The child's nails are cracked: the reasons for doing it, how to restore the plate

Parents carefully monitor the condition of their baby, catching any changes in its appearance. If the child's fingernails crack, this is often not paid due attention, considering such manifestations as a cosmetic defect. And very vain. Nails do not have nerve endings; nevertheless, their condition, like the condition of the skin, can warn about many problems related to the health of the child: from harmless and easily eliminated to serious violations, which only a doctor can cope with.

Content:

The causes of the bundle of nails

Why does the foliation of the nail plate occur in children

The causes of the bundle of nails

Nails are the derivatives of the epidermis, the thinnest horny plates, firmly fastened together. The keratin gives them a density, and the interlayers of water - elasticity and a healthy appearance. Under the influence of certain factors, a disruption of the homogeneous structure occurs, the scales are separated from one another, because of which moisture is lost. When the nails are layered, one can simultaneously observe their fragility, crumbling, brittleness and roughness of the surface.

Mechanical damage

To stratification most often lead to injury to the finger or directly to the nail plate. Injuries can be even insignificant. For example, when a child plays in a sandbox and collects sand with his hands, numerous small scratches are formed, as a result of which the nail scales become scarce, dirt gets under them, which leads to even greater foliation.

The common cause of nail polish on the legs is inappropriate footwear: tight or, on the contrary, too loose. In either case, friction occurs, the nail plate is damaged and begins to separate. Long-term wearing of shoes not in size can lead to deformation of the nail.

Lack of vitamins and minerals

If the nails of the child are intensively loose, pediatricians suggest that the cause is avitaminosis. In this case, they speak of a deficiency in the body of calcium and vitamin D , due to which it is absorbed, as well as iron, silicon, iodine and zinc.

The avitaminosis is indicated by a change in the color of the nails: they become brownish or yellow with white spots. In addition, they do not just break loose, but begin to break off. Other changes in appearance also attract attention: hair dulls, splits and breaks, falls out, the skin becomes tightened, it peels off , lips stick together .

Stratified nail plates in children

Nervous disorders

In itself, psychological discomfort does not affect the condition of the plate, but often children, experiencing any feelings or stress, sucking fingers or gnawing their nails. Associated symptoms are poor sleep, causeless crying, tantrums , problems with appetite. It should be remembered what changed in the mode and lifestyle of the child before the habit of pulling fingers into the mouth was noticed. Perhaps it's moving, starting a kindergarten , transferring to another school, quarreling in the family.

If you can not manage on your own, it's worth taking the child to a child psychologist. Often only a specialist is able to identify the problem and suggest its solution.

Fungal infection

The disease begins with the dissection of the nail plate, it turns yellow, there are growths. In neglected cases, it departs and disappears.

Fungal infections must be treated under the supervision of a doctor, medicines are prescribed only by a pediatrician. Not all the means that adults use are suitable for children, in any case, it is necessary to calculate the dosage. In addition, in severe disease, antimycotic drugs are given orally. If you ignore the complex treatment, the disease will give a relapse.

Fungal nail infection

The causes of fungal diseases in children often become non-compliance with hygiene. A rare change of socks and tights, synthetic clothing, the wearing of wet shoes, mittens lead to constant skin pricking, loosening of the nail plate. Bacteria and fungi easily penetrate into the hole.

Important: Symptoms of fungal infection of nails in children differ from its manifestations in an adult: the nail is not deformed so much, but to the touch it becomes rough. Develops subungual hyperkeratosis, because of what the plate thickens and breaks down.

If the child's nails are loose due to the fungus, the symptoms will be as follows:

uneven plate thickening;
Cuticle inflames and turns red;
the color changes, turns greenish, brown or yellow;
The nail plate softens, deforms.

Foliation and exfoliation with fungal infection can begin at any point, but more often it occurs at the base. In neglected cases, inflammation occurs, the finger turns red, it hurts, sometimes the temperature rises.

