Urgent health warning for anyone who does this common and annoying habit – Daily Star
If, like us, you thought biting your nails was fairly harmless, you may want to heed the advice of dermatologist Dr Adam Friedman who is warning about the potential health consequences
Hygiene boffs are warning millions of nail-biters their filthy habit could lead to serious health issues.
Experts say it’s far from harmless and could cause deadly blood infections, wonky teeth and irreversible damage to skin.
Dermatologist Dr Adam Friedman, who has carried out a string of studies on the potentially fatal risks of nail-biting, warned it “introduces bacteria from the hands, which can lead to infections such as paronychia”.
The condition is a painful swelling of the finger due to bacteria seeping into bitten nail areas and can spread deep into the body and require antibiotics and emergency surgery.
Dr Friedman added other constant risks include “irreversible damage” to the “nail matrix” – the tissue responsible for nail growth.
He said: “Over time, this can lead to permanent nail deformities and difficulty growing nails back to their normal shape.”
The doc also said nail-biting is often linked to anxiety and stress, and warned the habit can lead to “further psychological distress, creating a harmful cycle”.
He shared his alerts after research from TheCasinoWizard showed nervous nail-biting is not just a “cosmetic issue”.
A spokesperson for the online gambling resource added: “It has the potential to lead to significant health problems, from infections to dental damage.
“By sharing this information, we aim to help people understand the risks and take action to protect their health.”
A study published by the National Institutes of Health also found nail-biting can introduce bacteria from the fingers into the mouth, heightening the risk of oral and facial infections.
Along with paronychia, other conditions linked to the habit include herpetic whitlow, a viral infection causing sores.
According to the British Dental Association, the pressure caused by biting nails can also lead to cracked and misaligned teeth as well as worn-down enamel on gnashers.
The warnings come after one serial nail-biting Brit was left fighting for his life after one of his fingers become infected when he chomped too hard on it.
Dad Steven MacDonald, 48, from Coatbridge near Glasgow sliced open his left finger with his teeth – leaving it gushing with blood.
It filled with pus and he was diagnosed with paronychia after it started to balloon while turn a nauseating yellow and green.
The bacterial infection had spread to his bloodstream.
After being pumped with super-strength antibiotics he had to be rushed for emergency surgery to have the wound drained and cleaned.
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