Child Nail Biting

[Clarita12345]

My son started nail biting around the age of 9. He is16 and ended up biting the cuticles or picking them with fingers. He took most of top of his finger skin off that now has blisters. His middle finger nail is white and bumpy and other 2 are not smooth they have ridges!!!
I have tried stop & Grow liquid for few years but in vain.
I am so worried about his damaged nail.
GP said to ask him to stop biting his nails nothing more he can do for him

[Clarita12345]

How can I attach a picture of his Nail?

[Clarita12345]

No reply

[Clarita12345]

Thank you footle.
At least 1 reply

[starsinthenight]

My DS 11 bites fingernails. My DD 13 constantly picks finger/cuticle skin to point of chewing. Both anxiety-related I believe. I don't know what to do either. Have bought both stress balls, bits of blue tack to fiddle with. Think it is just one of those things? Annoying yes, but could be worse (eyelash / hair pulling). Wonder if I drive them both to it? Hope not. I could be worse too!

[starsinthenight]

meant chewing too to point of bleeding.

[gobbin]

How about encouraging him to focus on just one or two nails that he's 'allowed' to chew? This will give the others a chance.

I only stopped biting all but one nail when I was in hospital after a CS. I was 29. Even now in my 40s I still chew that one nail and sometimes pick cuticles. I recognise that I do it in the car, mostly on the way to/from work, and it helps me 'think' (I suppose about work stuff!)

I'm on sick leave at the moment after being in hospital for 5 weeks and my nails are the best they've been in years! I still chew that one nail though...

My DH chews his nails terribly and DS nibbles his (they aren't too bad) but he also chews his knuckles which is worse, as he has mild scar tissue from doing this. I know from my own experience that I can't help them to stop, it is a very addictive habit.