# Why Do I Enjoy Eating My Own Skin So Much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165 "2008-09-18T16:47:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walter.P.Higgens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Walter.P.Higgens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter.P.Higgens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/1 "2008-09-18T16:47:40Z")
It’s probably not one of my more attractive qualities, but I tend to bite and gnaw on my skin. I’m forever nibbling at the skin around my fingernails (interestingly, I don’t bite my fingernails), pulling off and eating the calluses on my feet and all scabs eventually enter my digestive track. I’ve never eaten anyone else’s skin, but I had a girlfriend who let me tongue her dried and cracked cuticle and would’ve eaten it if she hadn’t objected. Is there any scientific reason I to explain why I do this? Am I trying to supplement something that’s missing from my diet? ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/2 "2008-09-18T17:19:27Z")
I do the same with my cuticles but I don’t intentionally eat them. . . well, I guess I do sometimes. But, I guess that’s not the focus of why I do it. But, you mean, you pull scabs off and eat them? That seems very strange to me. Have you googled? ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/3 "2008-09-18T17:22:48Z")
This sort of question is best put to a medical professional. Thread closed. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/4 "2008-09-18T18:05:50Z")
I changed my mind on this one. I’m reopening it for now. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/5 "2008-09-18T18:09:11Z")
[Dermatophagia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatophagia) [Dermatillomania](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatillomania) ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/6 "2008-09-18T18:10:38Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I changed my mind on this one. I’m reopening it for now. Did you try it and enjoy it too much to pass up an answer? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Walter.P.Higgens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Walter.P.Higgens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter.P.Higgens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/7 "2008-09-18T18:24:11Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > I changed my mind on this one. I’m reopening it for now. > > **Gfactor** > General Questions Moderator Thank you. I don’t believe I have a medical condition—though someone might posit that I have a mental condition. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/8 "2008-09-18T18:28:32Z")
> [@Walter.P.Higgens](#): > > It’s probably not one of my more attractive qualities God, I hope not. :eek: My guess is some form of OCD, but of course IANAD. ---
**Author:** ![Walter.P.Higgens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Walter.P.Higgens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter.P.Higgens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/9 "2008-09-18T18:32:44Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > But, you mean, you pull scabs off and eat them? Of the treats offered on the epidermis menu, scabs are rare delicacies. Peeling skin from a sunburn would have to be desert. ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/10 "2008-09-18T18:34:27Z")
A little salty, a little oily, certainly not the strangest thing people have eaten with those qualities. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/11 "2008-09-18T18:39:51Z")
> [@Walter.P.Higgens](#): > > Of the treats offered on the epidermis menu, scabs are rare delicacies. Peeling skin from a sunburn would have to be desert. Do you have them with fava beans and a nice Chianti? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/12 "2008-09-18T18:52:01Z")
You are what you eat? ---
**Author:** ![Walter.P.Higgens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@Walter.P.Higgens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter.P.Higgens)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/13 "2008-09-18T18:57:12Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > My guess is some form of OCD. I have many OCD tendencies and a couple of serious phobias. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/14 "2008-09-18T22:51:25Z")
> [@Walter.P.Higgens](#): > > It’s probably not one of my more attractive qualities, but I tend to bite and gnaw on my skin. I’m forever nibbling at the skin around my fingernails (interestingly, I don’t bite my fingernails), pulling off and eating the calluses on my feet and all scabs eventually enter my digestive track. I’ve never eaten anyone else’s skin, but I had a girlfriend who let me tongue her dried and cracked cuticle and would’ve eaten it if she hadn’t objected. Is there any scientific reason I to explain why I do this? Am I trying to supplement something that’s missing from my diet? Do you get enough vitamin A? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/15 "2008-09-19T00:00:42Z")
**Walter.P.Higgens** believes in recycling. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/16 "2008-09-19T01:12:57Z")
In general it has been generally [debunked](http://www.metroplexhealth.com/faq.htm)that cravings are related to nutritional needs. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/17 "2008-09-19T03:16:18Z")
Well it’s better than eating somebody else’s skin. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-enjoy-eating-my-own-skin-so-much/464165/18 "2008-09-19T03:19:04Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > You are what you eat? No, no, you _eat_ what you _are_.