Sophia Delgado
Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a common habit that can be caused by several factors, such as stress, anxiety, boredom, or underlying mental health disorders. While occasional nail biting is unlikely to affect nail growth, habitual nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may change the shape of your nails. This occurs when the exposed nail bed keratinizes, preventing it from adhering to the nail plate. However, there are strategies to help break the nail-biting habit and promote nail bed recovery, including keeping nails trimmed, using bitter-tasting nail polish, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and addressing any underlying triggers or mental health concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nail biting causes | Stress, anxiety, boredom, mental health disorders, genetics, etc. |
| Risks | Infection of the nail folds, warts around and under the fingernails, gum inflammation, damage to teeth, etc. |
| Prevention | Keeping nails clean and trimmed, wearing gloves, bitter-tasting nail polish, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), etc. |
| Nail bed regeneration | May not grow back properly or at all if damage is severe; may take months to years |
| Appearance | Shorter nail beds due to reduced whiteness at the tip, longer white section, and shorter pink section |
| Treatment | Artificial nails, pushing back cuticles, soaking nails in warm water and essential oil, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed
Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a common but potentially harmful habit. While occasional nail biting is unlikely to cause any issues, chronic nail biting can lead to several complications, including damage to the nail bed.
The nail bed is the pink-coloured tissue beneath the nail plate (the hard, visible part of the nail). When you bite your nails, you expose the nail bed, and once exposed, the nail bed keratinizes, meaning it no longer adheres to the nail plate. This can result in irreversible shortening of the nail plate as new nails grow in, causing your nails to take on a different shape.
In addition to disfiguring the nail, chronic nail biting can also lead to infection of the nail folds. Bacteria and viruses from your mouth can be transmitted to your fingers, potentially infecting the soft tissue surrounding the nail. This includes the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the herpes simplex virus, which can cause periungual and subungual warts around and under the fingernails.
To prevent damage to the nail bed and potential infection, it is important to break the nail-biting habit. This may involve keeping your hands busy with activities such as knitting or doodling, using bitter-tasting nail polish, trimming nails short, or even investing in regular manicures. If nail biting is a persistent issue, it may be helpful to speak with a mental health professional to develop healthier coping strategies and understand the underlying causes of the behaviour.
While nail beds can grow back if the damage is limited to the top layer, more severe damage may result in permanent disfigurement. Therefore, it is crucial to address the habit of nail biting and take steps to protect and care for your nails.
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Bacterial and viral infections can spread from mouth to fingers
Biting your nails can expose the nail bed, causing it to keratinize and no longer adhere to the nail plate. This can lead to irreversible nail bed damage and changes in nail shape. However, occasional nail biting is unlikely to cause such issues, and some people have reported their nail beds recovering after quitting the habit.
Beyond nail disfigurement, biting your nails can also spread bacterial and viral infections from your mouth to your fingers and vice versa. This can lead to various health issues, such as:
- Infection of the nail folds: Bacteria and viruses can spread from your mouth to your fingers, infecting the soft tissue surrounding your nails.
- Warts: Periungual and subungual warts can develop when the human papillomavirus (HPV) or the herpes simplex virus is transmitted from your mouth to your fingers.
- Infection of the oral cavity: Bacteria from your fingers can cause gum inflammation (gingivitis) or even lead to a bacterial abscess, a pocket of pus around the tooth.
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD): This is a contagious viral infection that affects children, causing a rash on the hands and feet and painful sores in the mouth. While typically mild, it can lead to complications like dehydration, nail loss, and, in rare cases, viral meningitis or encephalitis.
To prevent the spread of infections and promote nail health, it is essential to maintain good hand and nail hygiene. This includes keeping your nails clean and trimmed, washing your hands frequently, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Additionally, if you struggle with nail biting, there are several strategies you can employ to quit the habit, such as keeping your hands busy with crafts or stress balls, getting regular manicures, or applying bitter-tasting nail polish.
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Strategies to stop nail biting include bitter nail polish and CBT
Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a common condition in which individuals habitually bite their nails and the surrounding areas. While occasional nail biting is unlikely to change the way your nails grow, chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause your nails to grow back in a different shape.
Bitter Nail Polish
Applying a bitter-tasting nail polish may discourage people from biting their nails. This safe, but awful-tasting formula is available over the counter at pharmacies. Alternatively, you can make your own bitter apple mixture using white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and water.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT with functional analysis involves a trained professional observing the individual with onychophagia to help them discover any nail-biting triggers. The professional can then use CBT methods to help a person respond differently to those triggers. This form of therapy can help increase awareness of triggers and urges, and help people develop new habits to replace nail biting, such as chewing gum.
