Chronic nail biting, also called onychophagia, can be a difficult habit to break. 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...
It is estimated that approximately 30 to 60 percent of children and teens bite their nails, according to the Kids Health website from the Nemours Foundation. Nail biting is a habit that often develops from boredom or anxiety. As the child grows...
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 habit, according to Home...
About 25 percent of parents say that their kids between the ages of 2 1/2 and 6 bite their nails, according to Carolyn Schroeder and Betty Gordon in "Assessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems." To keep your tyke from this destructive habit,...
Nail biting is a behavior children resort to when they are bored, excited, stressed or need to be comforted. Once nail biting begins, it can be a difficult habit to stop, because a child may not always be aware he is biting his nails. As with most...
According to Kids Health, nail biting is one of the most common habits that kids have. Kids may outgrow the habit on their own. There are several reasons a kid should break a nail biting habit. Biting and chewing nails can cause the skin around...
Nail biting is a habit that occurs in individuals of all ages, including toddlers. Nail biting may cause infections in the nail bed, states Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, nail biting can make toddlers more susceptible...
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 underlying cause. Although no...
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 women and children,...
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 biting may also cause...
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 hypnotherapist may be...
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 stop biting your nails...
Kids bite their nails for a number of reasons: because they're stressed, because they are bored or sometimes because it provides an escape from a scary situation. Whatever the reason, nail biting is not only unsightly but it can also cause...
Nail biting not only causes the fingernails to look unsightly, but can also pose health risks. According to MayoClinic.com, nail biting increases the risk of passing bacteria or viruses from your finger to your mouth as well as worsening...
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 manifestation of anxiety...
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 subconsciously are...
Nail biting is a common habit, especially among children. 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...
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 nails on your own,...
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 the cuticles or nail...
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 bacterial infections...
Your fingernails actually do serve a purpose. Fingernails help protect your fingertips and make it easier to grasp certain objects such as a loose piece of thread; they also come in handy when you have an itch that needs scratching. However,...
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 Mayo Clinic states...
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-compulsive disorder, or...
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 modification. In...
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 fingers away from...
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 can result from...
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 make you embarrassed...
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, "Child and Adolescent...
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. Complications from biting and...
