Ava Monroe
Nail-biting is a common habit that often starts in childhood and can continue into adulthood. It can be challenging to stop, but with patience and persistence, it is possible to break free and grow healthy nails. Bitten nails tend to grow back faster than normal nails, but the shape may be abnormal, and the cuticles can become damaged. To help bitten nails grow, it is important to address the habit of nail-biting, identify triggers, and adopt strategies to keep your hands busy. This may include using bitter-tasting nail polish, keeping your nails trimmed short, and moisturising your nails and cuticles. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating nutritional supplements can promote nail growth and strength.
How to help bitten nails grow
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recognise the habit | Nail biting is a common habit that often begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. It is often associated with anxiety, boredom, stress, or tiredness. |
| Identify triggers | Determine the physical and emotional triggers that cause nail-biting, such as hangnails, boredom, or anxiety. |
| Break the habit | Gradually stop biting nails, starting with one set of nails (e.g., thumbnails) and gradually eliminating others. |
| Distract your hands | Keep your hands busy with alternative activities such as colouring, note-taking, doodling, using a fidget toy, or wearing surgical gloves. |
| Use bitter-tasting nail polish | Apply nail polishes with an unpleasant taste, such as Stop 'n Grow, to deter nail-biting. |
| Keep nails trimmed and shaped | Maintain short nails to reduce the temptation to bite. File nails in one direction to prevent weakening and splitting. |
| Moisturise and protect cuticles | Apply hand creams and cuticle oils to keep cuticles soft, supple, and healthy. Gently push back overgrown cuticles after a shower or bath. |
| Improve nail health | Ensure a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and nutritional supplements to promote nail growth and prevent infections. |
| Use nail extensions | Consider gel or acrylic nail extensions to protect the nails and allow them to heal, but ensure proper application and removal. |
| Maintain nail hygiene | Wash hands with gentle detergents and wear rubber gloves when washing up to avoid over-drying and damaging nails. |
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What You'll Learn
Identify triggers and causes, such as boredom, stress, or anxiety
Biting your nails, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit that affects up to 30% of the population. It is often a coping mechanism in response to feeling nervous, bored, lonely, or hungry. Nail biting can also be a symptom of anxiety or stress. It is considered pathological when it becomes a deeply ingrained self-mutilative behaviour.
If you want to stop biting your nails, it is important to identify the triggers that cause this behaviour. Once you know what makes you bite your nails, you can work on managing those triggers. For example, if you bite your nails when you are bored, you can try to keep your hands busy with a fidget device, stress ball, silly putty, or colouring in a colouring book. If you bite your nails when you are stressed or anxious, you can try stress management techniques such as meditation or deep breathing.
It is also important to break the habit of putting your fingers in your mouth. You can try chewing gum, but be careful not to overdo it as this can lead to dental or jaw problems. Keeping your nails trimmed and hangnails and ragged edges taken care of can also help reduce the temptation to bite them. You can also try applying a product with an unpleasant taste, such as Stop'n Grow, to your nails.
Relapsing is a normal part of recovery, so don't be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Just start over and remember that your nails will grow back.
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Keep nails short and trim any hangnails
Keeping nails short and maintaining them properly is a crucial step in growing out bitten nails. Nails are more prone to breakage when they are long, so keeping them trimmed can help prevent further biting.
To keep nails short, it is recommended to file them in one direction, rather than in a back-and-forth motion, as the latter can weaken the nails and cause them to split. Filing nails into a rounded shape can also help them grow in the right way and prevent splitting.
Maintaining short nails also includes trimming the cuticles, which can make the nail appear longer and helps it breathe. Cuticles should be treated with care to avoid damage. After a shower or bath, when the cuticles are softened, use a cotton bud to gently push back the cuticle from the nail bed. Cuticle cream or oil can also be massaged into the nails and cuticles regularly to keep them soft and supple.
In addition to keeping nails short, it is important to address the habit of nail-biting. Biting nails can be a result of anxiety, stress, boredom, or other triggers. Identifying these triggers can help develop a plan to avoid or manage these situations. Replacing the habit with healthier alternatives, such as using a stress ball or fidget toy, can also help keep your hands busy and away from your mouth.
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Use a bitter-tasting nail polish to deter biting
If you're looking to stop biting your nails and give them a chance to grow, there are several methods you can try. One common suggestion is to use a bitter-tasting nail polish. This safe but awful-tasting formula discourages many people from biting their nails.
The first step to stopping nail-biting is to identify the triggers that cause it. Nail-biting is often associated with anxiety, stress, boredom, hunger, or tiredness. It can also be a physical habit, triggered by the presence of hangnails, for example. By identifying your triggers, you can develop a plan to avoid or manage these situations and gradually break the habit.
