Question
My son has recently been frequently sucking his fingers and biting his nails. I don’t know what the cause is. Are there any medications that can treat this?
Answer
Correcting a child’s habit of biting nails usually involves psychological therapy and behavioral correction, focusing on patient persuasion and encouragement. Parents should pay attention to their child’s mental state and eliminate factors that cause the child to be tense. At the same time, guide the child to participate in recreational activities and interact with friends to distract their attention from their nails. Parents should maintain patience and confidence, avoiding corporal punishment or loud scolding, and not forcibly pulling out the child’s fingers, as these actions may worsen the habit of nail-biting. Cultivate good hygiene habits in children, regularly trim their nails, and explain to older children the dangers of nail-biting.