Which lesion is associated with nail biting?

The lesion associated with nail biting is excoriation. This type of lesion occurs when the skin is scratched or rubbed off, often resulting in an open sore or abrasion. When individuals chew on their nails, they can inadvertently cause damage to the surrounding skin, leading to these excoriated areas. This behavior is known as onychophagia, and it can lead to inflamed, irritated skin around the nails and potentially introduce infection if the skin barrier is broken.

Fissures refer to deep splits or cracks in the skin, which are not specifically tied to nail biting behavior. Cysts are closed pockets of tissue that can form under the skin, and they are not a direct result of nail biting. Maculae are flat, discolored spots on the skin, usually without texture changes; they also do not connect directly to the act of biting nails. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why excoriation is the proper answer in this context.