Nail Biting
A common problem that is largely dismissed as a minor nuisance,
nail biting can be anything from a bad habit to an outward symptom
of a medical or emotional disorder.
While nail biting and picking seems to be such a common problem,
the psychological and medical research does not agree on an exact
motivation for the action. However it suggests that nail biting can
be the result of stress, various medical disorders, learned
behaviors, or just plain habit. Treatment depends on the
individual, but regular grooming and care is a big part of
successfully kicking nail biting or picking.
Stress
Chronic Onychophagia, the clinical name for nail biting.
It is estimated that:
28% to 33% of children ages 7-10 years old, 44% of
adolescents,
19% to 29% of young adults and 5% of older adults
are nail biters according to Terry M. McClanahan, author of
"Operant Learning Principles Applied to Nail Biting" a 1995 study
published in Psychological Reports (see nail biters profile
below).
The most common instigator of the disorder seems to be stress or
anxiety. Nail and Cuticle/Skin biting may be an outlet for pent-up
emotion, reducing tension for the individual. Nail Biting is a
habitual condition says Ronald Bronow,M.D., a dermatologist in
private practice and assistant clinical professor of medicine at
the University of California, Los Angeles. It is a common reaction
to stress and boredom.
Nail Biters could also suffer from a poor self-image or could be
punishing themselves for deeper-rooted problems or anxieties.
Basically, nail biting is a rational substitution of one problem
for another. In many instances nail biting is used as a tension
reliever. Any kind of disharmony as a result of friends, family,
work, or school can trigger the habit.
99% of nail biters have minor problems or a fixed biting habit.
Fewer have a deep emotional problem of which nail biting is a
symptom.
Nail Biter Profile
Nail Biters are more often male than female after age 10 (10% fewer
girls bite their nails than boys), and individuals with a higher
rate of intelligence tend to bite their nails more than those of
less intelligence. (Studies seem to suggest this is because people
with a higher rate of intelligence have more responsibility, which
may provide more anxiety.) Studies show that some relationship
between nail biting and low self esteem may exist. In general
though, nail biting was not shown to lower a biter's
self-esteem.
While no studies revealed an overall success rate for curing nail
biters, Rob Dahmes, M.D., suggests that those with a habit may be
harder to cure than those who bite their nails in relationship to a
psychiatric problem. Nail biting that manifests itself due to
emotional trauma can possibly be cured with medicine and or
counseling. Unfortunately, no treatment exists for bad
habits.
Children may pick up a nail biting habit from a babysitter or
family member as a learned behavior.
Attention-Seeking, need for oral gratification, sociopathy, lack of
self monitoring or self esteem, obsessive-compulsive To bite or not
to bite
Whatever the causes damage to the cuticles, roughness on the free
edge, bleeding at the grooves or cuticles and nail deformities.
However, fingernail growth may be accelerated by as much as 20%,
according to a 1980 clinical study by W.B. Bean, who observed nail
growth patterns over many years.
The hand-to-mouth, oral action of biting and picking leaves some
individuals open to medical problems. "Nail biters are more
susceptible to yeast infections of the nail due to prolonged and
increased wetting of the area during the repeated biting" explains
Dr. Bronow. "Damage to the nail matrix from nail biting causes more
extreme problems, such as infection, ridging, or even permanent
nail loss"
Nail Biting can spread bacterial infections and can be responsible
for severe dental problems, including gingivitis. Oral diseases can
also be spread via nail biting because of the constant contact of
fingers with the mouth of the individual. For instance, oral herpes
can actually begin to grow on the fingers due to the constant
contact, according to medical journals.
Some nail biters start out by trying to bite off a hangnail, fray
or tear in a nail. They try to fix it with their teeth to make it
smooth. The next thing they know a chunk of skin or nail has been
chewed off.
Nail Saving Techniques
Several techniques with varying results have been developed to help
extreme nail biters: mild aversion therapy, self-monitoring, habit
reversal, and medication.
Mild Aversion therapy is a "physically observable deterrent" and
can be described as something as simple as snapping a rubber band
on the inside of the wrist each time the nail biting urge
occurs.
Using a bitter tasting product that coats the nail or wearing
gloves are other deterrents.
Self-Monitoring requires the nail biter to keep a written record of
all incidences in hopes that awareness of the problem will
stimulate self-control.
Habit reversal is perhaps the most "successful" and "valid" therapy
for nail biting, using a step by step program that seeks to make
the individual aware of her behavior and then provide a physically
competing response to interfere with it. It combines record
keeping, relaxation training (yoga) and response competition
(performing a physical action when the desire to bite occurs
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