Salmonella, E.coli, diarrhoea and stomach pains: Expert reveals why biting your nails is a health hazard

Nibbling on your nails may raise an eyebrow or two and certainly won't up your glamour factor, but is the nail biting habit actually dangerous?

According to nail disorder expert Richard Scher, dermatologist at New York's Weill Cornell Medical College, it is.

The medical repercussions of being a habitual nail biter are more unhealthy than you may think, The Daily Mail reports.

It'll come as no surprise that all sorts of germs lurk under your nails. Most menacing, Scher tells Time Magazine, are a family of bacteria called enterobacteriaceae — which includes salmonella and E.coli.

The cozy nook under your nail tip creates the perfect conditions for them to thrive.

And you don't need a medical degree to suss out that munching on a bacteria colony is not a healthy pastime.

In your mouth and stomach the bacteria can cause gastro-intestinal infections that often lead to diarrhoea and acute stomach cramps.

And that's not where it ends for nail-biting addicts. Scher also warns about an infection called paronychia, where tiny cuts on your fingertips allow bacteria to seep under the skin.

The infection causes pusiness and swelling and must then be drained surgically and treated with antibiotics or antifungals.

The wart virus, HPV, is another affliction of nail biters, which can spread from the fingers to the mouth, as are dental problems and gum disease.

'Constant biting can lead to poor dental occlusion, so the biter’s teeth shift out of position or become oddly shaped,' Scher says.

Kicking the habit can be a difficult journey, the experts admits, but recommends varnishes that leave a bitter taste on the nails.

But he adds that the cause is often psychological, and expert help is often the only way to break the habit.

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