Onychophagy: how to stop biting your nails

L ' nail biting is a disorder that affects men and women and is to gnaw literally nails compulsively and unrestrained.

Correcting this bad habit is possible but first of all you need to know its triggering causes and consequences. Onychophagia is not just a vice but a behavioral disease .

In this article, we explain how to stop biting your nails by analyzing causes, remedies and natural and alternative solutions .

WHAT IS ONYCHOPHAGY

Onychophagy is a compulsive behavioral disorder that consists in "biting your nails" to the point of jeopardizing their health and normal growth .

The meaning of "onychophagy" is clearly understood from the term itself which is composed of the word "onico" (nail) and "fagia" (to eat): biting the nails.

It is considered an "impulse control disorder" generally caused by stressful or arousal situations that trigger this bad habit in a completely unconscious and uncontrolled way. According to Freud it is a symptom of oral fixation as the act of biting the nails is configured as the obsessive desire to stimulate the oral area.

Generally, nail biting does not selectively affect only one nail, but involves all of them. The subject suffering from nail biting tends to scrupulously inspect the fingers until they find defects to be removed: a raised cuticle or an uneven corner of the nail may be those factors that trigger the obsessive compulsive desire for removal through "gnawing".

Onychophagy affects people of all ages , men, women, adolescents, children, the elderly, although it is more common in young people. The ' child nail biting can also provide the impetus biting their toenails.

ONYCHOPHAGIA: TRIGGERING CAUSES

In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to know in depth the causes of onychophagy or any triggering factors .

Among the most common and frequent we find:

situations that generate anxiety and / or stress: onychophagy in this case brings a real sense of relief and comfort to all those who, placed under pressure or stress, are affected by anxiety and nervousness;

aggression and self-harm: these factors often contribute to triggering a mechanism that in the onychophagic subject leads to injury to himself, venting his impulses in this way on his own person rather than on others;

boredom: although boredom is not a triggering factor, it can certainly accentuate the nail biting , making the subject more accustomed to gnawing in particular in moments of inactivity;

emulation: often in children the predisposition to onychophagy develops as a sort of emulative phenomenon linked to the behavior of the parents, if they are also onychophagics.

These are undoubtedly factors to be taken into consideration when we analyze the typical characteristics that represent those suffering from nail biting.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONICOPHAGIA

Nail biting negatively and significantly affects the beauty of hands and nails, but aesthetics are certainly not the only problem.

Improperly removing the nails and detaching the hyponychia (portion of skin at the base and sides of the nail) can trigger infections and bacterial contamination. For example, paronychia, decidedly painful as boring to eradicate exactly like the classic fingertip (bacterial infection on the finger).

The nails are also a vehicle for bacteria that tend to settle under the free edge. This can lead to the formation of canker sores or infections related to the oral cavity : in severe cases this also involves the gums or even worse the incisors subject to erosion.

When you put your nails in your mouth, saliva can carry germs and microbes on your fingers that would be ingested and potentially cause disease .

Nail biting can lead to the formation of herpes simplex: a viral disease also known as cold sores when it affects the lips. It is noted with the appearance of small blisters on the upper or lower lip. The latter are very annoying, they can cause pain and fever.

Tearing the nails with the teeth and biting the cuticles on the fingers can also cause wounds and therefore  bleeding .

If this misbehavior is repeated for a long time (for years), the tips of the fingers and the fingertip can be permanently deformed .

These are just a few examples, but they should be enough to convince you to stop or at least give it a try if you too are suffering from this unpleasant disorder .

ONICOPHAGIA AND SELF-ESTEEM

Having onychophagic nails decreases self-esteem, causes discomfort and implies the difficulty in relating to others.

We know that hands are a real business card and as such must be preserved.

Imagine the embarrassment of shaking hands with an employer during an interview. This creates a sense of unease because the fear of an aesthetic  and even personal judgment comes into play . In fact, a person suffering from nail biting is unable to control their impulses.

Any employment that leads to highlighting the hands can create strong embarrassment : all activities in contact with the public, clerical, commercial and even manual jobs. Nail biting does not only create problems at school or at work but also in any human relationship : just think if your boyfriend or your partner felt disgusting in touching your hands!

Realizing the countless disadvantages of nail biting should be an impulse to stop biting your nails  or at least try to eliminate this bad habit. Being an unconscious problem , it is not easy but it can be achieved with commitment, willpower and some small useful device that we will now point out to you.

