Whether for aesthetic or health reasons, body care should always be a priority, even from the first years of life. There are parts of the body that require more care than others, such as the hands. From children who are children, there are people who adopt the habit of biting their nails and when they are adults, this can become harmful. For this reason, it is essential to know how to stop nail biting urgently and effectively.
Onychophagia What is it?
It is a disorder that occurs when the affected person begins to eat their own nails. Perhaps for some it is a common habit, however, it requires supervision, especially when the years go by and said habit is maintained. Onychophagia comes from a Greek word of the same name and is common in both children and adults.
Calculating exactly the number of people who suffer from onychophagia is really difficult, since very few go to a doctor. According to close figures, at least 30% of children between the ages of 4 and 10, bite their nails. In many cases, the origin is due to the fact that the little ones imitate this bad habit of some adult.
In the case of adolescents, the figure increases considerably, reaching approximately 50%. However, this amount is reduced after reaching 18 years of age when some learn how to stop nail biting urgently.
Upon reaching the adult stage, onychophagia remains in at least 15% of people over the age of 18. However, this habit only occurs in specific situations, especially due to nerves and anxiety. The administration of some medication is necessary to stop biting the nails, although it is not always necessary.
Why does onychophagia occur?
According to research carried out by experts on the subject, onychophagia is a habit that possibly has its origin during childhood. In fact, most babies, just like toddlers, often have a bad habit of putting their fingers in their mouths.
On the other hand, nail biting is not really considered a disease as such. This is classified as a psychological pathology that over the years can become a compulsive behavior that is difficult to repress. It may even require the use of some medication to stop nail biting.
Some of the causes that can lead to the search for solutions on how to stop biting your nails urgently are the following:
internal causes
They occur due to hormonal imbalances and problems in the nervous system caused by various traumatic situations. These can be caused by family conflicts, feelings of guilt, self-punishment, abuse, self-esteem problems and humiliation.
If onychophagia lasts over time, it can become chronic and even cause sudden changes in behavior. That is, the person suffering from this disorder can adapt aggressive behavior towards himself.
Although many believe that the act of biting the nails is something insignificant, because they grow back over the days. If not treated with the proper methods, it can become a real health problem. In this case, like stopping nail biting urgently, it becomes a priority.
external causes
The action of chewing the nails is related to stress and anxiety, these caused by situations that affect the affected person emotionally. Family problems, work, with the couple and also the lack of money, are factors to take into account.
However, these can be corrected according to willpower or with the help of a psychologist. So it could be solved without the need for a drug to stop nail biting.
On the other hand, in the case of the smallest of the house sometimes the situation is more complicated. Even so, knowing how to kick the habit of biting nails in children is simple as long as it is done the right way.
Is biting your nails bad for your health?
Many may not be aware of it, but hands are a great source of information when meeting a person. In fact, it can be said that it is a reflection of health and self-love.
When a person takes proper care of their hands, it makes a very good impression on other people. On the other hand, biting your nails causes a series of consequences, not only in health, but also in the emotional, social and aesthetic part.
Health
People who do not know how to stop biting their nails urgently can have many problems by carrying out this action. There is a wide variety of germs that can hide under the nails. When the mouth makes contact with unhygienic hands, these germs enter the body and cause various diseases.
Besides, the action of biting the skin and cuticle of the fingers can harm the body, leaving it defenseless against infections. If prolonged, the tips of the fingers could begin to present chronic swelling. It also increases the possibility of cavities, due to the damage caused to the teeth by chewing the nails. If it becomes chronic, you may require medication to stop nail biting.
Aesthetics
On an aesthetic level, onychophagia can cause serious problems in people who suffer from this disorder. This is because over time, it produces a series of deformities in the fingers, including the possibility of losing one or several nails. Without neglecting the fact that it is a rather unpleasant habit in the eyes of other people.
psychological and emotional
Continuing with the consequences, another of the negative effects of this habit is shame and complex. This is due to the appearance that the hands and fingertips can have, causing anxiety.
Not knowing how to stop biting your nails urgently can drastically affect interpersonal relationships. In addition, it is directly linked to low self-esteem and little or no ability to avoid impulsive behavior.
In the same way, stop biting your nails psychologically and emotionally speaking, it can cause a lot of sadness. Especially every time the affected person looks at their hands and is not happy with their appearance.
Social
Rejection by society can make onychophagia more harmful for those who suffer from it. Since it’s not just inconvenient to make friends or find a partner, job interviews can turn negative. That is, when they notice the appearance of the hands and nails, this will not leave a good impression on the interviewer.
How to stop biting your nails?
As mentioned in the previous part, the action of chewing the nails has very harmful consequences. Reason why it is essential to know how to stop biting your nails urgently, to achieve this, it is best to follow the following tips. But first, the best recommendation is to go to a doctor every time you have any problem that threatens your health. Self-medication is never advisable, nor is the use of methods or drugs without proper authorization from a specialist.
Acceptance
The first step before executing any advice on how to stop biting your nails urgently, is to accept the problem. Most people who bite their nails do not recognize that it is a problem that harms their health. As long as this occurs, the possibility of success in correcting this disorder is practically nil.
In addition, it is essential to know how to identify exactly what are the situations that cause this disorder. In this way, it will be easier to apply a method that can give positive results without having to use any medication to stop nail biting.
Perform self-control exercises
Mastering any urge to bite your nails is very important when it comes to combating this disorder. To achieve this, it is best to carry out exercises that allow you to control the impulse to bring your hands to your mouth.
– To start, place the tips of your fingers as close as possible to your mouth.
– Keep them at a distance of approximately five centimeters and then remove them.
– This should be repeated several times a day, bringing the tips of the fingers and nails as close as possible to the teeth.
– In this way, self-control is practiced and the urge to chew the nails is reduced. This is an effective method for people who don’t know how to stop nail biting urgently.
hobby or pastime
Doing pleasant activities that keep the body and mind busy is a great option so that the nails are not close to the teeth. It can be any type of activity, as long as it is preferred by the person affected by the bad habit.
Activities that require the use of the hands are the most recommended for these cases. In this way, the impulse to bite nails will be suppressed, in addition, it can be implemented in the smallest of the house. So knowing how to get rid of the habit of biting nails in children will be easier.
Preferably sugar free gum
An effective way to prevent fingers from ending up in the mouth is to chew sugar-free gum. This allows to cope with onychophagia, freshens breath, prevents cavities and also helps to exercise the jaw.
licorice root
Another trick to keep your jaw moving is to chew on some licorice root. It is recommended to do it especially when anxiety levels are very high and difficult to control. It is an easy to use and very effective home remedy.
Aloe Vera Application
The benefits of aloe vera are undoubtedly excellent for skin care and the prevention of many diseases. However, its flavor can be quite unpleasant for the taste of some palates. To be more specific, aloe vera is very bitter, but it is ideal to avoid putting your nails in your mouth. Ideally, extract the clear fluid from the aloe and store it in a container overnight. Then place a little of its content on the nails, in this way, every time the fingers touch the mouth, the bitter taste will be difficult to tolerate.
False or gel nails
It may be one of the most expensive methods, however, its results are very good. Thus, the real nails will remain intact and continue to grow normally without any damage. In addition, the appearance of the nails will be much better, so the aesthetic part has its benefits.
Gloves or band-aids
For some it is not the most comfortable option, but it is certainly quite effective when it comes to avoiding nail biting. The models and materials are very diverse, so they can be used on multiple occasions. Likewise, placing band-aids on the nails for several days is also very helpful, especially when you are at home.
anti stress ball
Remember that this habit can be generated due to different stressful situations. For this, a very good recommendation is to use an anti…