Picking rough skin on fingers

Gloves?

Paint the skin with stuff to discourage thumbsucking? (If you still get that).

Or, what about one of those tapping routines ("tapping therapy") for distraction till the urge has passed? There are dozens of videos about it on YouTube.

Are you very anxious? I know it's a habit, but sometimes worse if you are agitated. Can you take up a calming hobby, eg yoga or do some deep breathing and calming exercises?

I've had that habit all my life, and sometimes my fingers look disgusting. I find I can stop if I have some big 'event' happening who knows why. I bought myself some cotton gloves and try to wear them in the evenings if I don't have any knitting to do and it does work as once they are healed and no 'bits' to pick at I can stop doing it for months at a time.
I do agree that its worse if I'm stressed.

It's no good painting the fingernails, as it's picking, not biting, that is the problem.

It can damage the nailbed too, which can make the nails unsightly.

Are you picking the skin because it's dry and flaky, or will you pick at it regardless of whether it is in good condition or not?

Rubber band on the wrist and 'snap it' instead of picking.....

Both I think, Coolgran. When it's dry, I pick and when it's smooth (not often), I still rub it - to feel the smoothness, I think. I shall try the rubber band trick, thank you.

I do put plasters on when it's very sore, but that just makes the skin soft underneath, leading to more picking when I remove them. I think it's some sort of nervous habit, because when I wear gloves (in winter), I've found a way of still doing it!

I may try that, thanks.

The yoga, calming thing, I mean.

I've started putting handcream on at night, then wearing cotton gloves, more to speed up softening and healing than to actually stop me picking, because I don't tend to do it at night. It does help to know that I'm not the only one though. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Thank heavens someone has brought this up. It's a problem I've had all my life, too. It's hereditary, I am sure - I remember my grandmother doing it. My nails have always been weak and brittle, too, so I have always been ashamed of my fingers (piano lessons, even as a adult, or bleeding on freshly washed laundry when ironing or folding it).

This goes through phases and sometimes my nails are fine and the cuticles aren't too badly butchered. Usually in the summer, nails and cuticles grow better and look better, but on 1st September, they start breaking off and deteriorating. I could set my watch by it!

This year, funnily enough, although we are well into September, I have suddenly got good, strong nails, and am trying really hard not to pick the cuticles. Not sure if this is due to hormones - I thought I was well past the menopause by now.

Haven't found the ultimate cure, but I do use nail oil and a hand-massage oil which I keep in the bathroom cupboard and beside my bed respectively. It has helped a little.

Keeping a pair of nail clippers really close at hand is also a better way of cutting off those snags, as you can do it so that there is nothing left to fiddle with. This is even more effective if you soak your fingertips first. I suppose there should be warnings about cutting too far into the cuticle, but I have never had any problems with that.

What I keep meaning to do is an old method I used to try in my teens which was to warm a small bowl of olive oil and soak my fingers in it, then cut off any threatening snaggy bits, then apply a thick layer of hand cream and cotton gloves. This just before bedtime - the warmth in bed then improves the effect.

Also apply a thick layer of hand cream under rubber gloves before washing up or cleaning with really hot water for the same effect.

The best cure must be some kind of psychological programming - telling yourself it's a disgusting habit or finding something else to fiddle with whenever you feel the urge.

As I've just noticed I'm doing it while reading through this post, obviously the very first step is to make yourself aware that you're doing it. If you're anything like me, you don't even notice it.

Good luck with breaking the habit. As an incentive, reward yourself with a nail care treatment when you've managed to get all 10 nails looking healthy and nice!

From and early age, I used to have perpetually ragged and bleeding cuticles because of the 'picking' habit. I can't really remember how or when I outgrew it, but I do take care to keep my cuticles soft as it's far more tempting to pick at them if they are hard and flaky. At my advanced age, I am now able to take pride in my hands and nails and enjoy doing my own manicure.

Good luck with breaking the habit retrolady. I sometimes do this and found special cuticle scissors made a good job of trimming dry bits. Also push back the cuticles after washing hands. I think it is when the cuticle sticks to the nail that it gets dry and split and we start to pick at it.

Thanks everyone. It helps to know I'm not into self-harm - it doesn't feel like that, but when I googled it that's what came up. I shall redouble my moisturising efforts, try to make myself more aware and sort out a manicure when I'm not ashamed of my fingers.

I stopped biting my nails about 20 years ago but I do bite my cuticles, particularly when I'm feeling anxious or depressed. The best thing is to try and keep occupied, I find.