• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Terrifying simulation shows why you should never bite your fingernails

Home> News> Health

Published 17:29 3 Feb 2025 GMT

Terrifying simulation shows why you should never bite your fingernails

If you have a habit of biting your fingernails, you may want to stop

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

A demonstration of what happens to the end of your fingers when you bite your nail has detailed why you should never do so.

At some point in our lives we've all bitten our fingernails, haven't we? Be it just to rip the end of a stray nail off or as an alternative to getting out the clippers.

Do you have a habit of biting your nails? (Getty stock)
Do you have a habit of biting your nails? (Getty stock)

Advert

But for some people it's developed into a habit, and you might want to know that the seemingly innocent routine isn't as harmless as you'd think.

YouTuber Zack D.Films talks through it in a recent short video.

He said: "When you bite your nails, you create tiny tears in the skin around it, then the bacteria from your mouth can actually get into these tears, making the area around your nails red and tender.

"These small injuries can lead to painful infections and swelling, not to mention biting them makes your nails look jagged and uneven, so do yourself a favor and just use nail clippers."

Zack, through his terrifying simulation, is referring to paronychia - the name of the nail infection which commonly results from bacteria.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, 'bacteria gets into the skin through cuts in the cuticle and the nail fold' - which is the skin around the nail.

Advert

The medical center explains how 'most nail infections get better with antibiotics', and that 'paronychia doesn’t usually cause serious health problems' - although sometimes the infection can last a long time and even come back after treatment.

Taking to the comments, fans of the content creator commented on his social media platform.

"For those wondering," one person wrote.

Paronychia is the name for the infection you can get around your fingernails if you bite them (Getty stock)
Paronychia is the name for the infection you can get around your fingernails if you bite them (Getty stock)

Advert

"Nail biting, onychophagia affects up to 20-30% of the general population, making it a relatively common habit."

"I've been bitting my nails since I can remember and stopped recently after many many years," added another.

"It was an addiction and it took me almost 4 years of CONSTANT trying to overcome it. To anyone struggling with this addiction, you are a strong human being, goodluck."

A third typed: "I'm 22, I've been doing it for as long as my memory can travel back. I do with my fingernails, random skin at tip of fingers, callouses and lips; at all times my fingers have different visible layers of skin or are bleeding. I genuinely do not feel anxious or sad, I just LOVE doing so."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image

Topics: Health, YouTube

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • Getty Images/Media Access Awards Presented By Easterseals
    an hour ago

    All the celebs who have slammed decision to take Jimmy Kimmel off air over Charlie Kirk comments

    Jimmy Kimmel was taken off air by ABC in the wake of comments he made about Charlie Kirk

    News
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Three demands Jimmy Kimmel must meet to return to air after suspension over Charlie Kirk segment

    Kimmel's comments about the death of Charlie Kirk caused controversy

    News
  • People via YouTube/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Icelandic Glacial
    an hour ago

    Priscilla Presley details heartbreaking decision to turn off daughter Lisa Marie's life support amid lawsuit

    Lisa Marie Presley died at the age of 54 in 2023

    Celebrity
  • Getty Images/WPA Pool
    2 hours ago

    Trump branded a 'national embarrassment' over speech about his state visit during royal dinner

    Donald Trump has been criticised for the speech he did at the state banquet

    News
  • Psychologists issue stark warning on why you should never be 'best friends' with your parents
  • Reason why you should never turn your back on the sea as terrifying video shows the dangers
  • Eerie simulation shows exactly happens to your body when you quit drinking alcohol
  • Urologist reveals how many times you should pee per day according to your age