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No offense to any stumpy nailed folk out there..
I'll try and keep this short (fnar!)
I have a nervous habit of biting my nails, which many will know is very hard to kick.
Now ive managed to stop short of reducing the actual size of my nails (to a degree) but after a recent stressful period I have managed to shorten one thumb nail about 4mm than the other.
I personally dont think this will ever 'grow' back to its previous size (the fleshy main part of the nail, not the white dead bit), but is any kind of precedure available that would reverse this? ie, encourage the nail root to grow properly up/on the finger again.
I was just wondering IF it is possible at all? Ive not found anything on Google et al. Perhaps not for such a minor issue as mine, but for those whove bitten them so far back that they now resemble crispy bits.
I think if you rip a nail off completely it'll grow back.
You could try that?
If you stop biting them, the nail bed gradually repairs itself and your nails will look normal. I stopped biting mine about 6-7 years ago and you can't really tell I ever did.
what ?
My whole toe nail came off playing footy. It grew back totally but it did take about a year. And it was kinda bumpy and ridgy for about 2-3 years.
They do grow back in time, I stopped biting about a year ago and am starting to get normal ish looking nails.
seriously?!
Im amazed that they grow back normal.
Are we talking full length, to the tip of the finger?
can someone amaze me with a before/after shot?
before
[img] 
[/img]
after
[img] 
[/img]
then after gender re-assignment, a hair cut and a spray tan
[img] 
[/img]
They grow from the little milky coloured crescent at the base, the bit I think you were describing as dead. The fleshy coloured bit that you've been biting is the dead bit. So yes they should grow back.
nope, the the dead bit im refering to is the bit one bites, the 'white' nail. the milky bit you mention is the cuticle, if you bite that far down youve done well.
the very first picture is what im refering to, see how the nails are super short, ie, bitten right back toward the cuticle.
Can that part be repaired?, ie, the fleshy part under the nail being extended back to the fingertip.
Can any earlier postee's confim?
They should be fine but it will take a while.
Mine used to look like the ones above in the "before" picture.
Now they look...
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Not great (and a bit dirty after work !) but a damn site better than they were.
(amazing how fixing other people's toilets and bathrooms all day persuades you to stop biting your nails 
)
nice result there!
so, I need to become a plumber, clearly.
I was thinking of trying hypnosis as I have an oral habit, finger biting, smoking, snacking.
That bitter stuff might work on a child but does not help me. I would love a cure!
I find will power works. You need to tell yourself who's boss.
Apprently Gordon Brown is about to publish a self help book on the very subject.