Onychophagy, kezako?
Onychophagia is a medical term that refers to the habit of eating nails. For the record, it comes from Greek onukhos, which means "ongle" and phagos, which means "manger." It affects almost a third of French people and often goes back to childhood or adolescence. A study by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that about 30% of children aged 7 to 10 and 45% of adolescents are eating their nails. This figure tends to decrease with age, but about 20% of adults continue to eat their nails regularly.
But where does this weird reflex come from to eat your fingers? Causes are diverse but often related to stress, anxiety or boredom. When you face a stressful situation, need to be reassured, concentrate, nerves or don't know what to do, nails are the first victims. A mania that is not without medical consequences...
Rodged nails = danger?
Fragile nails
By biting his nails, we end up damage the keratin that constitutes the nail plate. Thinner nails tend to split more easily, take off from the skin and develop striations and other irregularities on the surface. The deterioration of the nail plate can also disrupt the nail matrix and slowing nail growth or cause abnormal growth, making nails more difficult to maintain and treat. Besides the unsightly side, it can also become painful and really embarrassing in everyday life.
Small bobos, high risk of infection
Numbing nails exposes skin and cuticles to an increased risk of infection. The protective barrier of the skin around the nail is weakened by microlesions and it's the door open to bacteria, viruses and fungi which can then penetrate the epidermis. If these wounds become red, swollen and painful, they will have to be treated with antibiotic or antifungal treatment. In addition, carrying your fingers to your mouth also takes the risk of catching seasonal viruses and other diseases more easily They're hanging around.
Tic or TOC?
Be aware that onychophagia is classified by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5, 2015) in the category of Obsessive or compulsive behaviour disorders. It can be a simple tick for some of us to barely realize. And for others, a real TOC (obsessive disorder of behavior), symptomatic of a more serious mental health problem that requires appropriate psychological assistance.
So what can we do to get rid of his onychophagia? We give you a few leads to make peace with your nails and restore them strength and vitality.
Tomorrow, I'm done!
"Red nails are enough! It's decided, tomorrow I'm done!" This is a good resolution that proves that you've already become aware of the problem. To move from speech to action, there is still a way to go. But be assured, there are practical techniques and solutions to help those who want to get out of this bad dress.
The virtues of bitter varnish
The bitter varnish is at first sight a common transparent varnish. But its bitter taste very pronounced acts like a mini shock every time you put your nails in contact with your mouth. The unpleasant taste is so strong that you lose all desire to start over.
For his bitter varnish, Manucurist has developed a formula that dissuades and protects at the same time. Bio-sourced at 68.5%, it applies as a classic varnishon clean and dry nails or on a varnish Green™ or a top coat if you have chosen to make up your nails. It is advisable to renew the application every two days without removing the previous layer. And he's just as easily retiring, with a little bit of soft solvent Green Flash™.
Thanks to the bitter varnish, you become aware of your gesture and you can better identify the emotional triggers that are the source of it. The first step in setting up effective parades.
Alternative gestures
Stress at work, desire to eat or smoke, boredom in front of a screen or in the transports... It is essential that Identify situations or emotions that cause the need to bite your nails. From there you can anticipate these situations and use them to substitution gestures. It's about occupying your hands, your mouth, or even your whole body, to reduce anxiety and erase the automatics to bite your nails. A stress ball, a gum (preferably sugar-free to save teeth), do breathing, meditation or sports sessions... Everything is good to take until your nails take it. Efforts that will be rewarded when you start to see your nails grow back! Come on, courage, don't let go!
Get help
For compulsive onychophages, ending this habit is a real challenge, as difficult to meet as quitting smoking for large smokers. In this case, we should not hesitate to call on specialists. Behavioural therapies or hypnosis can help better manage stress and understand the root causes of anxiety.
Treatment of nails during and after stop
When you stop nibbling your nails, regrowth is a real exercise of patience. On average, Hand nails grow 3 to 5 mm per month. So every millimeter won is a small victory! This is the right time to reconcile with your nails and (re) learn how to take care of them.
Enable growth
As soon as your efforts to stop eating your nails start paying, don't hesitate to Boosting the regrowth of your nails with food supplements Nail Boost, a concentrate of vitamins and active ingredients to be taken in a 2 month cure. Note that this cure will be all the more effective if you accompany it with a a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and essential trace elements (calcium, zinc, iron, vitamins B...) which promote the production of keratin.
By stimulating your nails from the inside, you will get more quickly beautiful nails that will make your pride and encourage you to stop eating them.
Hydrate and feed
To reconstruct the nail plate weakened by years of toothlashes, it is imperative to putting in place a routine of care to moisturize and nourish your nails thoroughly. For this, apply a few drops of Complete serum on your nails and cuticles and massage until the product is absorbed. Combine this moisturizing treatment with the application of a littleGreen oil, an ultra-nourishing blend of 6 botanical oils with strong properties. If your nails are particularly damaged, opt for the Rescue Kit, a trio of intensive care to repair and regenerate nails in 2 weeks.
Then, think about gradually integrating basic maintenance and maintenance gestures into your routine. nail preparation : treat cuticles, cut small skins, gently trim the nail surface, apply moisturizing cream, etc. So your nails are in shape for your next manicure!
Treat in beauty
Your nails are gradually regaining their natural shape, so how about give them a burst of shine while continuing to treat them in depth - What? With Make-up care of the Active™ range of the Manucurist This effect 2 in 1 is within reach. On nails that are being rinsed during remission, you have the choice between two nail polish effects:
- Active™ Shine : its beige pearl formula, bio-based at 79.5%, is composed of extracts of antioxidant beet and hexanal, particularly effective in hardening and repairing fragile nails. Instant Shiny Effect!
- Active™ Smooth : its beige pink colour, bio-based 80%, is composed of castor fibres that blur nail irregularities, AHAs with protective properties and hexanal, particularly effective in hardening and repairing nails striated or damaged by bites. Instant smoothing effect!
Come on, hands up, it's no longer worth hiding your nails. With regenerated and fortified nails, you will have sparkling and vitamin-filled manicures!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we stop eating our nails?
The simplest solution to stop eating nails is to apply a bitter varnish, preferably bio-sourced. Its unpleasant taste will deter you from biting your fingertips. It will also help you identify the emotions that trigger the need to bite your nails. Find replacements to occupy your hands or jaw when you are again confronted with this type of emotion. If you can't do this on your own, please feel free to call on a specialist therapist.
How can we get some nice nails when we've eaten them long?
After several weeks without eating his nails, the emergency is to reconstitution of the nail plate, weakened by years of ill-treatment. A cure of dietary supplements can help to activate keratin production. And it is imperative to have a routine of care to moisturize and feed the nails thoroughly. Wait until they are regenerated and fortified to put on a classic or semi-permanent varnish.
