Certain habits --- such as hair twirling, thumb sucking, nose picking and nail biting --- are done without your child's conscious effort. This makes his behavior a subconscious effort, meaning your child doesn't consciously engage in the behavior and sometimes doesn't even notice. While some subconscious habits are harmless and part of a phase, longer-lasting habits can be more difficult to break. Your child must become a partner in breaking the habit.
Nail-biting, or onychophagia, is a condition that involves chewing on the nails, cuticles and soft tissue around the nail beds. A child that feels nervous, anxious or worried may engage in nail-biting without even realizing tha...
Nail biting, also known as chronic onychophagia, is a common problem that can have devastating effects on the aesthetics of the fingers. While nail biting may be nothing more than a bad habit for some, for others, the problem c...
Although considered an unsanitary and unattractive habit, nail biting usually does not result in any serious medical issues, according to MayoClinic.com. No single reason exists for nail biting, but stress is a common underlyin...
Biting your nails may seem like a harmless habit, but take a moment to think of all the germs and bacteria you transfer from your fingers to your mouth, notes the MayoClinic.com dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson. It's best to st...
However, bacteria, dirt and germs live under your fingernails. Every time you put your nails into your mouth, you're spreading those germs right into your bloodstream. If that's not reason enough to stop biting your nails, thin...
Nail biting occurs in children and adults for many reasons, including anxiety, excitement or boredom. An estimated 50 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 18 and 23 percent of adults ages 18 to 22 have the habi...
Nail-biting can lead to more than just unsightly nails, according to the book "Foundations and Adult Health Nursing," but also infection. According to the book "Abnormal Psychology," nail-biting in men often starts as a manifes...
According to MayoClinic.com, nail biting increases the risk of passing bacteria or viruses from your finger to your mouth as well as worsening infections of the nail bed. If your daughter bites her nails, it could be a sign of ...
According to NorthShore University HealthSystem, nail biting is a common activity among people of all ages, but it is particularly prominent among kids, with approximately half of children ages 10 through 18 taking up the habit...
Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a common habit that is difficult to stop. Nail biting may be related to certain psychiatric disorders, according to a study by Ahmad Ghanizadeh published in the June 2008 issue of the journal, "...
Nail biting is a nasty habit, usually brought about by stress and sometimes boredom. Your nails are always growing and will eventually grow back, so long-term damage isn't a concern. This bad habit can be the problem of men wom...
Going from nibbled-down stubs to healthy nails takes some work, but the results are worth the effort. Not only are grown-out nails prettier, they are healthier, too. Nail biting can be unsanitary and can lead to infection if th...
According to the Washington Post, nail biting often begins in childhood and is most common in adolescents, although 10 to 20 percent of adults continue to bite their nails. While not dangerous, nail biting does look unsightly a...
Dermatophagia, or the compulsive biting of the skin around the nails, is a condition that closely relates to onychophagia, or the picking of the skin around the nails. These psychological conditions fall under the obsessive-com...
Nail biting may cause illness because it spreads germs from underneath the nails to the mouth, says dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. in the article "Nail Biting: Does it Cause Long-Term Damage?" on MayoClinic.com. Nail bi...
Biting your nails and picking at your cuticles won't cause permanent damage to your nails, says Mayo Clinic dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., but it's not exactly hygienic. Biting your nails and cuticles exposes you to ba...
Nail biting is a habit that can be caused by boredom, stress or anxiety. It is common for a preschooler to turn to nail biting as a way of dealing with the social and emotional changes that are common for his age. However, the ...
Biting your nails makes your nails look unsightly, but it can cause an infection. When you bite your nails, you break the skin on your fingers, which may allow bacteria to enter the body. If you are unable to stop biting your n...
Nail biting is regarded as a mostly harmless habit that can accompany stress and anxiety. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against biting nails, citing bad hygiene and the spread of germs to be one ...
For the most part, biting your nails is not harmful, but it can increase your risk of spreading infection to other parts of your body or to other people. Tricks to try to stop biting your nails include covering your hands, prov...
Nail biting occurs more often in boys than girls. The habit is often outgrown in young adult years; however, up to 29 percent of young adults continue to bite their nails, according to steadyhealth.com. The biting usually disap...
Biting your fingernails can be embarrassing and painful. There likely are germs on your fingers, too, that you'd rather not be putting in your mouth. Hypnosis is one method to treat a nail-biting habit. Consulting a certified h...
Biting and chewing on your nails can lead to an unflattering appearance. Biting nails is a habit that some people develop to relieve stress. Boredom might also be a factor that causes a person to chew on her nails. Complication...
Nail biting is a habit that not only results in fingernails that are less attractive, it is a process that involves putting fingers in or near the mouth. To help prevent catching colds and flus, you need to keep your hands and ...
Whether it's a nervous habit or learned behavior, nail biting is not only bad for your nails, but your fingers and teeth as well. Nail biting can also lead to lowered self-esteem, as it can make your fingers look swollen and ma...
Nail biting is a common disorder that can affect people of all ages. Its technical name is chronic onychophagia. It is considered a stereotypic movement disorder. Nail biting can be prevented in many people with simple behavior...
The medical term for nail biting is onychophagia. Nail biting is a habit that many people participate in on a subconscious level. They often do not even realize that they are biting their nails. Habits that are practiced subcon...
Prevent drying out your nails with too much water exposure. Soaking your nails or too much pool time dries out the natural oils needed for healthy nails. Wear rubber gloves when dish washing and thoroughly rub hand cream into n...
You probably don't even realize you're doing it. Nail biting might be something that you do in addition to other repetitive behaviors. Some individuals bite their nails due to stress or anxiety. It could be the exact opposite, ...