WHAT SOLUTIONS TO ADOPT AGAINST ONICOPHAGIA?

There are many measures that we can take to overcome the ailments related to nail biting : below we provide you with a series of practical and useful tips .

First of all, it is necessary to be constant and patient as the first results will be seen  after about 3 weeks , in which the nails will gradually begin to grow back: willpower is fundamental. The desire to have beautiful and manicured hands, to be exhibited in short, must prevail over everything!

Use of bitter-tasting nail polishes consisting of denatonium benzoate , a bitter-tasting and unpleasant substance that should discourage the urge to put your fingers in your mouth to gnaw your nails. This smelly nail polish should be applied daily for at least a month, a time when the impulse tends to gradually fade away.

The nail can be a valuable aid in dell'onicofagia treatment. A resistant and hard structure (gel nails) compared to the natural nail , usually tends to discourage the onychophagic subject also motivated by the progressive growth of the nails. The onychophagic reconstruction is performed by beauticians or at beauty centers and can be a solution for both female and male people.

The manicure : motivation counts a lot on a psychological level in onychophagic subjects . Being able to keep the manicure cured gives an excellent motivational boost that in the long term leads to the successful regression of the disorder. It is important to always have a file at hand.

Chewing on candies or chewing gum helps reduce stress: it is a rather effective method as releasing tension distracts attention from the nails in moments of inactivity. To avoid tooth decay problems, choose sugar-free ones.

Use of Bach Flowers: very useful for managing stress and nervousness. If nail biting depends on these factors, being able to relax can certainly help in resolving the disorder.

Psychological behavioral therapy: it is carried out in cases of severe onychophagy. Medical psychology can be used if any other long-term remedy has not worked or worse has contributed to the aggravation of the situation. On the other hand, no drug therapy is currently available : based on clinical studies, no drug has been shown to be effective in eliminating onychophagy.

TUTORIAL RECONSTRUCTION ONYCHOPHAGIC NAILS

As an example, we show you a video tutorial that explains how an onocophagic reconstruction is made on male nails. You will notice that the difference between the before and the after is really significant.

 

NATURAL REMEDIES AGAINST ONYCHOPHAGIA

To combat nail biting , we also have several natural ingredients available that can help us. These are products readily available in our pantries that allow us to divert attention from our nails. Here are some examples of natural remedies  as a cure for nail biting that will help you.

CHILI PEPPER

Rubbing the nails with chili powder is an excellent deterrent for those suffering from nail biting. This operation must be repeated every time we wash our hands in order to maintain the effect when the temptation to gnaw the nails arises.

WHITE VINEGAR

The ' white vinegar (balsamic or not black as it may stain), plays a' disinfectant on nails and cuticles in addition to being effective against nail biting. Dipping your fingers in it once a day will help fight any infections, giving the nails a decidedly unpleasant smell!

GARLIC AND ONION

Garlic and onion represent two decidedly "unorthodox" elements due to their stench and pungent taste , but for the same very effective reasons. The sharp and marked aroma obtained by rubbing the wedges or rings on the fingers will certainly help to reduce the desire to “tease” nails and cuticles.

ALOE VERA

Together with garlic and onion, aloe is also an effective and particularly used remedy against nail biting due to its bitter and not exactly pleasant taste . It is necessary to chop the leaves and keep your hands immersed in a bowl where we have placed it for at least 10/15 minutes so that the nails absorb the juice. Seeing is believing!

ESSENTIAL OIL OF TEA TREE

Tea Tree essential oil is also very effective: the pungent odor and bitter taste help fight the urge to bite your nails if used consistently. It can be used moderately pure or diluted in olive oil . In both cases, it should be massaged a few minutes on nails and cuticles once a day.

 

OTHER TIPS TO DEFEAT ONICOPHAGIA

It is important to remember that regardless of the treatment we decide to use against nail biting, a lot of willpower must be used . Onychophagy is a disorder that depends only on the psyche and as such it can be controlled. In extreme cases it is possible to ask for the support of a psychologist .

We give you one last piece of advice and invite you to reflect . A manicured manicure ensures elegant hands and should represent the unique motivation for change! The onychophagy can be controlled and certainly once resolved, the satisfaction will be enormous !

We hope that our tips on how to avoid biting your nails will be useful to you. If you also suffer or have suffered from nail biting, tell us your experience  and your opinions by leaving a comment.

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