Finger Nail EXPERTS - Advice Required

Tony_H_3 · 12 June 2005 at 3:04AM

Hello,

Thanks for looking at my post. After years of nail biting I have decided to STOP, boy is it hard ...o0(About 20 times harder than not having a cigarette)

I have been told by a non expert that due to the nail biting I have most probably ruined my "nail beds" and I will now always have short nails. My question is, Can nail beds extend to the end of my fingers so that my nail grow back like everyone elses or will I always have very small (but nicely manicured) nails. How long will the whole process take?

Thanks in advance!!

Bossyboots · 12 June 2005 at 8:32AM

Without wishing to be indelicate, can you please state how many years you have been biting your nails and how far down you bite them. I would be amazed if you had actually bitten down far enough to damage the nail beds. The nail bed is under the skin at the base of the nail. If your nails are growing at all, then you should be able to grow them long. The nail grows from the base, not the top. Therefore your newest nail is the lower part and the tip you have been biting is the oldest part and well away from the nail bed. If you have ever injured your finger, you will have noticed that the nail growing upwards after a while has a deformity. The nail already visible at the time of the injury will be fine. You can see the progress of the deformity growing out until it gets to the top of the finger. I have had this happen to me twice when I have had an infection under the nail. The first time I left it so long that the damage done to the nail bed meant my nail grew with a bit missing. The nail following behind was fine. On the second occasion I treated it early enough but as the nail grew it had a ridge in it. I have now had another infection in the same finger so in a few weeks I will see what damage was done this time. Both times so far the nail bed has recovered perfectly and the nails fine.

I am not an expert on nails so only have my own experience to go on. I used to bite my nails until I was 19 and I used to bite them right down. I can now grown mine to a reasonable length. As I type for a living, I have to keep them trimmed to a shorter length so I don't know for sure how long they would grow or how strong they would be but I can certainly grow them long enough to manicure and decorate if I choose.

Savvy_Sue · 12 June 2005 at 3:29PM

I am an ex-biter, until my teens, and I blame my mother! Brushed nylon nighties and badly trimmed nails meant there were always 'bits' catching which HAD to be bitten off! I admit the results weren't pretty!

So how did I stop? By carrying an emery board with me AT ALL TIMES and using it WHENEVER NECESSARY! You can get small ones which will fit in your wallet from Boots etc, about 3" long.

Even now, whenever I feel a nail 'catching', I have to get the emery board out and smooth it down, otherwise I will start gnawing again. In church, at work, in meetings, on the bus, I'll file anywhere! Discreetly, of course.

I also never travel far from a decent pair of nail scissors and clippers - so I have a set in my shopping bag in case more radical surgery is required. To be honest, that only happens when I let my nails get too long: I can get the white bits to .5cm or longer, but I usually trim them well before that so they don't split, tear or break.

I'm looking at my hands now, and think that nails like mine would look great on any man (yes I know I'm not a man, but I'm not a girlie either!), and if I could do it I'm sure you can too!

BTW, my mum tried bitter aloes on mine. AGH! Turned them brown, and they tasted so awful, which of course was the point, but the taste spread to anything I ate with my fingers. I did see an anti-nail-biting solution in Boots yesterday which looked to be like a clear solution, but if you try it, be warned about getting it on your food!

AND, don't laugh at this, if you have a nail bar near you, I'd pop in for advice and encouragement. I think some people have falsies put on to help them stop nibbling, and they do look after men's nails too. I've never bothered with falsies, and haven't used nail varnish for years either, but I think judicious use of clear nail varnish can help strengthen your nails, as long as you 'feed' them in between times. Boots do hand and nail creams, don't be afraid to pamper your hands and nails, they are going to look really great in time!

Tony_H_3 · 12 June 2005 at 3:47PM

I have actually stopped biting them (about 2 weeks now), I have absolutely NO idea what possessed me to stop.

I had actually considered getting false nails fitted, but according to the wife my stubs are to short to take them. I am taking extra calcium & am readily applying hand & nail cream.

I am happy with their growth so far, but they are a long time short of "proper" looking nails. Popping into a nail bar might be an option, I will be totally gutted if I am told that my nails will never be normal due to the damage caused.

Time will tell I guess.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

Sheel · 12 June 2005 at 4:07PM

Years ago I was told to eat raw jelly to strengthen nails , but apparently that's an urban myth :rolleyes:

However Royal Jelly is mentioned HERE amongst other tips for healthy nails

mini · 12 June 2005 at 11:55PM

I always found sweet almond oil from the body shop helped my nails grow faster & stronger, it was remembering to use it that was the tricky bit! As a precaustion I'll mention you are meant to rub it into your hands & nails not drink it!

After huge amounts of dental work I can no longer bite my nails, not sure I'd recommend that one :eek:

Let us know how you get on, I can always pass on my dentists details

mini

shelly · 13 June 2005 at 9:15AM

Hi Tony.I bit my nails for 20+yrs often making them bleed because I bit them so low,but when hubby proposed to me I thought "Thats it,time to grow them so they look good on the day".Well the day was a year away so I had plenty of time.People didn't think I could do it as 20 yrs is a long time...lol..but i did!! They looked really good on the day and I am blessed that when they do grow they are really white so they look like Iv'e had a manicure.Sometimes if I'm bored I do bite them but not to the extreme that I used to
I would say the same as the others that its very unlikely you have damaged the nail bed at all.

This is weird but I found my nails grew quicker before I had a dishwasher and was hand washing up.....no idea why.

Keep resisting the temptation....lol..

angel4_2 · 13 June 2005 at 9:21AM

oil is def the way to go, sweet almond oil is good, or try solar oil, try ebay for that but any oil will do. What about going for a manicure, seeing what they suggest, then looking on ebay for it cheaper?

as someone who has the opposite problem i dont know how you can chew bits of your body off, especially dead bits ... sorry ... LOL

my nails grow & wont stop... witches hands... thats me.

feel quite queasy now.... lol

ang x

Savvy_Sue · 14 June 2005 at 1:03AM

mini wrote:

I always found sweet almond oil from the body shop helped my nails grow faster & stronger, it was remembering to use it that was the tricky bit!

Of course when you are a girly these things are a bit easier, because if you leave the bottle in the loo you can use it every time you sit and meditate there.

Bargain_Rzl · 14 June 2005 at 1:33PM

Why not send a PM to lou_martin, who started the following thread on the Debt Free Wannabe board:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=62298

...in which she states that she's qualified to do stuff with people's nails.

You might find she can answer your question.

Tony_H_3 · 22 June 2005 at 2:54PM

There doesn't seem to be any development of the nail beds at this stage, but the nails are progressing nicely. I frequently file them, but not more than the grow & I can now rattle them on the desk instead of thuding my finger tips!!

100% Calcium daily along with ample amounts of hand/nail cream seem's to be doing good, my cuticles are also dissapearing.......

Slow but sure progress, i'm very pleased with myself....... Giving up smoking will be an absolute "walk in the park" next time.

Finger Nail EXPERTS - Advice Required

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