Question about nail picking?

For as long as I can remember, I have always picked (Not bite) at my nails and the skin around it, even untill there was nothing left to pick at. I do it so much that now I dont even know when I'm doing it. I read an article about how skin picking and nail biting and hair pulling is a serious disease, and now I'm scared. I have always been ashamed to show my hands for the fact that they are like torn to shreds, but I didnt know it was that serious. I told my dad and he just said everyone does it once in awhile and it just takes a couple weeks to break the habbit. What can I do to stop? I hate having to show my hands to people for the fact that they are red and even bleeding sometimes, and I dont think my dad understood how serious I was about breaking this habbit.

See your doctor, and tell him you have an:
obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially for teenagers or
younger children, and can lead to disfigurement or serious
infection.
Studies show around 45% of adolescents nibble their nails.
A treatment relies on a tooth guard molded to fit either the
upper or the lower teeth. Barely visable.
The "preventer" makes it impossible to bite. But it can be
removed for eating.
After four weeks, The impulse disturbance is so
"frustrated" that it is controlled. You don't have the problem
anymore. Good Luck.
Print out this page and show it to your doctor. <}:-})