Obsessions, compulsion, and aggressiveness are the three top causes of this disorder. Many people claim that they bite their nails as a way of relaxing or in situations like stress or distress. Any of these altered states can trigger off the unconscious nail biting habit. It is difficult to say or group the amount of people suffering from this harmful habit. In many cases, it is considered as a conscious habit of self-inflicted harm, and some specific situations may go to a negative attitude and exert an influence on the behaviour of the subject during childhood, adolescence and first years of adulthood.
Causes of Fingernail Biting
September 8th, 2007 · 17 Comments
Tags: Nail biting
17 responses so far ↓
1 vinifred // Nov 19, 2007 at 6:24 am
nice infomations i get it. trhank u.
2 vinifred // Nov 19, 2007 at 6:36 am
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3 vinifred // Nov 19, 2007 at 6:38 am
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4 Raymond Rose // Jan 16, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I bite my nails only after I have washed my hands but not because of some disorder, I bite them because for some reason I am hungry for the nail itself. When I eat chicken or beef I look for the tendons and gristle, and chew on the bones.
I believe there is an underlying nutritional deficiency perhaps related to Keratin that Science is not addressing in regards to nail biting.
Have any studies been done in relation to Keratin Deficiency?
5 Anda // Jan 31, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’m really desperate! I’m 24 and still biting my nails! I’m always so embaressed about the way they look. But I just CAN’T stop! :((
6 Eager Beasle // Jan 31, 2008 at 8:52 pm
You sound like a cannibal to me.
7 anthony // Feb 4, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Hey im 16 i bite my nails…but for the past 10 days i havn’t because i just look at them and chew on them but dont bite…its helping.
8 mundi // Feb 11, 2008 at 9:30 am
there is nothing wrong with nail biting. i have been doing it for the past 28 years. i have suffered no negative consequences whatsoever. on the contrary, since i take care to keep my hands clean, i get the flu much less frequently than non-biters. believe it or not.
the only negative consequence is stupid people warning me or telling me stupid things when i bite my nails around them. since i have no shame or guilt about biting my nails or the way they look i am rather unimpressed. so when i question them and ask them why they think it is so bad to bite nails, they don’t even have an answer. they
just seem conditioned to think nail biting is bad period. if you feel ashamed about the way they look, or if you are concerned about nail biting as one of the commenters, i guess then it is bad for you. but for me, it’s just something i do and i doesnt bother me or anyone who is close to me.
9 mike // Feb 14, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I am one of the minority of people in their 40s who still bite his/her nails. I am curious if there is a genetic component to the nail biting tendency. While not scientific, I do have some anecdotal evidence.
My paternal granmother bit her nails as a child. Both of her children bit as children but both quit before becoming adults. Combined they had 10 kids. Of the 10, 5 of us bit or bite our nails, while the other half never did. Of my 3 sons, 2 have a history of biting nails.
No one on my mother’s side of the familyhas a history of nail biting.
If it is a learned behavior, as some sources say, how is it learned if the behavior stops before children are born.
Finally, I have read that people who bite their nails have nails that grow faster than those who don’t. Is that a result of damage to the nails, or is it a possible factor leading to biting?
10 kitty // Feb 22, 2008 at 5:14 am
I bite my nails and have all my life. I can’t remember when I started doing it or why, but I have done it all my life. I am 19 years old now, and I am fed up with it. My finger tips are sore and red, and bleed a lot. Not to mention how ugly they are to look at. I also get sick a lot. Not only to I bite my nails, but I bite the skin around it and even along my finger sometimes. Not only do I bite, but I pick at them as well. It seems that I am irritated at the flesh that hasn’t completely been removed from my finger, as horrible as that sounds. I don’t think I will stop till the dead flesh is completely removed. I can’t seem to help it no matter what treatment I try.
