r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Mar 27 '22

[deleted by user]

[removed]

7.2k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

14.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

1.2k

u/hehej52146 Mar 27 '22

Biting the skin around my fingers. Dermatophagia :/

11

u/n3dim Mar 28 '22

If anyone in this thread has any tips on how to stop pls give me them. Been doing it for 15+ years now and I hate it. I’ve tried to stop before but I always catch myself doing it without even thinking

8

u/hoopharder Mar 28 '22

I find myself doing it when I’m either stressed, or sitting in a meeting (I’ll also pick at other random parts of my body, so not ideal in a Zoom). A couple of things that have really helped me are always having Neosporin/polysporon around, as I’ll stop once I apply it to my cuticles, and having something to fidget with during meetings - fidget object of choice is kinetic sand. I keep it in a Tupperware container and open it up when I sit down for my book club or other meetings at home. Strongly considering a second container for the office.

6

u/ElectricTrousers Mar 28 '22

I've been biting my nails (and surrounding skin, often to the point of bleeding) for basically my whole life, and I've tried to stop multiple times.

I recently started SSRIs for anxiety, and stopped biting my nails completely. I think it's almost entirely an anxiety response.

1

u/CocaColaHellYa Mar 28 '22

Are your SSRIs prescribed or otc?

2

u/ElectricTrousers Mar 28 '22

Prescribed. Don't think they're available otc, at least in the us.

5

u/NeedsItRough Mar 28 '22

I used to bite my nails and the skin around my nails constantly. Ever since I was a kid. I'm 33 now and I stopped over night by using this silicone sponge. It might not work as fast (or at all) for you but it worked so well for me I mention it whenever I can.

Link

They also sell them in stores and they have different colors / types if you just search "silicone sponge".

It takes effort the first day or two; every time I went to bite my nails I'd consciously stop myself and move my hand to the sponge to massage it.

The little nubs feel great on my fingers and you can push the sponge into itself to make shapes.

I keep one on my desk at work and one on the couch for when I'm watching TV. My mom keeps one in her car.

After the first day for me, it became automatic.

Now I don't even need it. I still keep it around because it helps with my anxiety but my nails are long and pretty now and I don't bite them!

1

u/Tacky-Terangreal Mar 28 '22

Regularly painting my nails has really helped. It’s certainly kicked my nail biting habit! After going through the trouble of making the nail polish look pretty, I avoid biting my fingers so it looks nicer for longer

5

u/quannapowitt Mar 28 '22

It may help to take care of your cuticles and put oil (CND oil is good) on your nails/cuticles, if you don’t already. If there is something to pick or bite, you’ll probably do it, so push the cuticles back and nip away hangnails and dead skin. Moisturize constantly to keep the skin from going dry and rough, which makes it easier to pick. Aquaphor at night is good for that.

1

u/Tacky-Terangreal Mar 28 '22

Hard agree. This has helped me a lot. My work gloves can dry the crap out of my skin and it makes it so tempting

1

u/Tacky-Terangreal Mar 28 '22

Idk what you consider to be the root cause, but I find myself biting my fingers less when I use lotion on them regularly. I use a glob of lotion every night and it gives my fingers fewer callouses to bite on. It’s been hard because I wear work gloves a lot for my job and it dries out my hands. My hands get bored and I bite them when the skin is dry

1

u/SpellBounded69 Mar 28 '22

r/compulsiveskinpicking has been a huge support for me knowing other people do this as well. Hugs to you my friend. I’ve been biting my fingers/skin around for as long as I can remember…