How To Stop Nail Biting

Do you find yourself absentmindedly chewing on or biting your fingernails — and when you try to quit the habit, it just doesn’t take?

Rest assured that you’re not alone. Although to many people, nail biting is an occasional thing, for 20% to 30% (or more) of Americans, nail biting is a behavior they can’t stop on their own. 

In fact, healthcare providers classify chronic nail biting as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder or a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB). There’s even a name for chronic nail biting: Onychophagia.

Although providers don’t fully understand the cause of chronic nail biting, there are ways to halt the habit.  

Preventive medicine physician and wellness expert Sandra Darling, DO, shares tips on how to stop nail biting.

How do people stop biting their nails?

When you’re a chronic nail biter, you often want to stop — and may have even made multiple attempts to quit, without success. 

Bur people with onychophagia can’t stop the behavior on their own. In other words, it doesn’t help to tell someone to stop — and reprimanding them only makes them feel worse because it reinforces their feelings of being flawed.

But you can get closer to recovery with repeated effort and self-care. Dr. Darling usually recommends a combination treatment approach that includes:

Behavioral therapy

Therapy can help release the shame and negative emotions that often accompany nail biting. It can also help increase awareness of your triggers and urges. In some cases, habit-reversal training or hypnotherapy are effective.

Self-care and relaxation

Self-care — like regular meals, more movement and ample sleep — helps you feel calmer, more confident and resilient, giving you the strength to recover. Nail biting satisfies a strong urge, so to quiet your mind and ease the tension created by the urge, we recommend meditation, journaling and yoga. 

Social support

Talking to a support buddy when you feel the urge to bite your nails can help you get through the stressful moment. The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors offers a directory of support groups and educational events.

Treatment of any psychiatric disorders

People with chronic nail biting may need medications or behavioral therapy to address a related condition. We do know that people with the following conditions often have onychophagia as well:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Oppositional defiant disorder.
• Separation anxiety disorder.
• Tourette syndrome. 
• Other BFRBs: Chronic skin picking, hair pulling, cheek biting and grinding teeth.

Nail biting-deterrent polish

Let’s face it, nail polish doesn’t taste good. But there is actually a variety of nail polishes made specifically to deter you from biting your nails. This polish tastes particularly bitter or foul on purpose — and people have found it to be an effective way to stop biting.

Why do people bite their nails?

Chronic nail biting often has a self-soothing quality — in fact, it provides a sense of calm — so people may use it as a coping mechanism. 

Sometimes, a hangnail or nail imperfection spurs you to groom a nail excessively, in order to improve the look of your nail. Unfortunately, this often makes the nail look worse.

People also bite their nails when feeling stressed or bored, while watching TV or when focusing on a task like reading. 

When does nail biting become a problem?

You should seek medical treatment if nail biting is causing physical damage to your nail, cuticle or surrounding skin, or if there are signs of an infection (including redness, pain or swelling).

If nail biting is causing you psychological distress, such as shame, anxiety, depression or low self-esteem, a mental health provider can help. It’s important to discuss your concerns with a professional if the behavior is affecting your social life, too, or affects your professional life or job performance.