To ask how to stop picking my nails?

[Savemynails]

I've always picked my nails ever since I was a child. I don't bite them, I pick at them and peel parts of the nail off etc. They look terrible. It's not something I do just when I'm anxious - I do it when I'm bored, walking in the street or sitting in the bus, I even stop and do it when I'm working sometimes. I do it both subconsciously without thinking, and consciously because it feels good :(

What can I do to stop this? I've searched online and people recommend getting your nails done to resist the urge to pick them. But I don't like and don't ever wear nail polish. I can't wear gloves all the time because I type a lot. Recommendations like putting something bitter tasting on your nails only work for biters but I pick them. I try telling myself my nails look awful but the urge to do it is too strong.

Please help, I'd be so grateful for any tips!

No advice here sorry - but watching with interest as DS2 who is 12 does this & I don’t know how to help him stop. Hope someone comes along with a better reply soon OP…

Here for the replies

It may sound counterintuitive but I’m tempted to say a set of acrylic nail extensions might do the job… not very easy to pick anything with them.

DS does this, and is struggling to stop. When he does we have found that putting vaseline on them helps. It changes the texture of them, which a) makes them less pickable and b) means he is less likely to do it subconsciously as the different feel helps him to avoid it. Cotton gloves help too. It's useful to have an alternative activity too, so an elastic band around the wrist which you can fiddle with/ping as a distraction.

It helps for a while with him but then he goes back to doing it, so keeping an eye out for any other suggestions . . .

Sorry just saw this… people recommend getting your nails done to resist the urge to pick them. But I don't like and don't ever wear nail polish.

If you hate your current nail state so much than getting this might be a lesser evil?

Stop one by one. Start with your pinky and avoid picking it. Then when that's healed, stop picking the other one. Work your way up.
If you're like me you'll end up with nice nails... Apart from the thumbs, mine are a wreck

Gel nail polish. Nothing to pick then, it’s incredibly durable. Get a very pale shade if you’re not usually a polish fan.

I keep mine as short as possible, only thing that stops me!

I hate long nails. But I got acrylics in the summer to try and break the habit and now have a gel manicure every few weeks.

I'm not completely fixed but so much better.

Wouldn't bother about getting your nails done, you need to keep the skin in the best condition. Dry and flaky, or otherwise broken skin is more tempting to pick at.

Lots of moisturising, oils over creams - body or baby oil every morning and evening when showering is the easiest way to keep consistent and then you can top up with usual handcream during the day.

If you do end up with a hang nail or piece of loose skin, carefully trim it off.

Also look at cbt which will help address the underlying behaviour and retrain your brain.

I found a gel polish manicure worked for me. I was a prolific nail picker and biter, they were too short to get any colours on to begin with so I just got clear until they grew a bit x

Get a hand and nail cream, carry it every wear, and every time you are tempted use the cream instead rubbing it into every nail one by one. It softens the nail and surrounding skin making them less tempting to pick.

I pick at the skin around my nails badly. There is often bleeding. I found it is easier to stop when I use a biofeedback devices to meditate regularly. Otherwise, I have to wear gloves or cover my fingers in band-aids.

I realised my nail biting and picking was because I was subconciously anxious so maybe try and find the root cause?

Hi, i use nailtiques which is a protein polish thing you can put on each day then remove after a few days. it starts to peel after a little while (apparently when it's done it's job but who knows). i like it more b/c i find that peeling off the nailtiques an effective distraction from peeling my nails!
haven't had any for ages as they had a factory fire but it's starting to come back into stock now eg on amazon.

As PP mentioned, I would try and divert my efforts into taking really good care of my nails - to refocus efforts from picking them. I would also try and figure out a healthier alternative for when you feel the urge to pick them eg get a fidget ring or similar to transfer the need/subconscious effort to pick.

If you want to stop, the easiest way is when you notice you are doing it, stop. I used that method to retrain how I position myself when I sleep. If I noticed I was in the incorrect position, I fixed it every time. Now if I try to cheat and sleep in the wrong position (wrong position causes back pain, but is really comfy), I self correct. So if it works for sleeping, it should work for picking nails.

I have this problem. I have a tub of hand cream, a nail file and a clear nail polish, choose a polish which strengthens the nails. Every night sit and gently file away any rough bits of skin and make your fingertips smooth. Then paint on the polish and moisturise the hands. Repeat this often, keep the kit near you all the time. If your fingertips are smooth it’s less likely you will find a rough bit subconsciously and pick it without realising.

I am a nail tech and I would say a clear builder gel overlay, no colour then but you can't get at your nail to pick it. Have a manicure at the same time so the skin will be smoothed and moisturised and then use cuticle oil A LOT. Most people don't realise that their manicure will chip or peel if their nails dry out, and all the sanitising is playing hell with people's skin and nails at the moment.

The best thing is to get your nails done - ideally with gel polish. It will stop the habit quickly - even if you don't like getting g your nails done - if you want a solution to your problem, this is it.

I found the sally hansen growth miracle stuff in the gold bottle is great too, if you don’t want to go and get them done, you could put that on yourself.

As a prolific picker, I've managed to pick off every set of gels and acrylics I've ever had done, damaging my nails even more. All it takes is a tiny imperfection, and if there isn't one there, it's easy enough to make one with a bit of time and persistence. When I'm stressed, my hands are picking without me even realising. If Op doesn't like polish, I suspect she's more likely to pick it off because it feels wrong to have on.

As 2021s suggests, the only thing that's ever worked for me is having hand cream, cuticle oil, and a nail file with me everywhere I go. The second there's an imperfection, it's filed away, and the cream/oil helps my nails stop splitting in the first place. If my nail has bent and cracked, then a thin layer of (well applied to avoid bits I can pick at!) clear builder gel keeps the nail together to stop me bending it until it breaks (which would leave a ragged edge for me to pick at), isn't as obtrusive as a full gel polish, and is barely noticeable on my nail.

I am a picker too. Mostly through anxiety but boredom too. I got a cheap anxiety ring online. It has little balls on it so instead of picking my skin, I fiddle with the balls! It has definitely helped the state of my hands.

I don't pick my nails exactly but I do pull at hangnails and my hands are a mess too. Does the kit PP mentioned help with that too?

I do this too when stressed or bored. I’ll grow my nails all lovely and not even realise I’ve destroyed them until I look down at a snowfall of nail bits.

I bought some cotton gloves, cream my hands and put them on and always keep a nail file and clippers handy. Last night I chipped part of my thumb nail opening a bottle of water but restrained myself and filed it back into shape and I’m glad I didn’t pick at it.