I used to be pretty bad but my nail biting and skin picking has been mostly under control for a while now save for the odd relapse.
I'm just wondering if my nail beds will ever come back? Mostly the ring finger which goes inward. I usually keep my nails a lot shorter than this because I don't like them long but I was curious if having them longer would encourage the nail bed to return. Or is this just my normal nail bed?
I used to get my nails done every 2 weeks with acrylics, and I ended up getting a fungal infection on my thumbs. I was put on an antifungal pill and it started to get better, but a year and a half later it still looks this way. Is this ever going to get better? I do pick my cuticles a lot so I’m wondering if that’s part of the issue. It’s so embarrassing and painting them doesn’t do anything because the nail is so misshaped. I just don’t understand why it’s so bubbled out at the top. My left thumb looks the same and has the same bubbled texture.
I have gone to my primary care twice and nothing changed. It's been about 6 months and it doesn't bother my but going to a hand specialist he said I need an MRI to see if it's in the bone. If it's in the bone I would need my finger amputated.
Age 55. I have been a chronic skin picker my whole life. It used to be all ten fingers. My mom use to bribe me with all sorts of prizes but the progress was always very short term. Things would ramp up during times of stress (exams, breakups, etc). It would get so bad that multiple fingers would have open wounds and there would be blood. Ugh.
After graduating uni, I managed to get it down to just my thumbs and even more recently as my life scaled down more, down to one thumb. I scare myself thinking what happens as I get older and cell turnover slows?? What if healing is impaired?
Then I found this group and I became super motivated. I found an excellent Bandaid that stayed on beautifully and did not collect moisture to make skin all gross underneath. The texture is really nice and does not feel plasticky. Then I graduated to gamer finger sleeves. These have been a game changer for me. They work on touchscreens, are washable and quick to dry.
The photos are three weeks progress. Someone on here mentioned hydrocolloid bandaids and silicone scar tape. I will go try those too. Will see how that goes!
Been a bit stressed at work and getting less sleep than normal. Normally results in this. This thumb is the worst but all my fingers are pretty bad.
Feel so gross and regretful 😔
Honestly never thought I would get this far, but this subreddit has helped so much. I also found a new love for gardening, which keeps my hands busy, and it’s super satisfying to pick the dirt out of my nails after 😌
First photo is March 11 2026, second is May 5th
Roughly 2 months. My proximal fold is still raised. I’m alternating silicone scar tape, hydrocholloid, and band-aids with Vaseline. Breaks between to let the skin dry, the scar tape for my thumb itself, but the others for over my nail fold itself to keep it hydrated.i still catch myself picking occasionally but I haven’t touched the cuticles. No cutting. Regular gentle manicures at home with a weekly warm jojoba oil soak. Need to be better about lotion during the day.
Proud of myself 😊
I'm less than 1 week into my journey of trying to quit the compulsive cuticle picking/clipping l've been doing for over a decade. Already I'm having a hard time restraining myself from going at the little partially-attached/dangling pieces of skin as new cuticle growth comes in. I soooo badly want to stay the course and just leave them alone but it feels impossible when there are little danglers just taunting me.
Can someone tell me from their own experience if it is ok to GENTLY clip these off with cuticle clippers, as long as I keep it to a minimum/clip as superficially as possible?
Will this still allow my nail matrix to heal so that healthy nail can grow in?
Chronic nailbiter for almost 20 years. Pus started forming friday, my primary care prescribed antibiotics and told me to wait to see if it drained on its own. Also scheduled an appointment for Monday at her office to possibly drain it.
Well today comes, my pain goes up to an 8 and the Pus triples in size. I call my doctor and send her a photo and she tells me "this is out of my practice, but I scheduled you an appointment with orthopedics for wednesday." WEDNESDAY? My Pus ball has almost doubled in size each day and she wanted me to wait and let it grow. I ask her if I should go to urgent care or ER and my question was continously dismissed.
I finally decided to go to the ER, and as soon as the ER receptionist saw my paronychia I was in a room within 15 minutes. The ER doctor said that it was the biggest/worst one he has seen in his 30 years as a doctor. He had me give the name of my PCP and said that this should have been referred and expedited wayyy sooner. Got it drained and given norco/new antibiotics. Now at home resting for a couple days.
Moral of the story, DONT BITE YOUR NAILS AND F@$% KAISER!
i didn't post for a little while because i backslid and felt embarrassed, but i've been looking again at the supportive messages in this sub and i'm going to try again!! i got a hand mask while i was out shopping at ulta with a friend yesterday and i am going to try that - she said it's best if you can do it overnight. i'm also going to try to be better in general about gently filing and moisturizing throughout the day when i start to pick.
sometimes when im working, i dont realise when im biting and picking at my nails/the skin around it. I'll just be like "huh my fingers hurt, OW WHAT".
and then i have to take the measures of plasters for the skin, and tissue wrapped in string for my nails. make myself little finger stockings 😭
i’ve been picking at both my thumbs for so long but stopped last week. i know it’ll take time but will the pink eventually go away? i’ve been using vitamin e oil & cuticle cream to heal my cuticles😅
My Dr put me on Strattera hoping it would help me stop biting and picking hangnails. It's not helping. This is the latest attempt to treat not only my ADD but this as well. My Dr admitted he's never really dealt with this but he's assuming it has something to do with my ADD since it's a symptom of ADHD and ADD. I've noticed my anxiety has gotten worse lately, even before the new meds which makes me pick even worse. I have no idea what to do but he's worried about me getting some kind of infection from constantly picking and biting.
Hi all,
I’m going through a big job change so I am 1 stressed and 2 cutting down my budget. Normally I would get a new set of acrylic nails so they are thick and I can’t pick off my skin. Unfortunately I cannot spend $60-$70 on nails right now. I’ve pulled out my old fidget rings, and I’m going to try to keep other fidgets in reach - but tips are very welcome right now.
My current bad habit is outlining my cuticle with my nails and making me want to tear off the dead skin that I am oh so kindly bringing into focus.
Help please 🙃
Hello! I have been picking and biting at my fingers / skin around nail for as long as I can remember. I’m getting to the point where I want to be done. It’s embarassing and painful. I do it subconsciously like in work meetings and out of boredom. I have tried fidgets, wearing a rubber band and wearing lots of bandaids. I feel as though at work I always have a finger in my mouth which is disgusting. Please help!
I hadn’t picked or bitten in almost a month. I had a long road-trip and fell back into the habit while driving for long stretches of time. So disappointed in myself :( my fingertips hurt
I don't bite my nails but I've always had a very short nail bed on my 3rd and 4th finger due to constant cutting. The left is what it is now and the right is Jan 2026. For a while I didn't see much difference but I've noticed a big difference in the past month. What helped was always getting a gel manicure done to keep myself from constantly cutting the free edge off. I also put cuticle oil. It takes time but it's absolutely possible to grow your nail bed!