If the baby has slowed down or even stopped nails growth, this is an occasion to consult a doctor, so that he determined the cause of this pathology and prescribed the proper treatment. So the sooner you show your baby to the pediatrician, the easier it will be to return the child’s health to normal.
Nails are made of numerous layers dead keratin protein cells, which resemble hair and skin cells. The tough part of the nail, called the nail plate, secures the sensitive skin beneath, called the nail bed. The product that comprises the nail plate is formed in the matrix, located under the cuticle. Inning accordance with the American Academy of Dermatology, fingernails grow an average 2 or 3 millimeters per month, while toenails grow about 1 millimeter each month. Many factors influence how fast baby nails may grow.
Your fingernails grow gradually — in fact, they grow about one tenth of an inch (2.5 millimeters) every month. At that rate it can take about 3 to 6 months to completely change a nail.
What Can Cause the Nails to Stop Growing on a Child?
Age
The speed of nail development modifications throughout a person’s lifetime. Infant nails grow more slowly than adult nails, but children’s nails grow more quickly than those of adults. Nails have the tendency to grow the fastest in between the ages of 10 and 14. After that, development begins to slow, and continues to slow with age.
Place
Toenails grow more gradually than fingernails, and the development rate of each fingernail likewise varies. The nail on the pinky finger grows the slowest. The thumbnail also grows relatively slowly. On the majority of people, the nails on the main and middle fingers grow the fastest. In general, the distinction in development is quite small, and is determined in tenths of a millimeter.
Handedness can also impact nail growth, so the nails on your dominant hand grow faster than those on the non-dominant hand. Furthermore, individuals who use their hands a lot every day have the tendency to have faster nail development than individuals who do not use their hands much.
Season
The weather can impact nail development. Nails grow quicker in warm weather than they carry out in cold weather.
Hormonal agents
The American Academy of Dermatology explains that a hormone imbalance can cause nails to grow more slowly. Nevertheless, hormones can impact nail development in healthy people also. For example, women tend to experience faster nail development during pregnancy and slower nail growth during lactation. Women also may experience more rapid nail development right before menstruation begins.
Cutting
Cutting your nails causes them to grow a little more quickly. Nail-biting also makes nails grow quicker. Compulsive nail-biting, however, can lead to infection or completely harm the nail and nail bed, which might cause a nail to stop growing.
Health
The condition and growth rate of the nails can be a sign of a health condition. The American Academy of Dermatology states yellow nails may indicate diabetes, while yellowing thick nails that grow gradually might be a symptom of a lung condition. Nail growth might also be slowed by poor flow.
Question to Expert
What would cause a child’s fingernails to stop growing? I understand this is the sort of issue only a hypervigilant parent would observe, however my 8 year old’s nails haven’t needed a cutting in as long as I can remember, and she does not bite them. Why might this be? Could her development have stopped for some reason?
Answer
Fingernail growth is an extremely slow procedure that can vary a fair bit depending on several triggers. Typically nails grow about 2-3 millimeters monthly. This is a tiny amount, and hence fingernails can go a whole month without being cut.
Nevertheless, if your child’s fingernails had not been trimmed in a month, you would undoubtedly see 2 millimeters of development. Nail growth can decrease in the winter season, with a bad diet, or with specific toxic substances. Nail development that stops seldom happens other than when chemotherapy representatives are being used to fight cancer. Before searching for a few of these causes of sluggish or no nail development, I would make sure that his nails are not being torn off while playing outside.
Statistically, it is more likely his nails are getting cut or worn down, but have regular growth. I recommend that you arrange an appointment with your boy’s pediatrician and bring up this problem with him or her. If his fingernails are indeed not growing at all, then a comprehensive evaluation of his diet and a complete physical examination will be necessary. Referral to a specialist will depend on if a cause of his slow nail growth is identified.