“I rip off my toenails?”
I rip my toenails off there is no pain I just do it.
Male | 18 years old
6 Answers
DermapathologistDermapathologist
Hello, Thank you for your question. We you have to evaluate you and take foot x-rays if needed. Please call our office 973-817-9577 or on our portal drtotten.com for an appointment.
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Good for you. Hope it helped.
That is called 'onychotillomania.' Similar to nail biting, it is habitual. Many kids and even some adults do this. The problem comes if you create an infection in the toes or cause ingrowing toenails. Otherwise, you're just a 'gross' little teenager.
Sounds like you are proud of a bad habit to me. In psychological terms, a person who compulsively rips off their nails is called a tylectomaniac. Just in case you wanted to know. Eventually, you will get a nasty infection, and maybe need hospitalization for sepsis if you stay on this path.
Onychotillomania is a compulsive behavior in which a person picks constantly at the nails or tries to tear them off. It can be categorized as a body-focused repetitive behavior and can be associated with psychiatric disorders such as depressive neurosis, delusions of infestation, and hypochondriasis. I would definitely recommend starting by discussing it with a primary care doctor and they can assess and point you in the correct direction. It may not hurt, but it can cause nail damage down the road.
I recommend you make an appointment with a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) to discuss options
