The ugliest nightmare! Not only does it turn a reasonably graceful pair of hands into stubby paws, but it actually reduces the amount of strong nail area when the nail begins to grow back. You can always tell a reformed nail biter by the proportion of pink to white. As the nail was habitually nibbled further down the quick, the eventual re-growth at the tip, although weak and brittle-looking, easily equals the basic pink area.

Lack of ’something to do with the hands’ is the common excuse for nervous nibblers. So try occupying them with knitting or even fiddling with a piece of material whilst you’re watching television, listening to records, or traveling. Keeping them manicured and coated with nail-strengthening clear varnish is a good deterrent. Avoid bright polishes which draw attention to your stubby nails while they’re growing back, but flatter them instead with muted flesh tones or simply clear varnish.