7 Tricks Dermatologists Recommend To Get Rid Of The Nails Biting Habit

[LoShiNi]

Nail biting generally begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. The side effects of this habit can be more than merely cosmetic. Repeated nail biting can cause skin around the area to become painful, and it can damage the tissue which makes the nails grow back, resulting in an abnormal appearance. Chronic nail biting can leave you vulnerable to infections, as harmful bacteria and viruses pass between the mouth and fingers and vice versa.

The good news is that biting your nails doesn’t usually result in any long term damage. However, it isn’t hygienic and can lead to more frequent skin or nail conditions or infections. To help you stop biting your nails, dermatologists recommend following this advice:


1. Keep nails short

An easy way to avoid biting your nails is to keep them short. The idea behind this method is simple. If there’s little or nothing left to bite, you won’t feel compelled to bite your nails. Of course, you’ll need to be up-to-date with your cutting routine, since the nails undergo constant growth.


2. Cover them

If nail polish isn’t your style, you can try covering your nails with something else. You can use anything, from adhesive tape, stickers, gloves or a band-aid.


3. Manicure

Try giving yourself a manicure, which you won’t want to ruin. Your nails will look and feel great, and might just make you want to not bite them.


4. Apply an unpleasant finish to your nails

While this may sound unusual at first, using a varnish with a bitter taste will help you break this habit. You can apply this type of deterrent onto your bare or polished nails. Simply apply it, let it dry completely and reapply it whenever you need to.


5. Wear jewelry

A company called Ark makes a silicone necklace designed for any person (over the age of 5) who needs to chew. You can choose the color and hardness on a scale of soft to extra-extra resistant. This type of device works better if you’re aware of the fact that you bite your nails. Instead of biting your nails to help you focus or calm down, it replaces your nails with a necklace.


6. Focus on each finger

Perhaps the all-or-nothing approach isn’t for you. Instead, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests quitting the habit by focusing on one finger at a time. You can begin with the thumbs. Once you’ve avoided biting them for approximately one week, move on to the index fingers. Go in whatever order makes the most sense for you and keep working on making progress.


7. Stay strong

You can’t expect to stop biting your nails overnight. In fact, you may have heard that you need 21 days in order to break a habit. One 2009 study showed that the time it takes to break a habit isn’t as clear or straightforward with its progression. So, what is the lesson here? Give it time before declaring your efforts a failure. If you do, your hard work will be rewarded.

If you’ve tried all of these at-home methods without success, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. For some people, biting nails may be an indicator of a more serious psychological or emotional problem. Behavioral therapy is another option that may help. During your appointment, you can analyze your nail biting habit with your doctor and ask for a reference to a therapist.

You should also contact your doctor if you notice any signs of infection in the fingers or nails. A dermatologist may be able to help heal your nails and fight any infection with medication or topical treatments.