Some do it out of stress, (bad) habit, or to relax or keep busy. Onychophagia, nail biting, is a compulsive gesture motivated by different reasons. For Courtney Whithorn, a 20-year-old English student from Brisbane, nibbling her thumbnail had been a reflex for years after being bullied at school. Since 2014, this young woman has been biting her nail stubbornly without imagining the consequences of her gesture. When it turned black, Courtney didn’t care, preferring to hide this abnormal stain from those around her for four years. She even wore fake nails to hide this unwanted manifestation.
She decides to consult the doctor who diagnoses her with skin cancer. This would be linked to the trauma imposed over the years on his nail. To fight against this subungual melanoma, surgical interventions are decided but these are not enough to repair the evil. The young psychology student is forced to have her sick finger amputated.
Disputed health effects
The story, revealed last September by the British media, and brought up to date by Current Woman, had agitated the scientific community, divided around a possible link between onychophagia and skin cancer. If Courtney Whithorn’s doctor assures us that there is a risk, others are less convinced, such as Dr Nis Sheth, consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation. Quoted by DailyMail, she displayed her skepticism: “Although physical trauma has been associated with the appearance of certain skin cancers, it is very unlikely that the simple fact of biting your nails has led to this cancer”.
In 2015, the American Academy of Dermatology warned of the potential health effects of nail biting. This mania could damage the tissues and prevent them from growing back. It could make you more vulnerable to infections.
When in doubt, some will be tempted to free themselves from this tic by resorting to various subterfuges: anti-stress ball, manicure, bitter varnish…
Read also
How to take care of your hands
Face fitness Öko: the anti-aging gym imported from Russia
4 good reasons to use nail oil