According to Khurana, nail-biting behaviors can start in childhood, and some research even suggests that it may be genetic. But it’s not certain whether this type of behavior is learned and imitated or a built-in innate feature. If your picking habit is a conscious behavior that happens when you experience intense negative emotions, “try to understand that something is affecting you in the moment that needs to be released,” says Michaela Chatzimanoli, a clinical psychologist at SkinPick.com. “Bring your attention to your body, then breathe in deeply through your nose and breathe out slowly through your mouth, allowing this release to happen in a different, more caring way.” At the very least, try and create a physical barrier—like wearing a bandage over the cuticles you tend to pick. “If something is covered, then it’s hard to access, and when you try to get to them but can’t, that’s enough time for you to think, Oh, I shouldn’t be doing this,” says Amy Wechsler, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist. “Sometimes my patients will be walking around with lots of Band-Aids, but it’s the only way to heal things.” “If someone is maiming themselves, scarring themselves, having multiple bouts of infections, and still can’t stop picking, then that’s a problem. There’s a positive feedback loop in your brain that has to be broken,” says Wechsler. In these cases, a more significant intervention may be needed, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). In broad terms, CBT involves working with a practitioner to identify the thoughts you’re having while picking or engaging in any unwanted behavior and replacing them with healthier thoughts. “But it only works if you’re motivated,” says Wechsler. To find a therapist, search the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors’ database. That said, grab a butter-thick occlusive and slather it on whenever your paws need a hit of moisture. And for those wondering: Yes, you can find a dense cream that doesn’t make your hands too greasy. A mix of hydrators and rich butters (think aloe vera paired with shea butter) can keep a cream fast-absorbing while locking in moisture. Bonus points if your cream contains soothing ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory properties (oat comes to mind), as dry, cracked hands can quickly feel uncomfortable and itchy. See here for our favorite hand creams for dry skin.
