In the lead up to the festive party season, experts at Queen Victoria Hospital are warning parents of the danger of acrylic nails on children.
This summer the hospital’s paediatric ward saw a significant increase in admissions of children aged 12 years and under who had sustained traumatic and painful nail bed injuries as a result of either catching their acrylic nails whilst playing or trapping their fingers in doors due the longer nails. The children managed to pull, snap or trap their acrylic nail, ripping off their own nail underneath, requiring them to have surgery to repair the damaged nail bed.
With the lure of time off school for the Christmas holidays and upcoming parties, the hospital’s experts want parents to dissuade their children from having artificial nails. Unlike adults, children will be less conscious of minding their nails during play and what could happen if they catch them.
Nora Nugent, consultant plastic surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, said: “Repairing a damaged nailbed when the nail has been traumatically removed requires a surgical procedure. Once the nail bed has been repaired and any nail remnants removed, the patient has to have a dressing in place for two weeks to help maximise the chances of a new nail growing successfully, but there are no guarantees. We would advise children to use nail varnish in place of artificial nails – it is much safer, can be just as fun and colourful, and save them from potentially having an operation.”
Caption: painted nails are much safer explain consultant plastic surgeons
For more information please contact the QVH Press Office on 01342 414508.
FAQs
One more fad of which we need to be aware is acrylic fingernails. These seemingly benign fashion statements have troublesome side effects. Cases of infection, dermatitis, and disrupted growth of the nail bed have all been reported.
Why does the CDC not recommend acrylic nails? ›
Science shows that short, unpolished nails and those with intact, standard polish are generally the safest. Meanwhile, artificial nails and gel manicures harbor bacteria and are difficult to clean effectively. This makes them bacterial breeding grounds.
What age can a child get acrylic nails? ›
The National Occupational Standards recommend that any person under the age of 16 needs a parent or guardians written consent and they need to be accompanied by an adult for the appointment. Your insurer will have a view on this, and it will usually be in line with the NOS.
How toxic are acrylic nails? ›
Nail products including acrylic nail liquids can cause dermatitis and allergic reactions. These can contain ethyl methacrylate (EMA) which is less hazardous than using methyl methacrylate (MMA). Products containing MMA are not recommended for nail services.
Can acrylic nails harm my baby? ›
The main concern is that a small amount of the chemicals involved may make their way into the body. But at “normal” levels of exposure, it is unlikely that the chemicals enter the bloodstream or affect the developing fetus.
Is there bacteria under acrylic nails? ›
Bacterial infections aren't as common as fungal infections, but people with artificial fingernails tend to be more prone to developing bacterial nail infections than people without fake nails. Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci bacteria are two of the most common causes of bacterial nail infections.
Why are fake nails not allowed in hospitals? ›
Artificial fingernail enhancements contribute to nail changes that can increase the risk of colonization and transmission of pathogens to patients. Outbreaks of infections have been traced to the artificial fingernails of health care workers. For those reasons they are prohibited for anyone having patient contact.
Why are acrylic nails banned? ›
Methyl methacrylate is used as cement in dentistry, orthopedic surgery and ophthalmology. After receiving complaints of injury associated with the use of artificial nails containing MMA in the 1970s, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) removed products containing 100% MMA from the market.
Are acrylics safe for toddlers? ›
Acrylic paint is best used on paper, wood, and canvases. Though acrylic paints labeled “non-toxic” are safe, it's best that young toddlers stick to other craft paints. As toddlers tend to put their fingers in their mouths, choosing one of the previously mentioned paint types would be a safer choice altogether.
Can my 5 year old get gel nails? ›
Kids under the age of 12 should not use gel polish without adult supervision. When using gel polish on your child, make sure to follow the instructions carefully. This will ensure that the polish is applied and removed properly, without causing any damage to your child's nails. And don't forget to have fun with it!
Polish should be of a light colour to enable visual checks of cleanliness under the nail edge. Length must be considered, to ensure practicality and use, poising no danger of scratching or catching a child accidentally. Acrylic /gel / false nails must not have embellish- ments attached that could fall off.
What are the symptoms of acrylic nail poisoning? ›
Ethyl methacrylate (EMA), (artificial nail liquid): asthma; irritated eyes, skin, nose, and mouth; difficulty concentrating. Exposures while pregnant may affect your child.
Why shouldn't you get acrylic nails? ›
Frequent touch-ups can seriously damage your natural nails. In short, artificial nails can leave your nails thin, brittle, and parched.
How to tell if acrylic is MMA? ›
How do you know if a product contains MMA?
- MMA is listed as an active ingredient on the product label.
- It has a strong irritating chemical odour that does not smell like other acrylic liquids.
- The product sets much harder, feels less flexible and is very difficult to file using a nail file.
Gel polish for fragile baby nails can be dangerous. From what time can you make gel polish? The optimal age is over 16 years old, when the nail plates reach parameters sufficient for applying a durable and hard coating.
Can kids use fake nails? ›
The liquid and powder are just too strong for a child's hands and surrounding skin. Not to even mention getting fills or having a nail break. Ugh…just no. Don't allow it.
Is nail art safe for kids? ›
To ensure the nail-painting experience is safe, we need to know what's in the nail polish. Some polishes have the ingredient like formaldehyde and toluene that aren't friendly to kids. This chemical might cause allergies or skin problems, so it's best to avoid them.
