools for excessive grooming. This can cause the skin surrounding the nail bed to become red, inflamed, eroded, or even crusted. In some cases, the lunula (the half-moon-shaped area at the base of the nail) may appear enlarged, and the nail can become darker due to the stimulation of its pigment-producing cells, or melanocytes.
The term onychotillomania was coined in 1934 to describe "excessive, self-induced damage to the nail". It is derived from the Greek words onycho (nail), tillo (to pull), and mania (madness). While nail picking has been underreported in the past, it has gained more attention recently due to its portrayal in popular culture, such as in the Game of Thrones prequel series, *House of the Dragon*, where the character Alicent Hightower, played by Emily Carey, is often seen picking at her nails when stressed or anxious.
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Frequently asked questions
Nail picking, or onychotillomania, is the urge to pull at or pick the nails and surrounding skin.
Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition, such as an anxiety disorder. It can also be a habit that people do out of boredom or nerves.
Treatment for nail picking involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition.
