- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
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Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he said, need to be aware, and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has been director of the Dermatopathology Laboratory since 1998 and chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology since 2000. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin and lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information is becoming a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he said. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
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Question
Nail biting: Does it cause long-term damage?
Does nail biting cause any long-term nail damage?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Although unsanitary, nail biting typically causes no long-term damage to your nails.
Your nails are formed near where your U-shaped cuticles begin (nail bed). As long as nail biting doesn't damage this area, your nails will continue to grow even if they're bitten off on a regular basis. Nail biting can worsen some existing conditions of the nail bed, such as infection of the skin around the nail bed (paronychia) or warts around the nail bed. In addition, you can pass bacteria or viruses from your nails and fingers to other fingers or to your lips or mouth by biting your nails, making it more likely you'll catch a cold or other infection.
Most nail biting is merely a bad habit that most people eventually break. But constant, severe nail biting can be a sign of anxiety or compulsive behavior. In such cases, you may consider consulting your doctor or a mental health provider for further evaluation. Treatment may include behavior therapy to help you stop biting your nails.
- Nail fungus & nail health. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_nail.html. Accessed June 1, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 11, 2009.
