Nail biting: Does it cause long-term damage?

Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations .

Does nail biting cause any long-term nail damage?

answer From Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Although unsanitary, chronic nail biting ( onychophagia ) is n’t likely to cause long-run nail damage.

Nails are formed within the smash bed — precisely below where the u-shaped cuticles begin. american samoa long as the nail seam remains intact, collar biting is n’t probably to interfere with fingernail emergence. In fact, some research suggests that pinpoint sting might even promote faster nail emergence .
Nail biting is n’t without risks, however. For example, nail biting can :

• Damage the skin around the nail, increasing the risk of infection
• Increase the risk of colds and other infections by spreading germs from your fingers to your mouth
• Harm your teeth

If you ‘re concerned about nail bite, consult your doctor or a mental health provider. To stop nail bite, he or she might suggest :

• Avoiding factors that trigger nail biting, such as overstimulation
• Taking healthy steps, such as getting active, to manage stress and anxiety
• Keeping your nails neatly trimmed or manicured
• Occupying your hands or mouth with alternate activities, such as playing a musical instrument or chewing gum
• Apply a bitter tasting lacquer to nails to discourage biting

In some cases, treatment with behavior therapy might be needed .

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the data highlighted below and resubmit the shape .

Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic’s experts.

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertness on managing health.

Email
ErrorEmail field is required
ErrorInclude a valid e-mail address
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and web site custom data with early information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protect health information. If we combine this information with your protect health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of electronic mail communications at any clock time by clicking on the unsubscribe yoke in the electronic mail .

Thank you for subscribing

Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health data .

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription

Please, try on again in a copulate of minutes

1. How to stop biting your nails. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/nail-care/nail-biting. Accessed June 13, 2017.
2. Singal A, et al. Nail tic disorders: Manifestations, pathogenesis and management. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2017;83:19.
3. Halteh P, et al. Onychophagia: A nail-biting conundrum for physicians. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2017;28:166.
4. Habif TP. Nail diseases. In: Clinical Dermatology: A Color Atlas Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed June 13, 2017.

See more Expert Answers

reference : https://nutritionline.net
Category : Healthy