Nail biting: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Nailbitebad.jpg|thumb|Fingers of an extreme nail-biter.]] |
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'''Onychophagia''' or '''nail biting''' is a common oral [[compulsive]] habit in children and adults, affecting around 30% of children between 7 to 10 years and 45% of teenagers.<ref name="pmid2276242">{{cite journal |
'''Onychophagia''' or '''nail biting''' is a common oral [[Body-focused repetitive behavior|compulsive]] habit in children and adults, affecting around 30% of children between 7 to 10 years and 45% of teenagers.<ref name="pmid2276242">{{cite journal |
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|author=Leung AK, Robson WL |
|author=Leung AK, Robson WL |
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|title=Nailbiting |
|title=Nailbiting |
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Revision as of 02:55, 6 August 2009
Onychophagia or nail biting is a common oral compulsive habit in children and adults, affecting around 30% of children between 7 to 10 years and 45% of teenagers.[1]
Negative effects
Bitten fingertips can become very sensitive to pain, usually at the place the skin meets the edge of the nail. Hangnails are broken skin on the cuticle. When they are improperly removed, they are susceptible to microbial and viral infections producing whitlows. Saliva may then redden and infect the skin. [1] Finally it may also result in the transportation of bacteria that are buried under the surface of the nail, or pinworms from anus region to mouth.[2][3] Nail biting is also related to dental problems, such as gingival injury.[4]
Regarding social effects the aesthetic aspect of the nail may affect employability, self-esteem, and interaction with other people.[5]
Treatment
Behavioral treatments are based in discouraging the habit and replace it with a more constructive habit. The most common treatment, as it is cheap and widely available, is a special clear nail polish that has to be applied to the nails. It releases a bitter flavor on contact with the mouth which discourages the habit and has demonstrated its effectiveness.[6] There are also mouthpieces that prevent biting.[7]
Behavioral therapy is beneficial when simpler measures are not effective. Habit Reversal Training (HRT), seeks to "unlearn" the habit of nail biting and possibly replace it with a more constructive habit and has shown its effectiveness versus placebo both in children and adults.[8][9] In addition to HRT, stimulus control therapy is used to both identify and then eliminate the stimulus that frequently triggers biting urges.[10]
Finally nail cosmetics can help to ameliorate nail biting social effects.[5]
Related disorders
Some related body-focused repetitive behaviors are dermatillomania (skin picking), dermatophagia (skin biting) or trichotillomania (urge to pull out hair).
References
- ^ a b Leung AK, Robson WL (1990). "Nailbiting". Clin Pediatr (Phila). 29 (12): 690–2. PMID 2276242.
- ^ Sung JF, Lin RS, Huang KC, Wang SY, Lu YJ (2001). "Pinworm control and risk factors of pinworm infection among primary-school children in Taiwan". Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 65 (5): 558–62. PMID 11716114.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Baydaş B, Uslu H, Yavuz I, Ceylan I, Dağsuyu IM (2007). "Effect of a chronic nail-biting habit on the oral carriage of Enterobacteriaceae". Oral Microbiol. Immunol. 22 (1): 1–4. doi:10.1111/j.1399-302X.2007.00291.x. PMID 17241163.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Krejci CB (2000). "Self-inflicted gingival injury due to habitual fingernail biting". J. Periodontol. 71 (6): 1029–31. doi:10.1902/jop.2000.71.6.1029. PMID 10914808.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b Iorizzo M, Piraccini BM, Tosti A (2007). "Nail cosmetics in nail disorders". J Cosmet Dermatol. 6 (1): 53–8. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00290.x. PMID 17348997.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Allen KW (1996). "Chronic nailbiting: a controlled comparison of competing response and mild aversion treatments". Behav Res Ther. 34 (3): 269–72. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(95)00078-X. PMID 8881096.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Dutchman Offers 'Cure' for Nail Biting". The Washington Post. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
- ^ Twohig MP, Woods DW, Marcks BA, Teng EJ (2003). "Evaluating the efficacy of habit reversal: comparison with a placebo control" (PDF). J Clin Psychiatry. 64 (1): 40–8. PMID 12590622.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Woods DW, Murray LK, Fuqua RW, Seif TA, Boyer LJ, Siah A (1999). "Comparing the effectiveness of similar and dissimilar competing responses in evaluating the habit reversal treatment for oral-digital habits in children". J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 30 (4): 289–300. doi:10.1016/S0005-7916(99)00031-2. PMID 10759325.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Penzel, Fred. "Skin picking and nail biting: related habits". Western Suffolk Psychological Services. Retrieved 2008-03-22.