A new demonstration has highlighted the effects of nail-biting on your fingertips, revealing reasons to avoid this habit.
Many of us have nibbled on our nails at some point, whether to trim a stray nail or instead of using clippers.
However, for some individuals, this has turned into a habit, and it’s important to know that this seemingly harmless action can have negative consequences.
A recent short video by YouTuber Zack D.Films explores this issue.
He explains: “When you bite your nails, you create tiny tears in the skin around it, then the bacteria from your mouth can actually get into these tears, making the area around your nails red and tender.”
“These small injuries can lead to painful infections and swelling, not to mention biting them makes your nails look jagged and uneven, so do yourself a favor and just use nail clippers.”
Zack’s unsettling demonstration refers to paronychia, a nail infection commonly caused by bacteria.
The Cleveland Clinic notes that ‘bacteria gets into the skin through cuts in the cuticle and the nail fold,’ which is the skin surrounding the nail.
While most nail infections improve with antibiotics, the clinic states that ‘paronychia doesn’t usually cause serious health problems,’ although the infection can persist or recur.
Fans of the content creator shared their thoughts in the comments section on his social media page.
“For those wondering,” one individual commented.
“Nail biting, onychophagia affects up to 20-30% of the general population, making it a relatively common habit.”
Another person shared, “I’ve been biting my nails since I can remember and stopped recently after many years. It was an addiction, and it took me almost 4 years of CONSTANT trying to overcome it. To anyone struggling with this addiction, you are a strong human being, good luck.”
A third commenter said, “I’m 22, I’ve been doing it for as long as my memory can travel back. I do with my fingernails, random skin at the tip of fingers, callouses, and lips; at all times my fingers have different visible layers of skin or are bleeding. I genuinely do not feel anxious or sad, I just LOVE doing so.”