Onycho- (Greek: fingernail or toenail) -phagia (Greek: to eat, consume).

There are many explanations as to why some people bite their fingernails. Anxiety, stress, genetics, boredom, acquired behaviour and self-esteem have all been identified as potential causes. 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, for no matter what the reason, chronic onychophagists (nail biters) will be acutely aware of just how difficult it is to break this destructive habit.

We hope that the messages on this site will offer some support and encouragement.

Treatment depends on the individual, but regular grooming and care helps to break a nail biting habit. You might also find that you achieve encouraging results from some of the remedies we list here.

Please, if you have some useful advice - or, equally, experiences, tips or horror stories - we would love to include this in our discussion forum.

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What Causes Nail Biting?

We do not know. However, it is commonly accepted that nail biting can be motivated by any of the following: stress, medical disorders, acquired behaviour, genetics or just plain habit.

Nail biting is often considered to be a common reaction to stress. A child or even an adult uses nail biting as a coping mechanism to relieve pent-up emotions. Ronald Bronow, MD, a dermatologist in private practice and assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles says nail biting is a habitual condition, 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.

Sometimes nail biting is just plain habit. Nail biting can also be symptomatic of some medical disorders. For example an emotional trauma brought on by the constant fights between his parents can result in nail biting. A child who constantly bites his nails may be suffering severe anxiety or a poor self-image. The habit will have progressed beyond a simple habit and become obsessive behaviour when the child's nail biting habit interferes with his daily functioning or with his social relationships. The fact that he gets teased at school is a sign of this.

What Damage Can Result From Nail Biting?

Obviously damage to the cuticles and ragged nails. Where a nail has been bitten too far in, bleeding might occur at the grooves or cuticles. More extremely the constant wetting of the finger can lead to yeast infection of the nail and oral herpes can actually begin to grow on the finger. Ridging, nail deformity and even nail loss can happen. Bacterial infections can lead to severe dental problems such as gingivitis.

Is Nail Biting Genetic or Acquired?

Tim Wysocki, a paediatric psychologist, believes a nail biting child is usually not aware of the habit. Nail biting is often an acquired behaviour. The child resorts to such behaviour because of its association with some form of comfort or pleasure derived from it.

Studies also suggest that nail biting can run in the family thus indicating a genetic factor. This is also borne out by the fact that some children start biting their nails as toddlers.

Incidence

Nail biting is common. Although incidence is greater amongst children, adults are also affected. In a 1995 study entitled 'Operant Learning Principles Applied to Nail Biting' author Terry M. McClanahan estimated that 28 to 33 per cent of children between the ages of seven and 10; 44 per cent of adolescents; 19 to 29 per cent of young adults and five per cent of older adults are nail biters. In another study an incidence in the range 45-60% of children age eight to eleven has been reported. Nail biting tends to peak between the ages of 10 and 18. Although boys and girls appear equally prone to the habit in their earlier years, after the age of 10, more boys than girls are nail biters. Studies seem to suggest a higher incidence of onychophagia amongst people with higher intelligence. Possibly as a result of such people being given more responsibilities and consequential anxiety. A caution: There is no evidence that biting your nails makes you more intelligent however, so there remains every reason to discourage the habit!