My nails, before and after, advice?

[pentangles]

It isn't glamorous! I have nothing to boast about, but I am so proud that I finally overcame my awful compulsion to destroy my hands. I literally mutilated my nails and fingers for several years following the death of my parents, and struggled for so long until recently.

I have finally managed to grow 6 brand new baby nails, after thinking I could never see any recovery at all. It feels like a miracle to me, even though the new nails are so short and vulnerable as yet.

I made a post a few years ago and received some extremely supportive comments, but sadly I was not at a point where I could change. I went hiking in Scotland for a few months before xmas and wore stick on nails for the first time because I was so embarrassed. This game me time to unlearn the habit and I have made so much progress. I don't even get tempted to nibble now, whilst previously i had severe cuts and woulnds to my hands.

First pic is my old, butchered nails, second pic are 2 of my new ones. I would like to ask how to protect them now as they are of course weak. I have found Cutex intense recovery so would this help?

A link to my old thread, still relevant for anyone who had any kind of OCD or issue with nail biting https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4630888-to-think-i-am-obscene

Sadly my pics were pretty pertinent to my post.

ah well done - that is amazing progress 👏 Off to read your old thread as I’m a nail biter, and absolutely hate looking at my hands!

Oooh my pictures finally arrived, thank you!

I have 6 new nails and have bought the cutex protector. It doesn't seem to do much but will persevere.
For some reason it has been harder to restart the growth of my thumb and forefinger nails, perhaps they were more addictive to chew?

Wearing false nails helped enormously, but I don't want to keep up the expense.

I've had to wrap mine in plasters, I haven't stopped the urge to nibble. My thumb ad forefinger were the same as yours. Because the cuticle base and below dictates the health of the nail, they take a few complete new growths. I use Nail's Inc gimme strength everyday.

Sally Hanson has good nail strengthening polishes which might help

Oh I remember your thread!!! That is absolutely amazing OP. Tbh I'm crap with nails, mine break. I think the thing is maybe to use the Sally Hanson stuff and just remember that they WILL break, but over time will keep getting better!

You could consider a few months of Perfectil for hair and nails. Or take a selenium/zinc supplement. Well done. Your new nails look incredible.

Oh wow well done, this is impressive!

I have improved mine by using cuticle oil several times a day, by washing up with marigolds + an expensive manicure once a month.
And hand cream at night, with cotton gloves.

my nails were the same as your before pic. Absolute agony and so embarrassing but I just could not stop picking and biting my nails and skin. One day I literally just had enough and managed to grow them like yours. But I think the damage had been done as my nails are wafer thin and break so easily. So I get biab (builder gel polish) once a month from a local beauty therapist. This stops my nails from breaking and they are now long and gorgeous - I’m actually proud of them now!

I was going to suggest Perfectil too. I get nail psoriasis and this has really strengthened them up. You need to give them time to work though, around 2-3 months.

It's usually on 3 for 2 in Boots, Tesco or Superdrug so shop around and don't pay more than £12-13 for three months supply!

Well done OP, thats a huge difference! You could try some biotin supplements/vitamins, I've never tried them myself but my sister has and she swears by them.

That's a fantastic achievement OP!

Fantastic achievement OP. I’ve always bitten my nails so need this inspiration, well done.

Great advice and thanks everyone for the encouragement!

My new nails are obviously vulnerable but what is important to me is that I have never had the urge, not even unconsciously, to nibble them.

I think previously I chewed at them because the stumps were gnarled and bumpy, so the teeth loved to catch onto them. Now that they're smooth and 'normal' my teeth aren't as interested, lol.

I know that doing something different from routine snapped me out of it, being in a new place with new people. I don't recall making a decision to stop, it just happened.
But oh wow when I first actually noticed a tiny bit of nail growing I almost died of shock. I have had completely nail free stumps for so long that I honestly thought they could never grow again.

The pain was unreal. I can say one hting though, when in that situation you simply can't stop, no matter what you try. Plasters have to come off, as do gloves and false nails. It's torture.

Ooh you have done well! I stopped biting finally and it does feel great to break the habit. I have short nail beds so I’ll never have the most elegant nails but it’s still very satisfying.

Dior Crème Abricot did wonders for mine strength wise - I was a bit “…” at the price but it is very good, lasts for ages, and it’s probably the only chance my lifestyle will ever stretch to Dior so having it on my desk does feel a bit fancy. I also got a BIAB manicure a couple of times, which really helped with growth without the damaging removal process that you get with some false nails.

BIAB

it's a literal miracle

Great progress OP!
Invest in a good nail and cuticle oil (i recommend HW SOS oil, dadi oil or CND solar oil to my clients) and make sure to use it regularly to give your new nails some strength :)

Congratulations op I find my nails seem healthier when I don’t use any polish. I have tried Sally H and OPI nail strengtheners but perhaps it’s the polish remover? I would suggest lotion and cuticle oil/ wearing gloves for cleaning/ dishes and just natural and open to air. I stopped gel nails in January 2024 and these things helped nails regenerate themselves. My job is hard on them tho. My favorite nail care is having my cuticles trimmed! It makes a huge difference in the appearance of the nail bed and so much cuticle is removed it’s shocking. Hope some fun jewelry is in your future 💍

As a 66 year old, lifelong nail biter, can I say I am immensly proud of you. I can see lots of gorgeous nail varnish and manicures in your future!

Well done!

Thanks, will look at those products.

My new nails are a bit chunky and crap, they're obviously stressed but I am still so glad to see them there. I mean technically they're ugly, but I accept that I am lucky to have the new growth and they will become healthier given time. I look at people's hands and see such lovely natural nails, they are so lucky! But then I suppose it's all relative and I may have features that other's think are lucky, too.

My hands are small and I think I may have short nail beds too. I do have small hands though so it's all in proportion. My mum had such lovely hands and nails. I took after my dad who was a nail biter all his life, although he never self mutilated like me!

Uuurgh just recalled I had these awful bumps on my fingers just below the cuticle. Like big, inflamed, red bumps. For so long this was normal to me. I did constantly use antiseptic cream on them, and felt so disgraced, but could not stop.

I do think it was trauma related, as although I had previously bitten my nails I still had short ones. This particular phase had me ripping into my flesh, so that I couldn't cook properly and had to wear gloves. Hell was handling a fresh lemon!
I had no nail growth whatsoever for years. My nail beds were torn and weeping. I couldn't find ANY images online that resembled mine.

In retrospect it feels as if it was an addiction, as the inability to stop reminded me of when I have read about alcoholics, etc. A coping mechanism that became a compulsion.

One thing I know is that plasters did not help! They became a crutch that constantly failed and seemed to feed into the problem - mutilate then cover, mutilate then cover....

A shock or a change feels pertinent to recovery. I say this in case anyone is still stuck in that cycle. No amount of intelligence or awareness helped.