A team from the Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center reported that a gentle touch to the skin can help reduce nail biting when people feel stressed. The findings appeared in JAMA Dermatology.
The study enrolled 268 participants who experience trichotillomania, a condition where stress can trigger acts like pulling hair, biting nails, or chewing the inside of the cheeks. A control group was informed they were on a waiting list for treatment, while other participants learned to change their habits through guided communication and video-based coaching.
The intervention encouraged participants to replace self-harming actions with a light skin touch, such as softly rubbing the fingertips, the palms, or the backs of the hands, at least twice daily. Over six weeks, this approach reduced unwanted behaviors for 53 percent of those involved. Those who habitually bit their nails tended to experience the greatest gains. Overall, about 80 percent of those in the treatment group expressed satisfaction with the training, and around 86 percent would recommend it to others.
In some cases, clinicians combine medications like antidepressants or therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to help people with trichotillomania. The condition is estimated to affect roughly 5 percent of the global population, and these conventional treatments show effectiveness in about 30 to 50 percent of patients.
Researchers emphasize that this light-touch strategy offers a noninvasive option that can be used alongside standard care. It is particularly appealing for individuals seeking practical, low-cost strategies that fit into daily routines. The study highlights how small, repeatable actions can create meaningful shifts in behavior and reduce distress associated with trichotillomania.
As with any behavioral approach, outcomes can vary from person to person, and continuing support from healthcare providers remains important. The new results contribute to a growing body of evidence that simple sensory-focused techniques can complement existing treatments and help people regain more control over urges.
Beyond this specific condition, researchers are exploring how touch-based methods may aid other stress-related behaviors and compulsions. The ongoing work aims to clarify who benefits most from these strategies and how to integrate them into broader treatment plans in Canada and the United States.
Overall, the study adds to the understanding that practical, everyday actions can play a meaningful role in managing stress-induced behaviors. By pairing accessible self-help techniques with established medical and psychological treatments, patients may experience greater relief and improved quality of life.