Cut (or Bite) Your Nails Too Short?

What happens if you cut your nails too short?

Dr. Dana Stern, assistant clinical professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, says that the biggest risk of cutting your nails too short is infection—but it’s even worse if you bite them too short. “The oral cavity can introduce many organisms to the nail that are not normally supposed to be there,” she explains, noting that putting your fingers in your mouth can also expose your mouth to viruses and bacteria that can result in colds and cases of flu (hence why the CDC recommends keeping your hands away from your face altogether). “When nails are cut too short, the exposed, unprotected nail bed is more trauma prone and so there is more risk for entry of organisms.”

Although sickness isn’t guaranteed, if you cut or bite your nails too short (or if you harshly break a nail), you can pretty much guarantee one thing: It’s going to hurt. “The nail has many functions, one being a protective armor for the underlying nail bed,” Stern says. “The nail bed is the soft tissue structure under the hard nail plate and it is loaded with nerve endings and a rich vascular supply composed of tiny capillaries. When the nail is cut back too short, the bed is exposed and small incidental trauma can cause significant discomfort because there is no longer a protective nail there.”

Another common concern of cutting and biting nails too short is permanently altering the nail bed, potentially preventing the nail from growing back. The good news is, that’s unlikely.

“The underlying irritated, painful nail bed will heal very quickly (a few days) if it is kept clean and well hydrated,” Stern says. “The nail will continue to grow back (time dependent on how short it was cut and individual growth rates) and eventually reach the tip of the digit.  The nail will always grow back because the matrix (nail growth plate) has not been disturbed.” It’s like cutting hair. Just because you decided to try a bob or buzz doesn’t mean that long locks are off the table for good.

That said, if a large chunk of your nail is gone for an extended period—Stern says a year—permanent damage to your nail bed can occur. “The nail bed will thicken as a natural protective measure since there is no nail plate to shield it from trauma,” she explains. “This process can result in the nail bed tissue changing so that it will no longer accept a nail to adhere to it.  This phenomenon is relatively rare and occurs with prolonged nail separation or extended periods with very short nails where the tip of the nail bed is chronically exposed for years.”

What should I do immediately after over-trimming my nails?

Since nobody wants to endure the pain associated with too-short nails, it’s helpful to know how to proceed after a nibbling sesh or accidental deep trim. According to Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays, a nail-care brand and studio in New York City, there’s one thing anyone with too-short nails should start doing immediately: Practice good nail hygiene—because nobody wants to deal with an infection from bacteria seeping into the skin around the nail. “I would suggest soaking your hands in warm water with a small slice of lemon a couple of times a day to keep your nails clean,” she says. “Lemon is a natural antibacterial and antiseptic—however, I wouldn’t suggest having too many lemon slices, as it might cause your fingers to sting.” Alternatively, nail artist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood, Mazz Hanna, says that the best way to soothe pain from cutting or biting your nails too short is to soak them in warm, soapy water. 

“This will help soften the skin around the nails and reduce inflammation caused by biting or cutting them too short,” she explains. “I also highly recommend keeping the area moisturized with an ointment or moisturizer of your choice. 

Cuticle oil can also help. A little goes a long way when it comes to soothing your nails and giving you some relief. “A natural cuticle oil, such as jojoba oil, is very moisturizing and a mild solution to help relieve pain without irritation,” Lin says. “You can apply it numerous times a day.” After your nails are clean and moisturized, your next step is vowing to never get into this painful situation ever again. The best way to do so is to quit trying to grow them out—for now, focus on keeping them nice, neat, and short. Doing so will help prevent you from biting them in between trims. Plus, shorter nails are less likely to break on their own. Source