The sooner the fungus is diagnosed and treated, the faster and more successful it will be.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky on fungal infection

Lapping nails as an alarming symptom

The pediatrician Komarovsky EO draws attention to the fact that the condition of the nails often indicates the state of health and becomes a concomitant symptom of some diseases:

Improper diet or strict diet, which must be adhered to in diseases (for example, diabetes , disruptions in the endocrine system, celiac disease , etc.). But even with good and varied nutrition, this problem manifests itself quite often, especially in the spring (the so-called spring hypovitaminosis).
Lack of iron leads to anemia, which also affects the condition of the nails.
Diseases of the digestive tract. Often there is a violation of the assimilation of products. This may indicate helminthic invasion, dysbiosis and other digestive disorders. In this case, the external signs will add to the pain in the abdomen, nausea, upset of the stool.
Failures in the work of the organs of the endocrine system (thyroid gland, pituitary gland) lead to a slowing of metabolism, a violation of blood circulation. Blood is badly delivered to the plates, which means that nutrients and oxygen, from which the nails of the child begin to separate, become fragile. Issue this condition is always cold fingers and toes, blue hair. There is a lack of weight (hypotrophy), the child lags behind in growth from peers.
Stratification of marigolds is caused by intoxication of the body and is a secondary sign in some serious diseases and congenital pathologies (heart diseases, diabetes, lung diseases).

When eliminating the causes (improving nutrition, curing diseases), everything, as a rule, comes back to normal.

What to do if the child has nails

If the cause of delamination is not eliminated, starting treatment is meaningless, since only an external effect on the plate will bring only temporary results.

If a child gnaws his nails or even just sucks his fingers, it is worthwhile to try special varnishes (for example, Neskusika, Belweder Bitter Lacquer), very bitter to the taste, which help to wean your child from a bad habit. In some cases, it is advised to consult a psychologist, since such gestures are considered a manifestation of anxiety, which parents sometimes can not cope with.

The habit of gnawing nails becomes a frequent cause of their stratification

With a shortage of vitamins, you should reconsider the diet, enrich it with foods that contain zinc and iron in large amounts: broccoli, dairy and grain products. It will also help the reception of vitamin complexes, especially relevant in the winter-spring period (pikovit, multitabs, pregnavit, vita bears, complim and others). To select vitamins should also be combined with a doctor.

To eliminate the fungal infection use special ointments and drops. Antimycotic agents are prescribed by the doctor taking into account the age of the child, the general picture. Often dactarin ointment is prescribed, which can be used up to a year. Often it is prescribed together with the gel for oral administration (a quarter teaspoon to 4 times a day). Since the year, funds are allocated on the basis of miconazal (dactocine and miconazole), as well as antifungal drugs clotrimazole, ketoconazole, lamizil, fluconazole, lacer loceril.

Treatment takes from 2 to 4 months. Only after the full growth of a healthy plate can we talk about its success.

If the nail is severely damaged, it may be suggested that it be removed in a hospital setting. When growing healthy nails prescribed vitamin complexes and a special diet. Treatment with anti-mycotic drugs continues.

To prevent recurrence, it is advisable to disinfect the child's things (boil the laundry, handle shoes with special solutions).

Folk remedies

If a child has nails, folk medicine is used as a supplement to medicines and must be agreed with the pediatrician.

Baths as an effective remedy for foliation of the nail plate

Salt compositions for hands and feet

Salt has excellent bactericidal properties and is able to cope with virtually any infection. In addition, it strengthens the nails, promotes exfoliation. Salt is harmless, but when using it, proportions should be observed, since too concentrated solutions and formulations can lead to the erosion of the delicate skin of the baby.

Baths with sea salt

Dissolve in 5 liters of hot water 2 tbsp. l. sea salt, cool the solution to a temperature of 37-38 °, lower hands or feet. As the water cools down pour warm. If the nails are affected both on the hands and on the legs, it is better to prepare the baths 2 times so that the infection is not transferred from hand to foot and vice versa. Instead of water, it is allowed to use decoctions of herbs: chamomile, celandine, turns, oak bark (2 tablespoons brew in a glass of water and pour into a prepared saline solution).

Lotions of garlic and salt

Grate clove of garlic, squeeze the juice. In the resulting juice add 2 tsp. Saline solution (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water). Lubricate the nail plates with a cotton swab before going to bed, leave it overnight. Carry out procedures before recovery.

Oils in strengthening nails

To eliminate the external defect, regular lubrication of the marigolds with any cosmetic oil (peach, apricot, almond) will help, olive oil or flaxseed oil is also suitable. After applying it, rub in the plate for 20-30 seconds, after 10 minutes, hands can get wet with a napkin.

According to many mothers, it is well-suited for strengthening and securing the exfoliated scales oil solutions of vitamins A and E. You can buy Aevit in capsules and lubricate your nails with the contents of one capsule every evening.