# Help! I can't stop chewing on my fingers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-cant-stop-chewing-on-my-fingers/669548 "2013-09-23T22:06:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-cant-stop-chewing-on-my-fingers/669548/1 "2013-09-23T22:06:36Z")
I have recently started chewing the skin around my fingers, and made myself bleed and it hurts really really bad. Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this disgusting habit, because it’s really starting to get on my nerves and it looks awful. Has anyone else been through this? Has anyone been able to overcome it successfully? Thanks in advance for any advice. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-cant-stop-chewing-on-my-fingers/669548/2 "2013-09-23T22:11:30Z")
Start carrying rubber bands around. If you’re like most people, you hate the taste, and the residual flavor on your fingers will discourage you from chewing. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-cant-stop-chewing-on-my-fingers/669548/3 "2013-09-23T22:16:58Z")
Is it because there are little bits of callous-y skin that are around your nails, or are you chewing other parts of your fingers? I find that I get little bits of skin that I want to pick at around my nails, (or the dreaded cracks on my finger tips) but if I take a pair of nail clippers and snip them off so it is smoother, I stop worrying at them. Then moisturize. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-cant-stop-chewing-on-my-fingers/669548/4 "2013-09-23T23:39:22Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > Is it because there are little bits of callous-y skin that are around your nails, or are you chewing other parts of your fingers? > > I find that I get little bits of skin that I want to pick at around my nails, (or the dreaded cracks on my finger tips) but if I take a pair of nail clippers and snip them off so it is smoother, I stop worrying at them. Then moisturize. This is a duplicate of another thread that I had posted, can you look at the pictures I put in the other thread until a mod can merge the two?thanks! [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16692006&posted=1#post16692006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=16692006&posted=1#post16692006) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-cant-stop-chewing-on-my-fingers/669548/5 "2013-09-24T00:45:30Z")
Isn’t this more of an OCD mental issue than a skin care issue? Relevant thread > **[How do I stop chewing on my fingers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=626820)** > > Not my fingernails, but the skin on my fingers- often right around the cuticle, or on the sides at the base of the nail. I do it without thinking about it, occasionally go so far as to draw blood. How do I stop? If nails are involved > **[6 Ways to Stop Biting Your Nails - wikiHow](https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Biting-Your-Nails)** > > Nail biting is a bad habit that can make your hands look unsightly. It can also permanently damage your nails, teeth, or gums. Fortunately, there are some techniques you can try that will help keep you from biting your nails. Keep your...