How to help ravaged hands

[MarshmallowPink]

I bite the skin around my nails, it's a habit I've had all my life and it gets worse when I'm anxious. I am sick of having raggedy, bleeding nails. I'm thinking of starting a hand and nail routine that I hope will prevent me from doing it (because I see progress). Just looking for tips on how to get them to a halfway decent state. Big standard hand cream doesn't seem to do much...

I do this as well. Like PP, I do when I’m anxious (currently all the time). I just bite my thumbs ( disgusting, I know 🙁) Ways I’ve found to stop/minimise: putting plasters on my thumbs as when I bite it, I consciously realise what I’m doing. Seems to break the cycle, and fingerless gloves when I’m at home.
As it’s linked to anxiety, even if I stop for days/months, something can/will always trigger it.
Don’t beat yourself up over it and be kind to yourself. in the grand scheme of things, most people will never know/notice.

I do this too but hand cream has never made a difference to whether I do it or not. What does make a difference is cuticle oil as other posters have suggested. It makes a difference because it stops the annoying little hangy bits from appearing in the first place. If there's nothing to pick, I don't pick. I don't always remember to apply it but a few times a week before bed is usually enough to keep things under control.

I'll try all of this and thanks so much everyone for your comments and for sharing! I can't believe there's a name for it. It's such a compulsive habit that makes sense but I've never ever seen anybody else do it. I feel a lot better now :-)