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jacksmome08 , 24 Dec 2008

im 20 and ive been eating my finger skin all my life.

i'm 20 and i'm happily married and i have a 6 1/2 month old and i'm pregnant again. but all my life, i mean...since i can remember. i have always bitten and eatin the skin off my fingers, i used to bite my nails too but i stopped that. and i eat the skin on my lips sometimes and even scabs when i get them, i used to cut myself just to get scabs so i could pick them. my husband helped me stop that. the biggest thing i do now is just bite my fingers. and i like doing it, its weird, and my fingers look horrible but it makes me feel better. but i'm afraid of future problems with the skin on my fingers, cuz i've been doing it for years. and i haven't found a way to stop. even strong will doesn't help.
275 Answers
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EvelynEden
March 12, 2012
I do this with my lip skin! All the time. I will either peel it off and bite it, or just bite it off. It's odd because it just kind of vanishes in my mouth as I bite on it.
Gabriel
March 14, 2012
Hello,Im gabriel ,18 and I eat away the skin on my first,middle and ring finger just abouve the nails.Im a video game fanatic so I have realized that it alwasys happens when i hit some sort of suspence in my life or during a game.When I go to dances for highschool my three fingers will be unbearable sore and bright red.Now afterabout eight years my three fingers are bright red and theres three massive scar-like sores on them.They wont go away and i still chew on them.Ive tried so many things to help me stop but its not working.From bitter nail stuff,to band-aids,to gum.I have even tryed to infect them so i could just get rid of them.I wont have a problem if thier not thier,ithought,but thats somewhat unethical.
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
Larceny
March 16, 2012
Hi, I am Bec, 26, and I never used to eat my skin. When I was 12 something happened in my head, and I started scratching at my ears. This subsequentially turned into psoriasis which eventually spread to other areas of my body. This is the first time I've opened up about eating the skin, for I'm terrified I'll be judged by my loved ones for admitting that this is what sustains me when not eating regularly. I also find that I scratch at scabs to create more wounds to "feast from" as they would say. Truth be told, my heart is hammering while I type this. I never knew it was a disorder (though I do have mild OCD tendencies), but I should have a look into it with my doctor, I think :) I really only wanted to write to say THANKYOU to everyone here for sharing your stories, for they've made me feel a lot less weird about my own! Namaste :)
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
fergiesmom
March 17, 2012
I'm 43 and have been picking/biting the skin around my fingers since I can remember. I also lick/bite my lips and when I wear sandals, I pick the skin dry skin on my heels. When I was little I also bit my fingernails (still sometimes do this if a nail is ragged or broken) so bad I lost a thumbnail due to the biting. My lips are constantly dry due to this behavior. I am so glad I found this website and just reading the many stories similar to me has been heartening. I've always been so embarrassed of these behaviors and the visable effects. I start anti-anxiety medication a little over 15 yrs. ago. I know I have anxiety issues. I also found that getting my nails done helps, but I can't always afford this. I try to get the skin around my nails healed and to keep polish on them so I feel better about how they look. I tried to analyze myself and really look at what I get out of this behavior. It certainly doesn't relieve my anxiety and picking the dry skin (vicious cycle, bite/pick, get dry skin, pick it off even though I realize this doesn't get rid of the dryness/roughness). I, too, don't even realize I'm doing it sometimes (watching tv, surfing the web, etc.). I also know that constantly having chap stick on my lips is not necessarily good for my lips but without the chapstick on, I bite/pick my lips more due to the dryness seeming more pronounced without it on. Just wanted to share my story hoping it helps me as well as others who read this and thank you to those who have shared here; I am not alone and I am not a freak!
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
Dahlia
March 19, 2012
I have been eating/picking the skin on my fingers and mouth since I was literally 3 years old. I am now 13 and I still do. My father also does the same. At first I had started biting my nails but it spread to ingesting the skin and my skin on my fingers are so rough and sore. My fingers look horrible. If I paint my nails I chew it off. Nothing has helped that much. When my parents had gotten I divorce I had started doing it to my toes as well. I would take nail cutters and cut the skin from the bottom of my toes and eat it, which I don't anymore and i don't know how I stopped that but still remain the same with my fingers and mouth. But I have found one thing helpful. My boyfriend and family are constantly trying to get me to stop. Around thanksgiving I went on wikihow and i found a solution on a forum about stopping nail biting, but during that time I was having family troubles and I started again and have been doing it since. And now I do it whenever I'm bored or even subconsciously. I just want to end that habit now.
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
Dahlia
March 19, 2012
I just found out that this is a medical condition called Dermatophagia which is closely related to OCD, I advise you guys to look it up on Wikipedia for more information about this...
wolfdrivers
April 14, 2012
I am a 42 year old female and I can't believe what I am reading. As long as I can remember since a child, I have picked at my nails, the dry calloused skin on the bottom of my feet (especially my heels). I pick and eat scabs. I will bite and chew on my bottom lip and try to find as big a piece of lip skin that I can find and naw on it till I can get a piece I can pull with my fingers or my teeth. I have always thought of myself as some type of freak But after reading a lot of other people doing these habits, I think it is no different then the satisfaction people get from "cutting" or having anorexia, using drugs or drinking alcohol. It's a coping mechanism I think we develop from whatever drives us to doing these things. It's just what we do is considered disgusting and unspeakable. I have NEVER shared this with anybody, including both husbands I have been married to. I do it when I think no one is around. The bottoms of my feet look horrible, but I dont' know how to stop, nor do I really want to. It's just good to know that I am like many other people out there. Thanks to all of you sharing your stories.
