‘It almost killed me’: Doctors say this bad habit could be doing more damage than you think
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Bad habits can be hard to break, but some come with risks that many people don’t realise—until it’s too late.
What started as a seemingly harmless routine quickly turned into a painful ordeal, leaving one woman with an unexpected hospital visit.
Her experience has sparked a wave of concern, with experts weighing in on just how dangerous this common habit can be.
A young woman’s nail-biting habit landed her in hospital after a minor cut on her finger led to a severe infection.
Bre, shared her ordeal on social media, showing her heavily bandaged hand while recovering in a hospital bed.
She admitted to biting her nails regularly and revealed that picking at her cuticle had caused a small wound, which became infected with bacteria.
The infection quickly worsened, causing her finger to swell, and she required minor surgery to clean out the affected area.
In a viral post that amassed over 50 million views, Bre wrote: ‘Your sign to stop biting your nails,’ as she displayed her injured hand.
Although she reassured viewers that she still had all her fingers, she described the experience as ‘traumatising’ and vowed to quit the habit.
Explaining what happened, she said: ‘I had a small cut on my finger from picking at my cuticle. Bacteria got in and caused my finger to swell so they did a minor surgery to wash out the bacteria.’
Many people in the comments expressed shock at how dangerous nail-biting could be, admitting they had never considered the risks.
One person wrote: ‘Me watching this while biting my nails…’.
Another said: ‘REMIND MEEE I CAN’T STOP BITING THEMMM.’
Some revealed they had suffered similar consequences, with one person writing: ‘It literally took trigeminal neuralgia (sudden and severe facial pain) to get me to stop biting my nails.’
Experts have long warned about the dangers of nail-biting, explaining that it can cause damage to nails, spread bacteria, and lead to infections.
Richard Scher, a dermatologist specialising in nail disorders, previously explained that bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli often lurk under fingernails, making the habit risky.
Scher also highlighted paronychia, an infection that occurs when bacteria enter small cuts around the nail, leading to swelling, pus, and in severe cases, the need for surgical drainage.
Biting nails can also spread the human papillomavirus (HPV), increasing the risk of warts on the fingers and mouth.
Dentists have warned that the habit can weaken teeth and even cause them to chip or break.
Dr Stewart Beggs, a cosmetic dentist, advised against nail-biting, saying: ‘Avoid this one thing because it is so bad, and that is biting fingernails. It causes your teeth to chip and break.’
While nail-biting is often a response to stress or anxiety, it is estimated that between 20 and 30 per cent of adults engage in the habit, with children and teenagers being the most affected.
Experts suggest using bitter-tasting varnishes, wearing gloves, or seeking cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for those struggling to stop.
In one extreme case, a grandfather in Scotland nearly lost his life to sepsis after biting his thumbnail too far.
Ricky Kennedy, 57, developed a severe infection that spread through his body, leaving him in hospital for months.
Recalling the terrifying experience, he said: ‘I didn’t think for a second that the cut on my thumb was the cause of it all. It was tiny. I had bitten my nail like that hundreds of times before so to think it almost killed me is terrifying.’
Kennedy described the pain as unbearable, saying: ‘I was in so much pain, I couldn’t move. I thought I was having a heart attack and I really did think I was going to die.’
Though he survived, he warned others to take the risks of nail-biting seriously, saying: ‘I may never be as healthy or as strong as I was, but I’m still here with my family and that is very precious to me.’
Knowing the risks, would you consider breaking the habit of nail-biting for good? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What started as a seemingly harmless routine quickly turned into a painful ordeal, leaving one woman with an unexpected hospital visit.
Her experience has sparked a wave of concern, with experts weighing in on just how dangerous this common habit can be.
A young woman’s nail-biting habit landed her in hospital after a minor cut on her finger led to a severe infection.
Bre, shared her ordeal on social media, showing her heavily bandaged hand while recovering in a hospital bed.
She admitted to biting her nails regularly and revealed that picking at her cuticle had caused a small wound, which became infected with bacteria.
The infection quickly worsened, causing her finger to swell, and she required minor surgery to clean out the affected area.
In a viral post that amassed over 50 million views, Bre wrote: ‘Your sign to stop biting your nails,’ as she displayed her injured hand.
Although she reassured viewers that she still had all her fingers, she described the experience as ‘traumatising’ and vowed to quit the habit.
Explaining what happened, she said: ‘I had a small cut on my finger from picking at my cuticle. Bacteria got in and caused my finger to swell so they did a minor surgery to wash out the bacteria.’
Many people in the comments expressed shock at how dangerous nail-biting could be, admitting they had never considered the risks.
One person wrote: ‘Me watching this while biting my nails…’.
Another said: ‘REMIND MEEE I CAN’T STOP BITING THEMMM.’
Some revealed they had suffered similar consequences, with one person writing: ‘It literally took trigeminal neuralgia (sudden and severe facial pain) to get me to stop biting my nails.’
Experts have long warned about the dangers of nail-biting, explaining that it can cause damage to nails, spread bacteria, and lead to infections.
Richard Scher, a dermatologist specialising in nail disorders, previously explained that bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli often lurk under fingernails, making the habit risky.
Scher also highlighted paronychia, an infection that occurs when bacteria enter small cuts around the nail, leading to swelling, pus, and in severe cases, the need for surgical drainage.
Biting nails can also spread the human papillomavirus (HPV), increasing the risk of warts on the fingers and mouth.
Dentists have warned that the habit can weaken teeth and even cause them to chip or break.
Dr Stewart Beggs, a cosmetic dentist, advised against nail-biting, saying: ‘Avoid this one thing because it is so bad, and that is biting fingernails. It causes your teeth to chip and break.’
While nail-biting is often a response to stress or anxiety, it is estimated that between 20 and 30 per cent of adults engage in the habit, with children and teenagers being the most affected.
Experts suggest using bitter-tasting varnishes, wearing gloves, or seeking cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for those struggling to stop.
In one extreme case, a grandfather in Scotland nearly lost his life to sepsis after biting his thumbnail too far.
Ricky Kennedy, 57, developed a severe infection that spread through his body, leaving him in hospital for months.
Recalling the terrifying experience, he said: ‘I didn’t think for a second that the cut on my thumb was the cause of it all. It was tiny. I had bitten my nail like that hundreds of times before so to think it almost killed me is terrifying.’
Kennedy described the pain as unbearable, saying: ‘I was in so much pain, I couldn’t move. I thought I was having a heart attack and I really did think I was going to die.’
Though he survived, he warned others to take the risks of nail-biting seriously, saying: ‘I may never be as healthy or as strong as I was, but I’m still here with my family and that is very precious to me.’
Knowing the risks, would you consider breaking the habit of nail-biting for good? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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