My fingers

SarahJ

Hi,

not sure if this is the right place, but I need help!!


My problem is that I bite my fingers. Not my nails, but the skin around them, to the point were I bleed! I know I know, this is disgusting, and its horrible for a girl my age to have these manky fingers. My OH absolutely hates me biting, but he's not with me 24/7 to stop me. I don't even notice me doing it half the time!! i just read up on something called "dermatillomania" and it seems like this is what I have. I'm biting as I write this!!


Is there any treatments any one knows of? I really want to stop being embarrassed of my hands and be able to get a manicure without feeling ashamed!




Thanks in advance!

Agent Smith

you can get this type of paint for your nails that makes them taste horrid


My Sister used that when she had the same Issue

SarahJ

Thanks, I used that, in the end it didn't seem to bother me! I sound so unattractive right now haha.

Nevyn

Talk to your dr about it if you think it is a condition rather then a habit.

whiskeyman

Might suggest you go to your GP.
Sounds a bit odd.
Do you do it out of stress, or is it just out of habit now?
When did you start?

I wonder if hypnotherapy would help?

cafecolour

I've read that it takes something like six weeks to firmly break a habit like that. I'd put something on the fingers to make you react when you unconsciously start biting. You could try keeping some foul tasting stuff on your finger tips. Or maybe wrap electrical tape or bandaids around your finger tips - anyone who asks why just tell 'em your trying to stop biting your nails with a self-effacing smile or such.

Mr. Presentable

Do you find you do it when worried/stressed about something? I do when I'm worried, to the point where they are sore and bleeding, but usually after a few days regain control of the impulse and stop again. You may also find that one or two fingers get more abuse - put plasters on them until they heal or you'll keep "tidying" the rough edges!

SarahJ

I started when I was a kid, don't even remember it was so long ago, and now I actually don't notice doing it. Wouldn't think its stress or anythin, as when I'm sitting on the train or bus just reading, I do it alot. I'd say people are looking at me thinking, euw what is she doing.

Electrical tape might be good. I've tried using plasters, but as soon as I wash my hands the plasters come off.

Maybe its willpower more than anything else?

Mr. Presentable

Agent Smith wrote: »

you can get this type of paint for your nails that makes them taste horrid


My Sister used that when she had the same Issue

Doesn't work for this kind of thing in my experience - I would work at the damaged fingers with my nails instead!

Caoimhín

Hypnotism?

I dont believe it works myself but i know a few who swear by it. Might be worth a go if its really bothering you.

I think myself its just a habit, like smoking or as a friend of mine does, pulling hair out, (a serious condition).

Maybe you could have a think about what sets off the biting? Do you do it when your stressed, upset or when your just relaxing?

What do you get out of it, is it habitual or do you get a sense of relief out of it?

Sorry more questions here than answers but maybe if you ask yourself these questions it may help.

Mr. Presentable

SarahJ wrote: »

I started when I was a kid, don't even remember it was so long ago, and now I actually don't notice doing it. Wouldn't think its stress or anythin, as when I'm sitting on the train or bus just reading, I do it alot. I'd say people are looking at me thinking, euw what is she doing.

Electrical tape might be good. I've tried using plasters, but as soon as I wash my hands the plasters come off.

Maybe its willpower more than anything else?

It is

SarahJ

nipplenuts wrote: »

It is

thats what I was afraid of

Alun

I go through phases like this as well and what I find is that once I've started (usually due to a trigger like stress or anxiety about something) it's the annoying itching around the sites where I've bitten the surface skin away that keeps me nibbling away at it, which only serves to makes it worse.

I get the feeling then that the area around my nails where I've bitten starts to get infected slightly, and what I've found is that if I then start to take scrupulous care of the skin around my nails, and keep them as clean as possible, using a nail brush whenever I wash my hands, that it seems somehow to reduce the itching and cuts down on the urge to nibble at them.

