Biting skin

dreadlocks

I keep biting (and eating)the skin around the nails of my fingers. My two little fingers are particularly bad. I'm frequently bleeding from it and it looks unsightly. Have been doing this with at least ten years and can't seem to stop. Sometimes I put a plaster aound them and they heal but when it falls off I'm back biting again. Please help!

Terodil

Hi,

many years ago, I used to do that too, not to the point of bleeding but the rest of it.

The initial problem I needed to overcome was that I didn't realise when I was doing it. I had to really force myself to concentrate on it. I used to tell myself three times (aloud) before going to sleep at night. If you need more help, you can see your local pharmacy for some anti-nailbaiting tincture that you can put on and that has a very nasty taste -- that surely will make you realise!

The second problem was to attach consquences to catching myself. I went to the bank and got 50 1-EUR-coins. I put them on a little plate and a lidded glass jar next to it. Whenever I noticed myself doing it, I took a coin from the plate and put it into the jar. I told my parents (I was a teenager then) that I'd give them the jar when I'd finished weening myself off it. And blimey did it hurt to see the money pile up in there...

Additionally, I tried to really get it into my head how disgusting my fingers looked and what crap I was eating on the microscopic level (germs, dirt, ...). Ewww.

It was hard, it did take a few weeks, but it worked.

Perhaps this could work for you too?

barleybooley

Hi OP, i've been doing this as long as I can remember and yes it looks like crap. Mine get especially bad around exams and anything stressful but I usually force myself to let them heal after.
You could start by bandaging them with some Germolene/Savlon and that way it's harder to pick at when the skin is healed. Try to be really conscious of it and punish yourself for slips, like if you do bite then you've to hoover the house or something...
Glad to know that I'm not the only one and best of luck

LegacyUser

I've got no solutions but just wanted to say that you're not alone! I've been doing this for years and it's always when I'm stressed (even if I'm watching something tense on the TV) that I really bite them & make them bleed. I notice when I'm on holidays, I never go near them.

Think I'll give Terodils suggestions a go & see how it goes!

JuliusCaesar

Could it be skin-picking? try ocdireland.org for info....(May not be this at all of course)

A habit? would the yukky tasting stuff you put on nails to stop biting them help?

mikemac

I don't have a solution for you, just letting you know you are not alone

thunderdan

Hi OP, i too have had the same problem at times, nails and skin. I found that is skin is 'available' to pick then i would bit and pull at it. My solution was to get a clippers, anytime I felt I was going to bite i clipped the 'offending' skin. This cures my need and also leaves fingers intact.

nmesisca

Terodil wrote: »

Hi,

many years ago, I used to do that too, not to the point of bleeding but the rest of it.

The initial problem I needed to overcome was that I didn't realise when I was doing it. I had to really force myself to concentrate on it. I used to tell myself three times (aloud) before going to sleep at night. If you need more help, you can see your local pharmacy for some anti-nailbaiting tincture that you can put on and that has a very nasty taste -- that surely will make you realise!

mmm... when i was a kid i tried this one. found out I didnt really mind the taste at all