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Do you bite your nails? If so, you\u2019re really<\/em> not alone; research suggests about 20 to 30 percent of the general population nips at their fingertips. (Former nail biter checking in!) It can be a difficult habit to quit, but a subset of GLP-1 users have reported that since they began taking the medication, they\u2019ve lost interest in nibbling their nails.<\/p>\n People on a GLP-1 are sharing their experience on Reddit, saying that after years as a daily biter, they stopped entirely once they started injecting themselves with the semaglutide medication. Influencers are opening up about how going on a GLP-1 helped them quit their \u201ccompulsive\u201d nail biting. While GLP-1 medications are well known for their ability to dull cravings, curb snacking, and lessen \u201cfood noise,\u201d they may also impact other habits\u2014nail biting included.<\/p>\n According to Annette Czernik, a board-certified dermatologist based in Stamford, Connecticut, nail biting (also known as onychophagia) is considered a type of \u201cbody-focused repetitive behavior,\u201d or BFRB, a classification that also includes things like skin picking and hair pulling; for many people, biting their nails can be a self-soothing habit when they\u2019re stressed or anxious, or self-stimulating when they\u2019re bored, which are common feature of BFRBs in general. \u201cThese behaviors often exist on a spectrum with anxiety, stress-related habits, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies,\u201d Czernik explains. \u201cAs dermatologists, we frequently see the physical consequences, including damaged nail plates, chronic inflammation around the nails, infections, and permanent nail changes.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, there\u2019s still a lot we don\u2019t know about how and why GLP-1 medications work and why people experience such diverse side effects, but physicians have some theories as to why injecting yourself with semaglutide or tirzepatide might make you less likely to chomp on your fingernails.<\/p>\n First, it\u2019s important to understand what GLP-1 medication is doing to the body in the first place. Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D., a neuropsychologist in New York City, explains that GLP-1 medications can influence the brain\u2019s reward pathways; this is most evident with food and appetite, of course, impacting feelings of hunger and cravings. \u201cMany people report experiencing less \u2018food noise\u2019 and fewer intense cravings,\u201d she explains. \u201cAs urges become less powerful, it can feel easier to make deliberate choices rather than acting on impulse. For some individuals, these changes may significantly reduce compulsive eating behaviors and create a greater sense of control around food.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s essential to note that GLP-1 medications are not<\/em> approved for nail biting and there isn\u2019t currently enough research to back up any claims that they can \u201ccure\u201d or stop the habit. However, Dr. Czernik flags that there have been \u201cgrowing reports\u201d of people on GLP-1 medications who have noticed a reduction in reward-seeking compulsions and desires in general, which for some could include nail biting. (Other commonly cited behaviors include impulsive shopping, drinking, and smoking.) Jessica Duncan, MD, a board-certified obesity medicine physician based in Atlanta, Georgia, says that this could be because \u201c[GLP-1s] also act on the brain’s dopamine and reward pathways, which is why patients often notice their cravings drop across the board, not just for food.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Duncan\u2019s patients often report a loss of interest in alcohol and cigarettes, though she is careful to tell them that while this effect is real, it\u2019s \u201cnot necessarily permanent or universal,\u201d given that everyone\u2019s dopamine pathways are different. That being said, Dr. Duncan adds that \u201cthe same circuitry that drives \u2018food noise\u2019 overlaps with the circuitry behind a lot of repetitive, self-soothing habits.\u201d Maybe you\u2019ve noticed that since starting your GLP-1, you simply don\u2019t have the urge to gnaw at your nails and cuticles. But if you\u2019re taking a medication and still bite, that\u2019s normal too; like Dr. Duncan said, everyone\u2019s pathways are different, and GLP-1 side effects have been all over the board.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n