Why do people bite their nails?
Onychophagia, or nail biting, is a habit that affects many people. This phenomenon may begin as early as childhood and fade over time, or it may begin in young adulthood. Anxiety and boredom are the most common causes of this behaviour, but it would appear that heredity and the care we take of our nails also play a part. Some children pick up this habit by imitating the adults around them, or simply because they have got used to sucking their thumb. It is therefore a habit that you need to learn to break, as biting your nails can have an impact on them.
First of all, bitten nails look unsightly, which can be difficult to accept in social situations. Nail biting damages the layers of keratin that make up the nail, as well as the cuticles – the small patches of skin at the edges of the nail. The nails end up being cut short, which leaves the delicate skin they are meant to protect vulnerable to all sorts of infections. The teeth, too, can suffer from this habit, which puts more strain on them than reasonably necessary.(1)
How do I stop biting my nails?
Knowing why you bite your nails is a good start. But finding ways to kick this bad habit is even better. Don’t worry – there are plenty of tips to help make your nail-biting a thing of the past.
Mindfulness
The first step to stop nail biting is to identify the factors that drive you to do it. If you bite your nails because you’re bored or lonely, try to fit in more time with your loved ones. Alternatively, take up a craft or sport that will keep you physically active on a regular basis.
Learning to manage anxiety
If onychophagia is caused by stress or anxiety, learn how to manage these issues. Start by adopting a lifestyle that promotes your mental well-being: a balanced diet and good-quality sleep. Practices such as yoga or mindfulness meditation are widely recognised as effective ways of reducing stress.
It may also be a good idea to discuss your concerns with someone you trust. If you’re finding it difficult, certain behavioural therapies can help you find ways to stop biting your nails. In many cases, taking better care of your nails helps to make you want to keep them looking good and healthy, and therefore to stop biting them.
Try the varnish method
As well as identifying and managing triggers, there is one technique that seems to be proving effective: bitter-tasting varnish. This is the case with URGO Filmogel® Stop Nail Biting (ages 3 and over) which combines two actions. Its formula leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, which makes nail-biting or thumb-sucking an unpleasant experience. Furthermore, its formula, which contains vitamin E, helps to regenerate, restructure and strengthen weakened nails. Invisible, it helps you grow longer, stronger nails discreetly, whilst also helping you break this bad habit.
Caring for bitten nails
Now that you have identified the causes of this habit and it is no longer part of your life, it is time to give your bitten nails the care they need to grow back healthily. To achieve this, it is necessary to adopt new habits – particularly when it comes to diet – and use the right products.
Good habits to adopt in everyday life
When you bite your nails, they become weak and brittle, and may develop ridges or split. Not to mention that regrowth can sometimes be rather haphazard. To prevent this and help them return to full health, make sure you pamper them every day.
- Start by cutting down on your use of nail varnish (apart, of course, from varnish designed to stop you biting your nails) and nail varnish remover, as some of the substances in these products can cause further damage to your nails.
- Protect your hands with gloves when gardening or using household products.
- After your shower, remember to moisturise your hands with a suitable product that will deeply nourish the skin.
Fingernails take a few months to grow out completely, so be patient and keep an eye on how they’re growing. Once they are long enough, trim them with nail clippers and file them in one direction to prevent them from splitting.
The role of diet
Don’t underestimate the importance of your diet in promoting healthy regrowth of your bitten nails. Indeed, the nutrients we consume have an impact on the quality of our nails, just as they do on our skin and hair. Make sure you get enough selenium and zinc, nutrients that help maintain healthy nails. The foods richest in selenium are Brazil nuts, seaweed, tuna, egg yolks and wholegrain mustard.(2) Zinc, meanwhile, is found in oysters, beef, crab, rock lobster and sesame seeds.(3)
The URGO solution: URGO Regenerating nail care
To help your bitten nails recover as effectively as possible, we have created URGO Filmogel® Regenerating Nail Care. Its formula contains keratin, glycerine and squalane, and helps to harden, strengthen and nourish the nail. Furthermore, this product forms a protective film against factors that cause damage. We recommend applying it twice a day for 14 days to strengthen and nourish your nails.
URGO Filmogel® STOP Nail Biting and URGO Filmogel® Regenerating Nail Care are cosmetic products. Read the instructions before use. 01/2025