Just an idea.

davyjose

I do the same SarahJ, I bite my nails too. It's the most impossible habit to get out of, because fingers are sooo accessible. It's not a condition, but a habit, IMO. I find I've done it without realising at this stage. But there's no compulsion when I do stop. Is it like that for you?
The only time I ever stopped was when I was labouring for a few months, that because my hands felt, and were, filty all the time. Unfortunately I have no real advice for you, but that you're not alone

LegacyUser

Im so glad this post has come up. I'm exactly the same, except i bite my nails as well

I don't work fridays, and today ive been picking the skin and nails all days and I bite them til they bleed as well. it's such as awful habit and im so embarrssed by it too. Also, with the type of work I do, people can always seem my hands. they are disgusting, but I dont know how to stop. I don't even realise Im doing it as well.

It's like when I bite the skin and it comes off it's a relief? yet it's painful? oooo god, I sound so messed up now don't i!!??

anyway just wanted to say, you're not the only one at all and Im glad Ive read this post!

papillon66

I used to bit my skin too and I did it for along time...
it's possible to do it without too much effort but you would need to be conscious of when you pick or bit your skin to prevent it to happen

I just wanted to stop doing it because I was going to my bro's wedding and didn't want to have horrible hands with my cute little dress:p

(also wanted to avoid all the family comments about my hands:mad:)

so I started 9 months before the wedding trying to grow my nails first(it's a bit more difficult to bit the skin when the nails are long) and hiding my hands from each others-also I tried to keep myself busy and I tried to focus the stress or the boreness on something else than my hands(for me it would be playing guitar or video games:D)-

the idea is to keep your hands occupied and try to address stress,anxiety...on something else than your hands.something that can be positif for you too ,this way you'll start in your mind a new pattern-
To be honest it took me 6 months to forget this habit...but I still have sometimes the instinct to pick it when I feel that a little piece of skin it's hanging out...I try not to do so but sometimes I can't help it so I change my focus once I've done it,just to be sure I won't get into it again-

Hope this help:)

SarahJ

nailbiter08 wrote: »

Im so glad this post has come up. I'm exactly the same, except i bite my nails as well

I don't work fridays, and today ive been picking the skin and nails all days and I bite them til they bleed as well. it's such as awful habit and im so embarrssed by it too. Also, with the type of work I do, people can always seem my hands. they are disgusting, but I dont know how to stop. I don't even realise Im doing it as well.

It's like when I bite the skin and it comes off it's a relief? yet it's painful? oooo god, I sound so messed up now don't i!!??

anyway just wanted to say, you're not the only one at all and Im glad Ive read this post!

Yea its so weird, there could be skin annoying me, and it could be really painful, but I won't even notice cos I just want to bite it off. Freaks 'R' Us!!
As much as I tell myself to stop, I could be doing it 5 minutes later!

Dolbert

I do this with my upper arms, it's definitely worse when I'm stressed! Very annoying as I know how unsightly it is, yet have the compulsion to do it :mad: The only thing that works is a conscious effort and willpower, even at that you can slip back unfortunately.

LegacyUser

I have the same problem i remember starting around 5-6 years old…. Although it seems a little more mild then some people have.

I recommend putting some Neosporin on the fingers at night and wrapping them with bandaids, then trow the bandaids away in the morning. This really helps the skin heal AND softens the hard edges that I can’t help but pick.

Bandages by themselves are not that good, you ned the neosporin to help the healing.

Neosporin by itself is not that good as you’ll rub it off in your sleep

If it’s the weekend and I”m not going out I’ll leave the bandages on…OR leave the worst finger or two wrapped in bandages

I find picking at the bandage helps satisfy the “craving” soemwhat without damaging my finger further.

saoirse36

Woo hoo i'm not alone then!!

Have been doing this for more years than i care to remember....am 36 now and can't seem to stop....don't actually bite my nails or cuticles....just pick at my cuticles with my other fingers, again until bleeding in many cases...don't know if it's stress related...maybe more to do with having dry fingers/cuticles which cause upstarts which lead to picking which becomes a habit and before u know it it's second nature and u don't even realise u're doing it anymore....