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
emily.bloch
April 29, 2012
hello, im embarrassed to say to myself that i do pick my skin around my fingers. I know that i really need help, but its just hard. I feel bad for my family to watch me because im only 12 years old. I always have anxiety because of school, like testing and then i just completely hurt myself. i have had 1 infection because of my bitting and it made me go to a doctor and everyone was scared. the reason why i am doing this is because i need help and i dont know anyone else who deals with the stuff i do. please if anyone reads this please tell me what works for you that helped. please i would love to see people reply to this.
Kaitlyn713
May 21, 2012
I havent had an infection yet but im doing this for the same reason as you. In 13 and I can't even remember when I started biting. So far it seems like there have been no solutions. I'm so embarrassed to get my hands wet in front of other people because it shows my habit. I don't want to be doing this for the rest of my life but I don't know how to stop. I hope you find some luck :). I'm glad I'm not the only one doing this
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
asianfreckles
April 29, 2012
hi there! i'm michelle and i'm 17 years old. i read through the first page of these comments and i feel like i can totally relate with each and every one of you. none of my family members or friends do this and i don't think they would understand the satisfaction of this habit. each time i bite the skin, people just think that i'm biting my fingernails. i haven't ever confided to anyone that i'm biting the skin. when i was in elementary school, i started to bite my nails. i think it was because of a nervous habit. then, as i reached middle school, i stopped and instead began to bite the skin around my nails and eat it. i then started to use the nail clippers to clip off pieces of skin on my toes and eat it. the sad part is that the larger the piece of skin, the more satisfying it is to me. it's embarrassing when people see my fingers because they're red and swollen.... it's even worse when my hands are wet. i think this habit might be related to ocd (for me, at least). whenever i file my nails, i always have to file them until they are perfectly rounded... with no uneven edges. i hate seeing loose pieces of skin on my fingers and toes and i bite/pick at them in order to get rid of them. i then realized that when i did that, the skin would just grow back and the process would repeat itself. i've noticed that as a result of my biting, one of my front teeth is slightly uneven to the other. i also constantly pick at my eyebrows and eyelashes... which is known as trichotillomania (related to dermatillomania). i've tried to occupy myself in order to stop this habit, but it's been really challenging. right now as i'm typing this, my fingers find their way back to my mouth and i start biting. a lot of the comments i've read contained really good advice and i plan to try them out. i hope they work as well for me as they did with you! well, that's my story... thanks for reading! best of luck to you all! :)
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara
Stop_The_Chewing
May 01, 2012
Im 16 and I've been a "chewer" since I was 9. It has spread to the point where the top of my thumb knuckles are constantly red and swollen. To make matters worse, it has spread to my other finger knuckles too. There are only a few regular looking knuckles left. Everytime I go out in public I have to keep my hands clenched in a fist so people won't stare and ask questions. It is stopping me from making new friends and going out to social events because I am too scared to show everyone my disgusting hands. I am trying a new tip I heard from a doctor and It is having good effects so far. He told me to take a nail filer and smooth down the knuckles until they are red and at the bottom of the skin layer. After a week of doing this every morning they are starting to return to their regular shape and colour. TRY THIS! Finally, good luck to all you fellow sufferers of this HORRIBLE obsession. Good luck, and happy healing!
caraboo21
July 19, 2012
Thank you for your tip. This is exactly what most people should be doing. I mention you in my latest post. Here it is: Hi, I went on this site about 6 months ago and was stunned to see how many people did the exact same thing as myself. I went to a psychologist to try and stop and she told me I'd probably never stop biting my fingers. I couldn't accept that and I didn't go back. I found a CURE!!!! It's been over 2 moths and I haven't biten. My fingers are healed and my compulsion dissolved within 2 days. Have you ever heard of energy medicine or energy psychology? Emotional Freedom Technique or E.F.T. is what dissolved my compulsion. All in all it took 15 minutes and I haven't had the urge to do it since. I read on this site a tip that some girl gave about using a nail file and filing the skin on your fingers in the direction it grows. I started doing that. It made it much easier but really it wasn't hard at all. I want everyone to try this. I also healed an old knee injury, have been losing weight AND have been treating my husbands fibromyalgia so he is free of pain. This is no joke. This works. I am now studying to become an Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and hope to spread these techniques as far as I can. So, I can't explain it in writing but if you go to youtube and search EFT for compulsive behaviors you will find a wealth of information. The idea is that you tap on certain accupuncture points on the body while saying out loud phrases to reset your subconscious. The way I describe it is that my conscious brain and subconscious brain finally had the same intention and the electromagnetic pulse from the tapping is what made that connection. PLEASE go and help yourself. It will be the best thing you could ever do. I suffered from this disorder for 34 years and in two days it was GONE! POOF! I had so much guilt and shame attached to this compulsion and it rippled into the rest of my life. A weight has been lifted. I never thought I would see my hands like this. I am a new person. It seems very silly at first but keep an open mind and do it anyway. It's not the type of thing you have to believe in for it to work. If you do it it will work. Peace and Love Cara

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