1. Art of Prevention: The importance of tackling the nail biting habit
- Author
-
Sharon E. Jacob, Janice L. Pelletier, and Mohsen Baghchechi
- Subjects
Chronic condition ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Oral infection ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Review ,Dermatology ,hygiene ,030207 dermatology & venereal diseases ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Hygiene ,medicine ,Young adult ,Intensive care medicine ,Nail biting ,media_common ,Modalities ,Ungual ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,infection ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Nail (anatomy) ,nailbiting ,business - Abstract
Onychophagia, commonly referred to as nailbiting is a chronic condition that is repetitive and compulsive in nature, and generally seen in both children and young adults. Multiple factors play a role in the development of nailbiting, ranging from genetic components, to underlying psychiatric conditions. Complications of chronic, compulsive nail-biting range from obvious distortion of the nail bed unit, to ungual and oral infection. Dental hygiene is, typically, less well-maintained in patients with nail-biting disorders: teeth may become chipped or notched, and gums many become inflamed. Treatment of nailbiting involves a multidisciplinary team that provides social, psychiatric, dermatologic, and dental care. Treatment ranges from psychotherapy modalities, to medication trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and N-acetylcysteine. Proper nail hygiene remains a mainstay in the prevention of the complications of chronic nail-biting. Additional supportive measures include the support of self-motivational novels and television episodes that help children learn coping mechanisms.
- Published
- 2021