Although there is little scientific data on how many people bite their nails, various associations and publications echo the study published in the journal Journal of Dermatological Treatment in 2017, Onychophagy: a disturbing enigma for doctors, which estimates that between 20% and 30% of the population bite them chronically, and occasionally the figure rises to 44%. A common behavior that prevails in childhood and youth, 37% of people are between three and 21 years old, and 21.5% are young adults between 18 and 35 years old. If so many people bite their nails, why in ours forage Do only well-groomed and pristine hands appear on Instagram? We might think it’s a simple whim of the algorithm, but the phenomenon of perfect nails invades films, magazines, red carpets and catwalks; places where there is no room for long cuticles, hangnails or bitten nails.
“This habit, known as onychophagia, is considered a repetitive behavior that serves to regulate internal states such as boredom, frustration or mild stress. It is not just a bad habit. It is an automatic behavior that is usually preceded by tension and followed by a feeling of relief or pleasure. Thanks to twin studies, we now know that there is a clear genetic load in this behavior. Many associate it with a lack of self-control, but this reading fuels the stigma. In reality, it is a loop that is triggered by contextual cues and that their own repetition reinforces, I think they are not shown on networks or in films because the simple gesture, and the visible damage to the fingers, causes discomfort and discomfort to others. Furthermore, when this behavior is maintained in the presence of other people, there is a contagion effect whereby the observer tends to imitate it unconsciously. In fact, most people who bite their nails do it when they are alone, more than simple nervousness their nails tend to have a lower score in terms of pleasantness than those who do not. they show more emotional symptoms and less prosocial behavior,” Dr. Jon Andoni Duñabeitia, professor of psychology and director of the Nebrija Research Center in Cognition (CINC) at the University of Nebrija, explains to S Moda. Dr. Esther Jiménez, dermatologist at GEDET and the University Hospital of Guadalajara, underlines that “hands are a very important element in personal and professional relationships and nails in poor condition can be a very limiting factor, as in the case of other diseases such as nail psoriasis. It is associated with a lack of self-control and causes embarrassment to those who suffer from it because the neglected appearance of the hands generates rejection. From a physical point of view, this habit can cause permanent deformities of the nails, favor bacterial infections such as pateredes or viral infections such as warts and also end up producing dental alterations.
Isabel Auernheimer, responsible for make-up and hairstyling in films and series, explains why, in her profession, hands do not go unnoticed. “Hands are an extension of the face, that’s why there are manicures on almost every catwalk and in the vast majority of series and films we have their services. Imagine a close-up of a character, male or female, with bitten nails and skin around the cuticle… It’s unrealizable. In fact, in advertising, models have stunt doubles because, even if they take care of their manicure, keeping a close-up is difficult. I’ve helped many actors overcome the problem, because they feel ashamed and wearing them well gives them confidence and also changes their attitude. I just filmed with a young actress biting them and we chose to put gel on them so that it is not noticeable.
The first step: become aware of the movement
Aneela Idnani, president of HabitAware and founder of the nonprofit BFRB Changemakers, has been living with a repetitive behavior disorder for more than 20 years without anyone realizing it. “Until one day I lost my eyebrows and I couldn’t hide it anymore. These types of disorders include nail biting, hair pulling, skin or lip picking, and cheek biting. They happen automatically, when the brain seeks relief from stress, boredom, anxiety, or excitement. This is not intentional self-harm, but self-relief. And it’s important to highlight this because there is a perception that it is our choice and our fault. It may be cured, but the formula is not is “stop doing it,” because willpower usually doesn’t work here. Awareness is the first step: you can’t change what you don’t know is happening. Once you become aware of the problem, you can start experimenting with healthy strategies to seek calm. In fact, Idnani created the Keen2 bracelet by HabitAware to help identify the behavior. Psychologist Jon Andoni Duñabeitia adds: “In my experience, the most effective technique for stopping nail biting is training to reverse the habit. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually simple. It starts with becoming aware, learning to identify when and why the urge to put your nails in your mouth arises. Then, instead of putting your hands in your mouth, you train your body to do other incompatible things, such as making a fist or playing with an object in your mouth for a minute. also relaxation exercises to reduce tension, support from the environment (someone who encourages you and reminds you of the goal) and practice in different contexts so that the strategy becomes generalized In scientific studies, this method has proven to be much more effective than homemade solutions and, if maintained, allows the person to abandon the habit without turning it into a struggle of willpower, but rather into a process of behavioral relearning.
Practical solutions to break the habit
Not everyone bites their nails with the same intensity. «There are different degrees. It is mild when only the edges of the nails are eaten; moderate when we see very short nails with the cuticle damaged, severe when there are very few nails and the skin and matrix are injured and, in the most severe cases, the matrix has permanent damage and the nail can grow malformed and even not regenerate completely. As a general rule, in people suffering from onychophagia it is advisable to keep them short and trimmed to reduce temptation; eliminate excess skin and cuticles which favor the bite; apply nourishing and regenerating cuticle oils to hydrate and repair, use hardeners and strengthening bases with ingredients such as biotin or keratin and strengthen with bitter nail polishes, which generate an unpleasant taste and help stop the habit”, explains Lina Paola Valderrama, international trends coordinator at Masglo. Can we go to a center to get a manicure if we bite our nails? “It depends, if there is hardly a nail or there is some kind of infection, it is best to go to the doctor. If you still have some nails, we disinfect our hands well in the center, file them very carefully, because the edges are usually inflamed, and cut off any splinters. This condition generates a rebound effect on the cuticles and they grow more than they should, which is why we remove them very carefully and polish the entire surface to leave the nails smooth, without skin or corners from which we then apply a hardening base and a nail polish that strengthens them. Getting a manicure periodically helps break the habit”, explains Xenia García, beauty expert and director of the Cinc Estética centre.
Despite all the tricks and home remedies, dermatologist Esther Jiménez emphasizes “the first step is the psychological approach and then we can add all the others, from the pharmacological one, to aesthetic care and management of complications. Gel nails can be an aesthetic solution and an attempt to protect the nail plate, but since the behavior is repetitive, I have found that they end up biting the gel anyway. Furthermore, manicures of this type for prolonged periods are harmful to the nail.”
Would it help eliminate stigma and shame to see more people with bitten nails on social media, on catwalks or in movies? Aneela Idnani says it clearly: “Visibility is powerful. For decades I thought I was alone because no one was talking about these behaviors. Seeing the people we love recognize them would help break the taboo. Just as the way we perceive anxiety or depression has changed thanks to public figures who dared to talk about it, normalizing repetitive disorders starts with honest representation. Hearing someone say “me too” can be the spark that frees us from shame and the incentive to ask for help.”
