TIP of the WEEK: Nail Care

Healthy nail care is an often overlooked aspect of life with PWS. Many of our kids have behaviors that involve picking at, and in some cases, completely removing, their finger and toe nails. Open and cracked (and absent) nails opens our kids up for infections that can be difficult to treat.

If your child has wounds around their nails be sure to keep them covered in the community to prevent infections. To help prevent openings use lotions and creams after showering and before bed to keep the skin soft and less enticing to pick. A great way to avoid the temptation to pick at these areas is to keep their hands busy during down times. Fidget toys and tactile tools are the perfect solution for bored hands!

Patrice Carroll is Latham Centers’ world-renowned Prader-Willi Syndrome specialist. She works with Latham Centers’ residents with PWS, their families and consultants, continuously learning and teaching about PWS best practices.