Other Strategies
Other strategies to stop nail biting include keeping nails trimmed and short, getting regular manicures, covering nails with tape or stickers, wearing gloves, identifying triggers, and practicing self-care.
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Nutritional deficiencies can cause shortened nail beds
Nail biting, or onychophagia, can be an unconscious habit or an intentional activity that relieves tension. While occasional nail biting is unlikely to change the way your nails grow, chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause your nails to grow back in a different shape.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in nail health. The normal nail plate is made up of various nutrients, and a deficiency in any of these nutrients can lead to changes in the nail plate and nail bed. For example, iron deficiency can lead to brittle nails, while vitamin C deficiency has been associated with koilonychia and hapalonychia. Zinc deficiency can cause white spots on the nails, and calcium and vitamin D deficiencies can also affect nail health. In addition, protein deficiency can lead to soft and thin nails, as seen in children with kwashiorkor, a severe form of protein malnutrition.
Malnutrition, including prolonged starvation and severe protein malnutrition, can also impact nail health. Marasmus, a wasting syndrome resulting from prolonged starvation, can cause a 40-50% reduction in body weight and impaired nail growth. Terry's nails, typically associated with liver disease, may also be observed in malnutrition, presenting as leukonychia over the proximal nail bed with a distal pink or brown band.
Beau's lines, transverse linear depressions in the nail plate, can be another indicator of nutritional deficiencies. These lines may be caused by protein deficiency, chronic alcoholism, or any severe disease that disrupts normal nail growth. The width of the furrow can indicate the duration of the underlying ailment.
To address nutritional deficiencies, it is essential to adopt a well-rounded diet rich in essential nutrients. In some cases, supplementation may be recommended, such as taking iron or zinc supplements under the guidance of a healthcare provider. However, it is crucial to consult a doctor before starting any supplements to ensure they are appropriate for your individual needs.
While nail biting can cause cosmetic changes to the nails, it is reassuring to know that nail beds can recover over time. One person shared that after quitting nail biting, their nail beds took about 13 months to grow out, with noticeable improvements around the 6-7 month mark. To support nail health during this recovery process, consider using nail oil 2-3 times a day and maintaining a comfortable nail length to prevent breakage.
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Toenail beds are made of a protein called keratin
Nail biting, or onychophagia, can be an unconscious habit or an intentional activity that relieves tension and provides relief. While occasional nail biting is unlikely to change the way your nails grow, chronic nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause your nails to grow back in a different shape. The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate, and it is made of a protein called keratin.
The nail matrix is where your fingernails or toenails form. It is made of special cells that produce 196 layers of cells to make each of your fingernails and toenails. The width and thickness of the nail plate are determined by the size, length, and thickness of the matrix. The lunula, or "small moon," is the visible part of the matrix, appearing as a whitish crescent-shaped base of the visible nail.
The nail bed is the area under your nail plate, and it is made of a protein called keratin. Keratin is a hard, translucent protein that forms the nail plate or nail body. The nail plate is the visible hard nail area from the nail root to the free edge. As new nail plate cells are made, they push older nail plate cells forward, causing them to become compressed, flat, and translucent. This process makes the capillaries in the nail bed below visible, resulting in a pink color.
While nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed, there are some things you can do to help promote nail growth and health. Keeping your nails clean and trimmed can help reduce the risk of infection and improve nail hygiene. Applying a bitter-tasting nail polish or using gloves or bandages to make nail-biting more difficult can also be effective. Additionally, taking biotin-rich foods and supplements may help strengthen brittle fingernails.
It is important to note that if you notice any changes to your fingernails or toenails, you should consult a healthcare provider. They can determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
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Frequently asked questions
Occasional nail biting is unlikely to change the way your nails grow. However, habitual nail biting can cause irreversible damage to the nail bed and may cause your nails to grow back in a different shape.
To help your nail beds grow back, you should take good care of your nails and body. You can also make your nail beds appear longer by cleaning underneath your nails with a nail brush, pushing back your cuticles, and allowing your nails to grow longer.
There are several ways to stop biting your nails, including keeping your hands busy, using bitter nail polish, trimming your nails short, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and wearing gloves.
