Dealing with Ingrown Toenails in Children

Sometimes ingrown toenails in children form because they cut their nails too short or wear shoes and socks that are too tight. Children can avoid this condition by trimming their toenails in a straight line and not shearing off too much of the nail. They should also wear shoes that fit them well. It’s especially important for kids to have footwear that’s wide enough for their feet. If an ingrown toenail does develop, mitigate some of the pain by soaking the toe in warm water and gently massaging it. However, the best thing to do is seek treatment by a doctor as soon as possible, or it could cause an infection.

No matter what age you are, ingrown toenails are painful and unpleasant. Keep reading to learn about the causes of ingrown toenails and some ways you can treat them at home.

Common Causes of Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.
There are a number of risk factors for ingrown toenails. Some include cutting your nails too short, participating in strenuous sports, diabetes, obesity, and fungal infection. Some are genetically predisposed to ingrown nails, although wearing ill-fitting or damp shoes can exacerbate the problem.

Ingrown Toenail Treatments

There are a number of steps you can take to treat ingrown nails.

• Let the toenails grow out
• Soak the toes in hot water with antibiotic soap or Epsom salts
• Placing a piece of cotton under the affected nail may allow the toe to grow up instead of into the nail bed
• Rest with the feet up

If however, the pain is severe, or you see red streaks running up the leg, you should see a podiatrist. Your podiatrist may make a small incision and remove part of the toe nail to relieve the pressure. A local anesthetic may be used to lessen the discomfort of the operation. The podiatrist may also prescribe a topical medication to prevent the regrowth of the problem nail.

If you have any questions please contact one of the best podiatrists in Livonia, MI. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.