Q: My 8-year-old grandson is staying with me for a couple of weeks, and I’ve noticed he’s been biting his fingernails- some of them are even starting to look sore. I remember there used to be something you could paint on nails to help kids stop biting them. Do they still make products like that?
Yes, these products are still made and widely available over the counter from several brands. Today I found Vitry Anti-Bite Nail Polish and Witchcraft Stop It Anti-Bite Nail Polish on pharmacy shelves. These clear polishes have a strong bitter taste that is designed to reduce the urge to bite nails or suck thumbs. Reviews are generally positive, with many people finding them effective, although it appears some younger children get used to the taste over time and continue nail biting.
To use them, apply once daily to clean nails until the habit stops, then reduce to twice weekly application for one additional month to help prevent relapse. At anytime the product can be easily removed from the nails with an acetone-free nail polish remover.
Nail biting is a fairly common habit that affects approximately 30% of the population and it can be a challenging habit to break. People often bite their nails in response to stress, anxiety, nervousness, boredom, or even without realizing it, such as when they are deeply focused. For some, it happens only occasionally—like biting all of your fingernails off the night before a big exam, as I used to do—while for others it can become a chronic habit that damages nails and the surrounding skin.
In addition to nail and skin damage, nail biting can lead to fungal and bacterial infections in the nail beds and the surrounding skin. It can also cause chipped teeth, gum injuries, jaw pain, and alignment issues. Plus, regularly putting your hands in your mouth increases exposure to germs including some that I have mentioned in previous columns that cause illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV, stomach flu, pinworms, and hand, foot and mouth disease.
Breaking the habit starts with identifying triggers that cause the nail biting. Triggers are often stress, anxiety, boredom, or mental focus. Using the bitter-tasting deterrent polishes mentioned above can help make you aware of when you’re biting your nails without realizing it. Once you know your triggers, try replacing the habit with another activity. Squeezing a stress ball or using a fidget toy are examples of replacement activities you can do to keep your hands occupied and away from your mouth. You can also try applying barriers like band aids or first aid over your nails to physically prevent yourself from biting them. Keeping nails trimmed and moisturized helps reduce hangnails and jagged edges that can tempt people to bite their nails as well.
Since you mentioned your grandson’s nails look sore, avoid applying deterrent polish to any areas of broken skin, as this may cause a stinging sensation and slow the healing process. Cover any open skin areas with a band aid until they heal, then you can begin applying deterrent polish to those nails.
If his nail soreness is accompanied by signs of infection such as redness, swelling, pain or bleeding around the nails he should be seen by a doctor or a nurse practitioner before applying deterrent polishes to his nails. Other signs of infection that may develop more gradually but still require medical attention include nail discolouration and nails that are separating from the surrounding skin.
Erin Thompson (BSc, BScPharm) is a graduate of Dalhousie University and a community pharmacist practicing at Shoppers Drug Mart in Quispamsis N.B. Her opinions expressed in this column are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.