Once you know your triggers, you can employ strategies such as using bitter-tasting nail polish to deter biting. This type of nail polish is available over the counter and can be an effective way to stop nail-biting. The unpleasant taste will deter you from putting your fingers in your mouth, giving your nails a chance to grow.
You can also try keeping your nails short and well-maintained. This provides less nail to bite and can make it less tempting. Regular manicures can also help, as you may be less inclined to bite your nails after spending money on them or if they look nice.
In addition to bitter nail polish, you can also try alternative fidgeting habits to keep your hands busy, such as playing with a stress ball or fidget toy, colouring, note-taking, or doodling.
Remember, relapsing is a normal part of recovery, so don't be too hard on yourself if you have a setback. Just keep trying, and your nails will grow back healthier and stronger.
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Moisturise and nourish cuticles to promote healthy growth
To promote healthy nail growth, it is important to moisturise and nourish the cuticles. Cuticles are dead skin, and biting them can expose them to the bacteria in your saliva, increasing the risk of a fungal infection. Therefore, it is essential to keep them soft and supple.
You can do this by massaging a cuticle cream or oil into your nails and cuticles every night. Cuticle oils and creams are formulated to keep cuticles soft and supple, and they tend to look more obvious when dry. A rich and speedily absorbed cream formulated with grapeseed, macadamia and almond oils will leave nails more supple and dry skin softer.
If you have overgrown cuticles, it is best to take a gentle approach to avoid damaging them. After a shower or bath, when the cuticles are softened, use a cotton bud to gently push the cuticle away from the nail bed.
It is also important to consider your diet. Nutritional therapist Jackie McCusker highlights that "deficiencies in key nutrients including the B-complex (especially biotin and folic acid), vitamin C, zinc, calcium and essential fatty acids can cause nails to become weak, dry and flaky." Therefore, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables to ensure you are getting enough of these key nutrients.
Additionally, you can take nutritional supplements such as Elon Matrix, which contains the nutrients needed to increase keratin levels and promote healthier and stronger nails.
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Use nail extensions to improve nail health and allow natural nails to recover
If you're looking to improve the health of your nails and allow your natural nails to recover, nail extensions can be a good option. However, it's important to be aware of the potential risks and take the necessary steps to ensure the health of your natural nails.
When applied and removed properly, gel nail extensions are considered safe and can even be a healthier alternative to acrylic nails. Gel extensions offer a lightweight and natural-looking finish, making them a popular choice for those seeking sleek and sculpted nails. The application process involves painting hard gel over the natural nail and curing it with UV light. A nail form or a pre-shaped soft gel nail tip is then used to extend the length of the nail.
To ensure the health of your natural nails, it is crucial to find a skilled and reputable nail technician who prioritises the health of your nails. Avoid cheap walk-in salons, as they may rush the process or use improper techniques that can damage your nails. It is also essential to understand the care and maintenance requirements for gel extensions to prevent potential damage to your natural nails.
After removing nail extensions, it is important to take a break to allow your nails to breathe and recover naturally. Continuous application of new extensions or polishes can hinder the healing process and lead to prolonged damage. Prioritise nail hygiene, nourishment, and strengthening measures during this recovery period. Apply cuticle oil daily to rehydrate and revitalise the nail beds, and include hydrating, strengthening treatments, and a balanced diet rich in vitamins to promote healthier regrowth.
Additionally, be mindful of the products you use, as harsh chemicals can hinder recovery. Opt for acetone-free nail polish removers, and limit exposure to chemical irritants found in cleaning products. Wearing gloves when handling detergents or doing household chores can help prevent damage to your nails.
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Frequently asked questions
Bitten nails will grow back over time, but there are several things you can do to help the process. Firstly, identify your triggers for nail-biting, such as boredom, stress, or anxiety, and try to avoid or manage these situations. You can also try bitter-tasting nail polish, which discourages nail-biting. Keeping your nails short and moisturising your cuticles can also help.
There are several ways to stop biting your nails. You can try to replace the habit with something else, such as playing with a stress ball or fidget toy, or colouring in a colouring book. You could also try getting regular manicures, as you may be less inclined to bite your nails if they look nice.
Nail-biting can make the skin around your nails sore and can damage the tissue that makes nails grow, causing them to grow in a weird shape. It can also expose your cuticles to bacteria, increasing the risk of a fungal infection.
Nail-biting is a common habit that typically begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. The most common cause is anxiety, as the habit can help relieve the tension and stress associated with it. However, it can also be caused by boredom, hunger, or tiredness.
It can take a minimum of 21 days to break the habit of nail-biting. However, relapsing is normal, and you should not be disappointed in yourself if it happens. Just start over and try again!
