The condition is similar to the more commonly knownonychophagia, which is when someone bites their nails and skin.
Nail picking is often related to an underlying mental health condition.
Treatment involves identifying triggers, therapy, and treating the underlying mental health condition.
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This article covers how to stop picking your nails, treatment options, and nail care.
Othertriggersare internal, a thought, feeling, or sensory change that creates the need to pick.
It acts as a reminder not to pick.
One case report found cyanoacrylate adhesive applications stopped picking within three to six months.
Healthcare providers andsocial workerscan help find support groups.
A replacement behavior is something that is done in place of picking.
It can be squeezing astress ball, sitting on your hands, or making a fist.
The picking creates skin and nail destruction, which generally arises from a mental health condition.
It is often associated with other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, andpsychosis.
It can also be associated with dissociation.
This happens when the person has little to no memory of picking their nails and skin.
Nail Picking and Infection
Infection is one of the risks when someone picks their nails or skin.
The skin and nails form a barrier between the outside world and the inside of the body.
When that is compromised with picking, an infection can develop.
Toavoid an infection, clean any picked areas and try not to touch them.
If you develop signs of an infection, contact a healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment.
Onychotillomania Treatment
Treating nail picking is done through therapy and in some cases medication.
Below is an overview of the two treatments.
Medication
There is limited research on treating nail picking with medications.
Research does support the use of medications for nail biting.
CBT increases a person’s awareness of nail picking.
Another therapy is habit reversal training (HRT).
Keeping thenails and surrounding skin clean and healthymay decrease the urge to pick.
There are several treatment options such as therapy, trigger identification, and medication.
Contact a healthcare provider for an evaluation and treatment for nail picking.
Lee DK, Lipner SR.Update on diagnosis and management of onychophagia and onychotillomania.IJERPH.
2022;19(6):3392. doi:10.3390/ijerph19063392
The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.Evidence-based therapeutic treatments for BFRB.
Aljhani S.Fluoxetine for the treatment of onychotillomania associated with obsessivecompulsive disorder: a case report.J Med Case Reports.
2022;19(11):6370. doi:10.3390/ijerph19116370
