Healthy Nail Care Habits for Your Child

Nails do take a beating, so it’s important to teach your child how to keep them clean and healthy and make sure germs don’t creep in and cause infections. Following are some tips for good nail care:

• Keep nails short, using a nail clipper or small nail scissors to cut them in the shape of the fingertip. In other words, cut them almost straight across, but round a little at the tips to keep them strong. Toenails should be cut straight across, which reduces the chance of ingrown nails. When trimming nails, it helps to follow these guidelines:
  • Use a file or emery board to help get rid of those sharp edges, so the nails don’t tear.
  • Don’t cut or push back the cuticles, which protect the nail root.
  • Cut nails after a bath or shower, when they’re softer.
  • Explain to your child that shorter nails are cleaner if he or she complains about nail clipping. Shorter nails are less likely to collect germs that can make your child sick and also less likely to break.
  • Clip your child’s nails until he or she reaches about age 9 or 10. They can do it on their own if they feel comfortable after that.
• Dry hands really well after washing them or getting them wet. Wet nails can breed infection.
• Rub lotion on the fingernails regularly, especially when the air is dry. That helps keep them from splitting easily.
• Eat plenty of foods with protein and vitamin B7 (biotin), such as meat, fish, milk, walnuts, almonds and eggs. This keeps nails healthy and strong.
• Change socks daily. Dirty socks can lead to toenail infections.
• Wear flip flops at the pool or when using a public shower. Fungal infections spread easily in this moist environment, and can cause toenail problems.
• Limit nail-polish remover use to twice a month, because it can dry out or damage the nails. Avoid using nail polish removers that contain acetone, which is especially hard on nails.
• Don’t wear tight shoes that can cramp toes and result in ingrown toenails.

Children’s nails usually are pretty healthy, but some health problems can show up in nails, so it’s important to take good care of them and to look at them from time to time. If something about your child’s nails doesn’t look right, take your child to the dermatologist.

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