The good news is that long-term damage from nail biting is rare. But it does happen, especially if you swallow the bitten nails. You may also be ingesting bacteria that can lead to stomach or intestinal infection.
Your nails start looking abnormal and you become more prone to fungal infection due to passing bacteria from your fingers to your mouth. Swallowing bitten nails can put you at a higher risk of stomach and intestinal infections.
While it can occur without any underlying psychiatric conditions, it's also associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), separation anxiety, tic disorder, and other mental health problems. In rare cases, nail biting may be a side effect of medication.
It may seem harmless, but it can increase the risk of bacterial or fungal infection entering your blood, and that could lead to cold or flu. If you bite off a big piece of your nail, you can expose the delicate skin under your nail to any bacteria or pathogens in your mouth.
Those affected with dermatophagia typically bite the skin around the nails, leading to bleeding and discoloration over time. Some people also bite on their skin on their finger knuckles which can lead to pain and bleeding just by moving their fingers.
Biting your nails (also called onychophagia) is common — up to 30% of the population does it. But if your nail biting is chronic, you could be damaging your nails and the surrounding skin. Not to mention, regularly putting your fingers in your mouth might potentially infect your body with bacteria.
Are nails bones? No. Bones are made up of collagen and calcium phosphate, whereas nails are made from keratin.
It is known that people who usually bite their nails experience the common cold more often than people who do not bite their nails. While continuously infected with a cold can weaken your immune system and leave it open to more dangerous ailments.
On the other hand, saliva can make your nails brittle and weak. It is also identified that saliva can cause damages to the cuticles.
In fact, healthcare providers classify chronic nail biting as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder or a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB). There's even a name for chronic nail biting: Onychophagia. Although providers don't fully understand the cause of chronic nail biting, there are ways to halt the habit.
Nail biting almost always begins in childhood. It's a behavior often associated with stress or anxiety, but it's likely more complicated than that.
Onychophagia, commonly referred to as nail biting, is a chronic condition that is repetitive and compulsive in nature, and generally seen in children and young adults.
Surprisingly, most kids who swallow nails, pins and even razor blades will pass them naturally through their system. Still, parents should seek medical attention as soon as they suspect a swallowing because sharp objects can puncture children's esophagus, stomach or intestines.
Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria. Nail biting is related to dental problems such as gingival injury. Nail biting can also transfer pinworms or bacteria buried under the surface of the nail to your mouth. When bitten-off nails are swallowed, stomach problems can develop.
ADHD can cause excessive nail-biting, hair-pulling, and skin-picking.
Famous superstars Tom Cruise, Eva Mendes, Elijah Wood, Britney Spears, Phil Collins and Andy Roddick are all celebrity nail chewers, among others.
Biting Nails
This habit indicates nerves or insecurity. Whether this means they are nervous about talking to you or just in general, this can be a telling body language cue. It can show that you might be making them nervous (which can be a good or bad thing).
The hyponychium (informally known as the "quick") is the epithelium located beneath the nail plate at the junction between the free edge and the skin of the fingertip. It forms a seal that protects the nail bed. The onychodermal band is the seal between the nail plate and the hyponychium.
Bones. The human hand has 27 bones: the carpals or wrist accounts for 8; the metacarpals or palm contains five; the remaining fourteen are digital bones; fingers and thumb.
Nail root: The root of the nail is also known as the germinal matrix. Its edge appears as a white crescent, known as the lunula. The root portion of this nail lies below the skin, underneath the nail, and extends several millimeters into the finger.
COVID nails are increasingly being recognized as the nails recover after infection and the growth recovers, leaving a clear line. Can occur without skin rashes and appears harmless." Plenty of people in the comments section asked about COVID nails, what they look like, and if they're something to worry about.
Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.