Question
The mother of a 10-year-old girl inquired about her daughter’s frequent occurrence of ingrown nails on her fingers, which have been present for some time. The parents have not treated it and are worried it might be due to a lack of certain nutrients.
Answer
Ingrown nails are a common issue in children, usually caused by overly dry skin leading to cracks in the keratin layer. Deficiencies in vitamins B6 or C may exacerbate this condition. It is suggested to increase the intake of these vitamins and maintain clean and properly moisturized hands. If ingrown nails have already appeared, they can be carefully trimmed with nail clippers, but children should not be allowed to pull them out themselves to avoid infection. Additionally, parents should regularly wash their child’s hands and keep the hands dry. After each hand wash, they should be thoroughly dried.