A HOSPITAL is warning parents about the dangers of fake nails on children.

The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead saw a significant increase in admissions of children aged 12 and under who had been injured as a result of their acrylic nails.

The injuries included catching the nails while playing, trapping them in doors and pulling, snapping or trapping the nail, causing the actual nail underneath to be ripped off.

As a result, many of these children needed surgery to repair their damaged nail bed.

Nora Nugent, a consultant plastic surgeon at the hospital, said: “ “Repairing a damaged nail bed 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 as it is much safer and save them from potentially having an operation.”

A spokesman from the hospital also warned of the dangers of the nails.

They said: “Unlike adults, children will be less conscious of minding their nails during play and what could happen if they catch them.”