Childrens' Ingrown Toenails

What causes an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail can have a number of different causes. Cutting your toenail too short or rounding the edge of the nail can cause it to grow incorrectly and into the skin. Wearing shoes or socks that don't fit well can also cause an irritation and develop into an ingrown toenail. If your shoes are too tight, they might press the nail into the toe and cause it to grow into the skin.You can get an ingrown toenail if you injure your toe, such as stubbing it. This can cause the nail to grow inward. Repeative activties such as running, soccer, basketball, and or tennis may aggravate toenails and led to ingrown toenails.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of an ingrown toenail is the pain from the nail growing into the skin instead of over it. If the ingrown toenail gets infected, it might be swollen or red, and it might drain pus. The area around the ingrown toenail is often painful.
The most common symptoms are the following:

Swelling
Redness
Pus collection
Pain and tenderness to touch

How is an ingrown toenail diagnosed?

Your podiatrist will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and an evaluation of the toenail.

How is it treated?

You can try the following steps at home to relieve the pain caused by your ingrown toenail and help the nail to grow out naturally:

It is best to see a podiatrist to manage an ingrown toenail.

To help control pain until you can see a podiatrist you may soak your sore toe in warm water for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times a day.

Do not use a sharp object like manicure scissors to dig under your nail, because the toe might get infected.

Do not try to use a needle to drain the pus from your toe. This could make the infection worse.
Your doctor might give you antibiotics. If your toenail is very ingrown, your doctor might suggest minor surgery to remove all or part of the ingrown nail.

During this surgery, the doctor will numb your toe. Then he or she will cut the edge of the ingrown toenail and pull out the piece of nail. To prevent the nail from growing into the skin again, your doctor might destroy all or part of the nail root. If your doctor removes all or part of your nail but does not destroy the root, it will begin to grow back within a few months.

After the surgery it is important to take care of your toe so that it can heal. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow. He or she may tell you to:

Soak your toe in warm water with soaking crystals for 15 minutes 2 to 3 times each day.
Rub antibiotic ointment 2 times each day on the toe where the nail was removed.
Wear a bandaid on your toe.
Wear loose-fitting shoes that don't press on the toe where the nail was removed.
Take pain medicine if your toe hurts. NSAIDS, ibuprofen (such as Advil), or naproxen sodium (such as Aleve), might help your toe feel better.

How can ingrown toenails be prevented?

You may be able to prevent ingrown toenails by wearing roomy and comfortable shoes and socks that do not press on your toes. If you work in a place where your toe might get hurt, wear sturdy shoes such as steel-toed boots to protect your toes.
It is important to trim your toenails properly. You can do this by cutting your toenail straight across, not curved. Make sure you do not cut your toenail too short. You can also leave your toenail a little longer at the corners to help it grow over the skin.