# My fingers are bleeding **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400 "2003-07-14T15:56:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400/1 "2003-07-14T15:56:23Z")
I have a confession – I bite the skin around my fingers. They often end up raw, sore, and bloody. It’s embarrassing trying to explain this to people who gasp “What’s wrong with your fingers!?” I don’t know how to stop. I’ve tried that nasty-tasting anti-nail-biting liquid, but that doesn’t help. I’d look stupid wearing gloves all the time. I find myself doing it before I even think not to do it. Good thing I don’t have AIDS or anything, or everyone where I work would get it. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400/2 "2003-07-14T16:06:21Z")
You know what? I do the exact same thing! I assume you mean the skin around your finger_nails_, not skin just anywhere on your fingers :D. I do it when I’m nervous, restless, anxious, thinking very hard about something, anticipating, etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400/3 "2003-07-14T16:18:23Z")
I gnaw on my cuticles constantly. I almost always have at least one that is bleeding. The only solution I’ve found was to get a weekly manicure; even with no polish or only clear polish, they would take care of my cuticles so well that there weren’t any loose ends for me to start gnawing on. You might try it. I’m not getting weekly manicures now (can’t afford it), so the gnawing continues… ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400/4 "2003-07-14T19:03:51Z")
I have the same problem, and I’m with **Mama Tiger** - a manicure really helps. It’s also a good idea to carry small nail clippers or cuticle nippers with you at all times, so you can cut off those little loose ends, instead of chewing them. I actually started bleeding freely during an on-site visit to a client one time when I was doing this without thinking about it. I blotted it on my pocket lining and hoped no one noticed, but it was pretty gross. (At least I hadn’t worn a skirt with no pockets that day…). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400/5 "2003-07-14T20:51:47Z")
My husband does this. It drives me crazy. I tried to do my own manicure the other night (without the proper equipment) and Mine are a bit shabby right now. Try putting bandaids on your fingers until they heal. Then get a manicure. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fingers-are-bleeding/188400/6 "2003-07-14T21:27:07Z")
Back in high school, I used to bite my nails until they bled. I finally realized; HEY! This hurts! Why don’t I stop hurting myself? How did I stop? I monitored myself and whenever my hand got near my face, I moved it back away. Yeah, it really interfered with my nose picking schedule (hey, I’m a guy, deal with it) but it sure stopped the bleeding cuticle routine.