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Dermatophagia differs from excoriation disorder in that the repetitive motion affected persons partake in is the biting of the skin. [9] People who have dermatophagia can also be prone to infection as when they bite their fingers so frequently, they make themselves vulnerable to bacteria seeping in and causing infection.
Autophagia is the practice of biting/consuming one's body. It is a sub category of self-injurious behavior (SIB). [1] Commonly, it manifests in humans as nail biting and hair pulling. In rarer circumstances, it manifests as serious self mutilative behavior such as biting off one's fingers. [2] Autophagia affects both humans and non humans. [3]
Nail biting, also known as onychophagy or onychophagia, is an oral compulsive and unhygienic habit of biting one's fingernails. It is sometimes described as a parafunctional activity , the common use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating, or drinking.
There have been many different theories regarding the causes of excoriation disorder, including biological and environmental factors. [10]A common hypothesis is that excoriation disorder is often a coping mechanism to deal with elevated levels of turmoil, boredom, anxiety, or stress within the individual, and that the individual has an impaired stress response.
The self-injury begins with biting of the lips and tongue; as the disease progresses, affected individuals frequently develop finger biting and headbanging. [14] The self-injury can increase during times of stress. Self-harm is a distinguishing characteristic of the disease and is apparent in 85% of affected males. [15]
This type of scarring is considered one of the physical indicators of a mental illness, and Russell's sign is primarily found in patients with an eating disorder such as bulimia nervosa, purging disorder, or anorexia nervosa. It is almost always associated with eating disorders and is the most characteristic skin condition indicative of purging.
In more severe cases, the motions may become harmful to the individual, and may involve things such as ripping, tearing, or chewing at the skin around one's fingernails, lips, or other body parts to the point of bleeding. Psychomotor agitation is typically found in various mental disorders, especially in psychotic and mood disorders.
Trichophagia is a form of disordered eating in which persons with the disorder suck on, chew, swallow, or otherwise eat hair. [1] The term is derived from ancient Greek θρίξ, thrix ("hair") and φαγεῖν, phagein ("to eat"). [2]