A Harvard doctor has issued a warning to anyone who bites their fingernails, as it could cause health issues many people may not have ever considered – but there are simple ways to quit
It’s a habit that a lot of people pick up in their childhood – but sometimes, you can continue doing it into adulthood despite knowing better. A Harvard doctor has issued a stark warning to everyone who bites their fingernails believing nothing bad will come of it, and they could be in for a nasty shock.
Concerned, one woman asked the experts: “I’ve had a nail-biting habit for as long as I can remember. But now a new friend is telling me my nibbling could actually harm my health. Is that true?” Much to her dismay, she has come to learn she could be impacting her overall health with her long-standing habit and has been urged to stop it once and for all. In response, a doctor said on Harvard Health Publishing: “Your friend is correct. Think about it this way: how many things do you touch every day, whether doorknobs, money, or even your phone?
“Our fingertips are germ collectors even when we don’t bite our nails. But this habit makes you especially vulnerable to dirt and grime that can collect in nailbeds, since nibbling leaves cuticles and skin ragged and creates tiny fissures in your skin that germs can pass through.”
The doctor explained how she is introducing her body to a “variety of illnesses that range from the common cold to salmonella infection” by simply putting her nails into her mouth.
They added: “You can also develop an infection in the skin around your nails or under a nailbed itself.
“Admittedly, it’s not easy to quit biting your nails, but it’s important to do so. Try to find ways to occupy your mouth and hands — say, by chewing gum or drinking water, or doing needlework or drawing — so you’re less tempted to nibble on your nails.”
Sharing their advice on how to stop the common habit, one former nail-biter said on Reddit: “I took it very slow and stopped biting one set of nails at a time (started with thumbs and worked out from there). It took several months but the process was actually pretty painless.
“One big thing to be sure to do is manage the nails that are off limits (nail clippers and maybe filing) nothing makes you want to bite them more than having an uneven or chipped nail – i.e., ‘Well let me just take care of that’. Nomnomnom. ‘Oh god what have I done?!’ and the cycle continues..”
Another user added: “Have you ever watched someone else bite their nails? Don’t they look so… Worried? Non-confident? Insecure? Stressed out? Fretting?
“I noticed that and decided I didn’t want others to look at me and think I was those things. That’s how I quit.”
A third user said: “I used to bite my nails and the skin around them. The only way I was able to stop was the Rubber Band Method. Here’s what you do:
“Get a thick, wide rubber band. Something that came off some broccoli would be great if you can get it around your wrist.
“Every time you think about biting your nails or catch yourself doing it absent-mindedly, snap the band on the inside of your wrist. Don’t do a wimpy snap, either. Pull that mofo back and let it fly.
“You’re not going to do any kind of permanent damage to yourself and you start to associate your negative behaviour with an unpleasant experience. Trust me. It works.”