r/calmhands • u/deb0711 • Nov 01 '23
Tips It worked!! Habit-tic nail deformity
I have been waiting to post on here for 6 months!!
I came across this forum on Reddit about 7 months ago! And realized Hi! 👋 its me I'm the problem and my bad habit-tic! 😂 At the time I was about 10 years in having deformed looking thumbs that I was sooo embarrassed about. I would hide them, paint them and would never want anyone to point them out. I always picked at them, while driving, watching a movie, if I was nervous, anxious you name it I was picking at my thumb skin and nails. The worse it got the more I would pick, they bled most of the time and would always hurt. I saw this thread and saw some progress pictures of a few members and read their recommendations! I was shocked to see how many people were suffering with the same self harming habit. I tried the super glue method, it looked horrible and I'll be honest it almost added to the urge to pick. But after about a week it became better and a reminder to not pick or stop it when I was doing it unconsciously. Fast forward 5 weeks which is the first few pictures, then a few months and then I noticed the nail growing straight again. The nail grew out, and the ridges and bumps grew out, it encouraged to keep going and the last few pictures are what my thumbs looks like now! I can't tell you how grateful I am to have found this thread and community! I hope others see these progress pictures and are hopeful for their healing process. It works and it can be done friends!! I go get them done now, I can hand something to someone without being self conscious which is just so small but makes a huge difference!!
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u/earthwormjimwow Nov 01 '23
Where or what part were you picking? The actual nail, or the cutical (or both)? I have dents in my thumb nail, a lot like yours. I don't pick, chew or otherwise mess with my nail, but I do pick at the cutical and skin around my nails.
Wondering if that is the cause of my thumb nail dents.
Would be nice if this was the cause of my thumb nail issues, more motivation to stop picking.
Congrats on the progress!
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u/New_Platypus_3687 Nov 01 '23
Not the OP but my (and lots of other people's) dents definitely come from picking the skin/cuticles.
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u/earthwormjimwow Nov 01 '23
That's a relief, the other common cause of fingernail deformities I came across when trying to figure out the cause, are heart conditions, which would not be encouraging.
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u/lasuperhumana Nov 03 '23
I pick the cuticles/skin and get the dents. I pick one side, but not the other — dents are on the side I pick.
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u/earthwormjimwow Nov 03 '23
Thank you for the confirmation. I started taking NAC supplements this week, and have really been focusing on not focusing on my fingers. So far so good...
Wish you all the best on your progress!
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u/deb0711 Nov 01 '23
Hi! These pics are when I was 5 weeks in from not picking. It looked ALOT worse! And yes it was definitely from me picking at the cuticle and never actually letting it heal over the nail. Once I let it heal over the nail started growing normally! Yes stay consistent and it will get better!
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u/immrw24 Nov 01 '23
respect for being able to basically stop cold turkey! i also have the deformity but it’s taken years to get a normal looking nail because i have one bad week and it’s back to square one.
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u/deb0711 Nov 01 '23
Thank you! And you can do it! I used to Google so many nail deformities and treatments! But I found looking at these progress pics gave me motivation to keep going. I also saw something about putting something bitter on your nails if you tend to nibble on them 😬😆
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u/New_Platypus_3687 Nov 01 '23
Well done! I found the same about the superglue method increasing the urge to pick so that's interesting you managed to get past that stage. Progress seems sloooooooow so thanks for the nudge to keep going!
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u/deb0711 Nov 01 '23
Thank you! Yes honestly it looked really bad and within a few days I had to get rid of it but it made me aware of the purpose and the goal!! You got this!! Give it 4 weeks! You will see a difference and that will be motivation enough! ☺️
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u/velociraptorhiccups Nov 02 '23
Wow! Congrats on the progress, your hands look so healthy! That’s seriously impressive 👏
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u/anacardier Nov 01 '23
Wow congratulations they look amazing!!! I’ve been on the same journey as you for the past year. Mine also look way better than before, but they still have a bunch of obvious horizontal ridges going all the way up the nail :( I’m jealous of how smooth yours are!
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u/deb0711 Nov 01 '23
Congrats to you too! I think it's just a bad quality pic because I definitely have lines vertically but I'm assuming that will also slowly disappear also I think cuticle oil helps! ☺️
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u/WinoVista Sep 15 '24
Is there any hope of getting normal looking nails when it’s been 15 years of having ridges?
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u/Admirable_Election37 Sep 17 '24
I did it my whole life up until my early thirties before I finally stopped. There are some very fine white lines where the ridges used to be indicated there was some permanent damage but they are mostly smooth and nobody can tell there was any major issue there.
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u/COuser880 Nov 01 '23
Wow!!! Thank you so much for posting this. It’s very encouraging. I’ll save this post as a reminder that it can be done! Congrats again, and thanks for sharing.
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u/deb0711 Nov 01 '23
Awesome thank you!! I was so thankful when I found others who posted progress pics!! Gave me hope!! You got this! ☺️
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u/letmestayinvisible Nov 01 '23
This is so encouraging, thank you. I was just asking here a couple days ago about my own thumb bumps, so you're in perfect timing for me. I'm saving your post!
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u/deb0711 Nov 03 '23
Yay I'm so glad!! I'm so happy about how many people are going to find this helpful! I wish I found this thread like 10 years ago though!! 😮💨😆
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u/pmmeurpuppies Nov 01 '23
really encouraging, good for you!! i have the same ridges on my thumbs and even though i’ve been on this sub for ages i only recently saw another post about it, and finally realized the issue. here’s to us all leaving them alone 🤞🏻
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u/deb0711 Nov 03 '23
Thank you! I wish I found this community like 10 years ago!! Would have saved me years of torture! Lol once I realized it was actually a thing that a lot of people do it all made sense. YES!! Never again!!
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u/Middle-Lifeguard8887 Nov 02 '23
Well done! I have been dealing with this on and off my whole life. Your before pictures are all too familiar to me. Congrats!
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u/lasuperhumana Nov 03 '23
This is SUCH a huge inspiration! It’s good to hear that you just stuck it out even though the glue made you want to pick more (my concern). WELL DONE!!! Now you’re one of those progress success stories, inspiring others! I’m going to order some glue now.
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u/deb0711 Nov 03 '23
Aaah thank you!! I am legit so happy i found some progress pics from others that put it in my mind I will also share this one day!! Every 2 weeks or so I would take a pic and get all excited of how they have changed so much. I still fiddle with them but just gently now and caress the smooth thumb nails I have!! I know weird 😬Lol good luck and stay strong friend!
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u/Affectionate_Meal781 Feb 09 '24
What did you exactly do to fix that? What is that glue method?
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u/deb0711 Feb 17 '24
I used the glue method to help start, you put super glue to cover the cuticle to prevent from picking new cuticle growth. While driving the urge to pick was much worse with the glue but it was a reminder to not pick and if I did it was a barrier. After weeks the cuticle grew over and the nail started to grow back normally. Today my thumbs are completely normal, no bumps or ridges! Hope this helps ☺️
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u/Cant_bedealing Nov 01 '23
I am so proud of you! Mine looked the same about a year ago and now look just like yours now! It is a huge accomplishment and trust me when I say I’m SO proud of you!!!