I also have a "theory" that because there's a very fine line between pleasure and pain and that with all the nerve endings in your fingers the more you pick the narrower that line gets...wouldn't be suprised if some endorphins of some sort are released in the brain during this process....complete theory on my part though....

As for cures, i hadn't heard about the neosporin before...think i'll try that (Thanks!)

Otherwise, regular visits to the nail bar to get manicures might do the trick...prevention better than the cure

This may work for the girls....can't see myself lolling aound the nail bar getting my fingers and nails buffed though.....

consultech

Wear a thick industrial elastic band around your wrist. When you catch yourself biting your nails stretch it back and snap it on your hand (will hurt). Before long you will lose your subconscious urge to be a biter.

Conditioning ftw.

saoirse36

Good one Consultech....actually saw this on another board as an aid for getting over a broken heart...every time u think of her pull the elastic band as far as u can and WHAAAAACCCCK!!! U'll stop thinking about her pretty quickly....

....or else end up with very sore wrists like me!!!

cantdecide

I used to be a dedicated nail biter. I took up classical guitar which is great fun and requires you to grow your nails. I don't play much classical any more but I haven't bitten my nails now in about 4 years...

Sorry if not helpful

SarahJ

Hi all,

I'm the original nail biter, posted this a while ago. Just an update, I have stopped!! I'm very proud to say this. I decided one morning at the start of the year that I didn't wanted to have manky fingers anymore, I wanted to have nice ladylike fingers! I have a tiny relapse now and again, but so far so good! I'm pretty happy with the outcome, and not embarrassed by my fingers anymore. They are still a bit dry, but I am applying cream all the time. Its literally just willpower and my OH telling me how disgusting it is

meesa

Get a muzzle!!
I do it too by the way.

LegacyUser

Hi Op,

Myself and my sister actually do the exact same thing we bite the skin off our fingers to the point where it bleeds/gets infected and we have to put plasters on them!! I know it's disgusting and very unnatractive, the point of putting the bad tasting stuff on our fingers is that we actually pick them rather then bite them mainly so that's that out the door... am running out of options myself!!

GigaByte

I used to do the same thing as well and found it harder to quit than smoking. With smoking you decide when to have a smoke but with finger biting, you do it without even knowing you're doing it!

I'm pleased to say I'm a non-finger biter for 2 years 3 weeks!

Mr. Presentable

SarahJ wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm the original nail biter, posted this a while ago. Just an update, I have stopped!! I'm very proud to say this. I decided one morning at the start of the year that I didn't wanted to have manky fingers anymore, I wanted to have nice ladylike fingers! I have a tiny relapse now and again, but so far so good! I'm pretty happy with the outcome, and not embarrassed by my fingers anymore. They are still a bit dry, but I am applying cream all the time. Its literally just willpower and my OH telling me how disgusting it is

Good job!

Reesy

SarahJ wrote: »

Just an update, I have stopped!! I'm very proud to say this.

Well done SarahJ!

I used to bite my fingers a lot when I was in school, because I was miserable & stressed. I have other habits now instead... and when I notice myself doing them, I try take a few seconds to notice what I'm getting stressed about, and either work on the stressful thought or put it gently aside. Sometimes it works.

Nevyn

meesa Unhelpful and off-topic posting will get you banned from this forum.
Do take time to read the charter which contains the rules and abide by them.
Have a nice day.
Thaedydal

doncarlos

Agent Smith wrote: »

you can get this type of paint for your nails that makes them taste horrid


My Sister used that when she had the same Issue

My ex used to suck her thumb and her sister put that paint on it. She said she just got used to the taste and continued to suck it.

LegacyUser

I was exactly the same as the OP biting the skin more than the nails, couldn't stop no matter how hard I tried, fingers were literally in bits, sometimes wouldn't even notice myself doing it until my lap was covered in bits of skin. Changed job and then just seemed to stop, didn't do it consciously, it just stopped so I definitely think it's stress related, not saying you should change job but most likely something's stressing you.

Something that help keep me on the straight and narrow is keeping my finger nails clipped so I don't have little bits annoying me and tempting me back to the dark side!!!