11 Wanda // Feb 24, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I am 38 and still biting away….I see it purely as a terrible habit that I have learned from the age of 4 watching my older sister doing it. She has stopped for more than 20 years tough and I just can’t break this habit. I catch myself doing it when I found myself in situations where I feel bored…sometimes company, the television, etc. I manage to stop biting…the problem is that as soon as my nails start growing over the skin (2-3 weeks) I just can’t stand the feeling of having nails!!!!! This habit is hard to break because you can’t throw your fingers in the bin like cigarettes, but I think nailbiters and smokers have a lot in common…boredom.
12 BL // Feb 29, 2008 at 6:09 am
I do this as well, although most of mine isnt via the mouth, but whatever nails are left on the other fingers.
So essentially, one finger on my right hand will do damage to 4 nails on the left, while the one remaining nail on my left hand will take care of the last 5 on my right. LOL, so I end up with 9 nasty nails.
But there is no distinct order I do this in. I could start with a new nail the next go-around. So basically do end up with 10 nasty nails.
My dad did this when he was younger, but somewhere down the line, quit. Im in my mid 20s and still do it. Im not stressed in any way - its just out of habit that I do it. In fact, while watching TV a few minutes ago, I looked down, saw that I was peeling my nails (which I do on my feet as well, btw), and said WTF, STOP. So I stopped. 2 minutes later, Im doing it again.
I never really was fully aware that I do this until I was on a date in college with a lady. We were eating out, and she looked at my hands and said something like “wow, you have no nails, gross”. Needless to say, that awoke me to what I was doing wasnt normal. Theres no way ill go on another date any time soon (not a good memory) until I get this taken care of.
13 Holly // Mar 3, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I am now 14 and I have a severe problem with nail biting. It is to the point where I really cannot do any excessive writing or typing because it really hurts a lot. I stopped for a week after applying nail varnish. After it worm off, I went back again. Perhaps when I get braces I’ll stop biting nails for good. Have you other nail biters out there considered getting an Essix retainer? It’s those transparent plastic things that you put on your teeth. My brother had those after his braces and it did not seem troublesome at all. However bear in mind that you have to take them off when eating, and that it may crack. Speak to your orthodontist today - It is relatively inexpensive and I’m sure it will stop some of you from biting.
14 Nicole // Mar 6, 2008 at 2:44 am
I’ve been biting my nails since I could remember. I just do it when I’m bored I guess, not necessarily “nervousness”. I think I do it though because I like to stimulate myself. You guys should just try to chew gum all the time instead because it’ll keep your teeth busy!
15 Liz // Mar 9, 2008 at 4:40 am
Braces didn’t work for me when I thought they would. The only thing that actually worked for a month or so was being amazingly busy all the time with school, but that itself didn’t even give me time to be stressed. I’m trying gum in school, but there’s a definate limit to that. I find I’ll pick, peel, and chew watching TV. I seriously don’t think it’s a sign of aggression.
16 linda // Mar 15, 2008 at 9:07 pm
You all are telling my story although I’m now 67 and still chewing away! Obscessive/compulsive, self-mutilating, unconscious AND conscious. There has got to be some link to stimulating endorphins - just like alcoholism or drug addiction.
How to stop? I’d like to know because it’s getting worse as I age. There is a lot of shame around this issue. I do better when my hands are busy, and I can see where taking up knitting or crocheting would help. It gives me hope when I see that I am not alone and that it’s not just a matter of will.
17 Kate // Mar 20, 2008 at 7:00 am
I am 25 and also bite and pick at my nails (and the skin around my nails)… I have been diagnosed with ADHD and also generalized anxiety… both of which contribute the the nail biting habit.
Staying busy usually helps…as does being around people… i usually don’t bite my nails as much when i’m out and about and doing things with friends or family… when i am alone i try to just be aware of when i am doing it, and then just try (however difficult) to make myself STOP biting when I find myself doing it.
I find that a combination of adequate sleep, nutrition, and exercise - in addition to LOTS of HAND LOTION, nail-strengthening polish, and carrying a nail file JUST IN CASE a rough spot decides to catch my attention…
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