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I have habit-tic deformity. How to get rid of this problem?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 33 year old male. My weight is 141.09 Ibs and my height is 5'5". I am having a peculiar problem, and upon a lot of research on the internet, I found out that it is a habit-tic deformity. I have had horizontal ripples on my right thumb for nearly three years. I recently started observing the same in another finger. I had a bad habit of picking the skin on my fingers and biting and clipping off nails, but now I have stopped all those. Still, nail deformation is a problem for me. I have attached photos of mine for clarity. Could you please help me with how can I get rid of this problem? I am taking general multivitamin supplements and Biotin 5000 mcg vegetarian soft gel.

Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Suvash Sahu

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvash Sahu is a skilled Cosmetologist and Dermatologist with two decades of experience in skin health and aesthetics. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of dermatological conditions while offering advanced cosmetic procedures to enhance appearance. With his expertise, he combines medical care and aesthetic solutions, focusing on achieving healthy skin, restoring confidence, and improving overall quality of life for his patients.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I have read your concern and examined your picture (attachment removed to protect patient identity). It seems you have developed a longitudinal furrow of the nail plate due to habit-tic (constant stroking or picking nails). This nail deformity is also known as onychodystrophia mediana canaliformis. It is due to the nervous tic of pushing back the cuticle and the proximal nail fold of the thumb with the index finger. You need to change your habit and go for yoga or heartfulness exercises. I suggest you tablet Xtraglo once daily in place of plain Biotin after consulting your GP or nearby dermatologist.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

Here are a couple of follow-up questions to my last query:

  1. How long do I have to use Xtraglo? I am living abroad at this point so I will be happy if there is any other drug or tablet that you can suggest in place of Xtraglo.
  2. Based on your experience, will a tablet alone be enough, or do I need to apply any gel or solution externally? If so, please suggest gel as well.
  3. I work out daily in the gym (doing cardio, etc.) instead of yoga, and I wanted to understand how my nail problem is related to yoga or workout.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Suvash Sahu

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvash Sahu is a skilled Cosmetologist and Dermatologist with two decades of experience in skin health and aesthetics. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of dermatological conditions while offering advanced cosmetic procedures to enhance appearance. With his expertise, he combines medical care and aesthetic solutions, focusing on achieving healthy skin, restoring confidence, and improving overall quality of life for his patients.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You have to take Xtraglo for around five to six months. There are no exact combination tablets in abroad in place of Xtraglo, but you can use a combination having biotin, L-methionine, and L-cysteine. Since this is a self-created defect, it is not a disease so only oral nail supplements are sufficient, you can use Xerina lotion twice, it is a moisturizing lotion. Physical exercise some time is not enough to change your habits. Yoga or heartfulness exercises makes you calm, and restrict your body movements for a certain moment, which may help you control of your habit

I hope this information will help you.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At April 28, 2017
Reviewed At October 25, 2024

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvash Sahu is a skilled Cosmetologist and Dermatologist with two decades of experience in skin health and aesthetics. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of dermatological conditions while offering advanced cosmetic procedures to enhance appearance. With his expertise, he combines medical care and aesthetic solutions, focusing on achieving healthy skin, restoring confidence, and improving overall quality of life for his patients.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvash Sahu is a skilled Cosmetologist and Dermatologist with two decades of experience in skin health and aesthetics. He specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of dermatological conditions while offering advanced cosmetic procedures to enhance appearance. With his expertise, he combines medical care and aesthetic solutions, focusing on achieving healthy skin, restoring confidence, and improving overall quality of life for his patients.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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