Medicines for Nail biting

What it is

Nail biting (onychophagia) is a very common habit that involves biting or chewing the fingernails, and sometimes the surrounding skin. It is especially common in children and teenagers, and many people continue it, at least sometimes, into adulthood. It is often an unconscious or automatic behaviour, and is frequently associated with situations such as stress, anxiety, boredom, concentration, or nervousness — for many people it is a way of coping with tension or occupying themselves. In most cases, nail biting is a harmless habit that causes no significant problems, other than the appearance of the nails. However, frequent or severe nail biting can sometimes cause problems, such as sore, damaged, or short nails, damage to the skin around the nails, infections of the skin around the nail (paronychia), dental problems, and, occasionally, more significant effects. When nail biting is severe, causes damage or distress, or is difficult to control, or when it is part of a broader pattern of repetitive behaviours or linked with significant anxiety, it may be worth addressing more actively or seeking support. It is also one of a group of "body-focused repetitive behaviours" (which also includes things like skin picking and hair pulling), and for some people these can be more troublesome. For most people, though, nail biting is a common, benign habit that can be reduced with simple practical strategies if a person wishes to stop.

How it is treated

For most people, nail biting does not need medical treatment, and if a person wishes to reduce or stop the habit, there are practical strategies that can help. Helpful approaches include: becoming aware of when and why you bite your nails (for example noticing the triggers, such as stress or boredom), as awareness is the first step to changing a habit; keeping the nails trimmed short and neat, or having manicured nails, so there is less to bite; using bitter-tasting nail products designed to discourage biting; keeping the hands busy or occupied (for example with a stress ball or fidget object) in situations that trigger biting; finding alternative ways to manage stress, anxiety or boredom, since these often drive the habit; and, for some, covering the nails or wearing gloves in trigger situations. Addressing any underlying stress or anxiety can help reduce the habit. For nail biting that is severe, causing damage, distressing, or hard to control despite these measures, or that is part of a broader pattern of repetitive behaviours or significant anxiety, it is worth seeing a GP — support such as talking therapies (including habit-reversal techniques) can help, and any underlying anxiety can be addressed. If nail biting has caused a skin infection around the nail (redness, swelling, pain, or pus), this should be seen and treated. The reassuring message is that nail biting is a very common and usually harmless habit, that it can be reduced with simple practical strategies if desired, and that support is available for more troublesome cases and for any underlying stress or anxiety.