Does anyone else have this awful habit - picking the skin around nails?

[Foodorder]

Or more to the point have you managed to fix it?

I've always bitten and picked at my cuticles, but it's getting worse and now involves the skin down to the first knuckle on some fingers. Very sore and very unattractive.

I know it's sometimes linked to anxiety, I've had a tough week at work this week and it's been bad, but I also do it when I bored and for some reason, when I've had a drink, e.g. when feeling relaxed in front of a film with a glass of wine.

It hurts, but I can't stop!

I do that!!! Not as bad as to first knuckle. But definitely all around me nails and often make them bleed, I've done it since I was a young teen I think. Mine isn't particularly related yo anxiety I don't think. It's at a pretty steady level all the time. Especially when I'm not busy.

I do when anxious to the point of having had skin infections when younger as a result.

i have found having my nails done stops me doing it to a degree.

Yes, I’ve done this for about forty years. I think I’ve stopped, but can’t say that too loudly as I’ve thought that previously and started again. I don’t know why I do it, possibly anxiety, possibly boredom, possibly sub-consciously. Possibly all three.

But I’ve found that if my actual nails look nice, I don’t do it as much. So I’m trying to keep my nails polished (clear polish, as I’m cack-handed with coloured polish), use hand cream a couple of times a day, and keep my nails filed short but in a nice shape. This helps stops them breaking.

I’ve recently read that it’s a form of OCD, or that there are overlaps with OCD, or something along those lines.

I think I started at 8yo or so. I’d pick and bite to the point that I’d bleed, I once had an awful infection. But my parents never spoke about it or sought any information or help or anything about it beyond always shouting ‘stop biting!!’. Which unsurprisingly didn’t work.

Yes. I'm 45 and have bitten my nails and the skin around them for as long as I can remember, although not down to the knuckle. I would say for me it's an enjoyable thing rather than anxiety and I get satisfaction from it. Or I'll do it when I'm bored like in a boring work meeting.

The official term is body focused repetitive behaviour and that’s worth a google as there’s a lot of information and research on it that might shed light on some of the factors that are contributing to it.

Me. I managed to stop when I got married (I didn't want horrible hands on the photos) but I've restarted since ☹️

I do too, until they bleed.

Can’t have nails done due to my job but sore and bleeding fingers is probably a worse infection control issue! 🤦‍♀️

I definitely chew my nails when I've had a glass of wine / am watching TV. I did "sober January" and although I didn't lose the few lbs I was expecting to, my nails grew!
The other thing I can "recommend" for nail biting is breaking your elbow. You can't bend it enough to get your fingers in your mouth!!
I have cuticle oil, but the one I use most often is a pen, rather than the "polish" style brush and bottle. Easy to brush on and moisturised skin is less liable to crack / rag nail and give you the temptation to pick.

I do this too, acrylic nails stop me. Appreciate its not the best for my nails but it looks better and hurts less!

Use Sally Hansen cuticle remover to take off the crispy bits once it's not red raw (it'll sting if you do it before then), wash, wipe with a damp flannel to take the softened bit off and then coat with emollient ointment repeatedly. Anytime you feel a sharp bit, repeat, if you're not at home, snip it incredibly carefully or try to gently smooth down with a glass file and LEAVE IT ALONE!

If you make sure the snags are removed straight away and prevented from coming back, there's no little edges for you to pick at and inadvertently tear down to live skin. Protects you from infection as well.

Having healthy cuticles absolutely transforms your hands and in time, you lose the urge to pick at them, because after ten days, there's nothing there to attract your attention.

Yes I have ASD and have done this since I was about 3 years old. My mother used to scream in my face ‘self murder’ and it was awful it made me worse. My nail beds are so damaged now

Yes I do this it's a stim (autistic). I have acrylic nails on to limit the damage

My mum used to do this when I was a kid, I thought it was awful but I bit my nails. Now I don't bite my nails anymore and do bite the skin around my nails instead. So I guess I've turned into my mother! It's habit/anxiety related for me. I do it all the time but it ramps up when I'm anxious.

I have a habit of rubbing my left thumb cuticle on my gear stick, on the threads around the knob. It's so annoying! I find it really hard not to do it, and it bothers my skin for hours after.

I’ve done this since being a child, never bitten my nails though. My nail beds are so disfigured I’m ashamed of even going to a salon to have my nails done.

I do, but am much better than I was.
Tbh for me it's a form of self harm, and definitely increases with anxiety, and the reason why I don't do it as much is because I use other methods. Sorry.

Ooh this sounds interesting. That's exactly what happens. It starts to heal, leaving tiny bits of hard 'loose' skin that I feel a need to remove, only more "good" skin comes with it and it all gets worse.

So this Sally Hansen cuticle remover actually makes the skin come off? IME cuticle "removers" only soften the skin so you can push it back - which makes our problem a whole lot worse.

I do this. It’s horrible and I hate it 😭

I have this - I think it's called dermatillomania and yeah there are some anxiety links. Ditto to those above - I stop when I have false nails on, so I use press-ons.

It's an alkaline 'gloop' that softens dead skin so it can be wiped away, not pushed back. I bit my nails and gnawed away at the skin just like you for 45 years.

I do this - I suspect I am autistic and its a stim behaviour.
The only thing that's helped me is to put like, a thick greasy cream on like Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (aldi do a dupe) overnight or when I sit down to watch TV or Amy other time I know im risking doing it. It softens the skin so there's less to pick, the greasy texture is a reminder to me to STOP doing it.

This sounds exactly like me. I've done this for years and its so horrible to look at but its a very hard habit to break. I seem to go through stages where I haven't done it for a while and my fingers look good then I catch sight of one little bit of raggy skin and I'm back to picking. Sometimes I do it so much my fingers throb. I try to keep my finger nails trimmed and filed so it makes it harder to pick. I've also started to put on cuticle oil. I look at everyones nails with envy 😟

Yes I do it at times and did it as a kid

I do it too, but find that good old fashioned Vaseline helps as it a) softens the skin so I'm less likely to fiddle with it and start picking and b) like foxblue find that the greasy sensation is a good reminder not to do it, as it's done subconsciously so often

I did this for around 20 years consistently to it. I now have BIAB put on my nails and get them nicely painted. All urge has now gone, perhaps because it's embarrassing going to the salon with hands that looked awful!