TY - JOUR
T1 - Art of Prevention
T2 - The importance of tackling the nail biting habit
AU - Baghchechi, Mohsen
AU - Pelletier, Janice L.
AU - Jacob, Sharon E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Onychophagia, commonly referred to as nail biting, is a chronic condition that is repetitive and compulsive in nature, and generally seen in children and young adults. Multiple factors play a role in the development of nail biting, 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, and teeth may become chipped or notched and gums many become inflamed. Treatment of nail biting 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.
AB - Onychophagia, commonly referred to as nail biting, is a chronic condition that is repetitive and compulsive in nature, and generally seen in children and young adults. Multiple factors play a role in the development of nail biting, 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, and teeth may become chipped or notched and gums many become inflamed. Treatment of nail biting 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.
KW - Hygiene
KW - Infection
KW - Nail biting
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.09.008
DO - 10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.09.008
M3 - Review article
SN - 2352-6475
VL - 7
SP - 309
EP - 313
JO - International Journal of Women's Dermatology
JF - International Journal of Women's Dermatology
IS - 3
ER -