Ingrown toenails typically occur in children resulting from the nails being trimmed incorrectly. It’s important that proper trimming techniques are learned, which may prevent the painful condition of ingrown toenails. Additional causes may include wearing shoes that fit poorly, a nail becoming damaged resulting from a toe injury which may cause the new nail to grow incorrectly, or not maintaining proper foot health. If your child complains of pain around the toe area, it’s important to notice if there is redness and swelling indicating inflammation of the affected toe, liquid resembling pus coming from the nail, or possibly an unpleasant odor. There are simple preventative options that can be practiced, which may include wearing shoes that fit correctly, trimming the nails straight across the toe, and avoiding stress injuries such as repeatedly kicking a ball. For severe ingrown toenails surgery may be necessary for the partial or entire removal of the nail. A consultation with a podiatrist is strongly recommended if your child is afflicted with this ailment..
Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Jeffrey Wachtel of Wachtel Family Foot Care. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.
Causes
- Bacterial infections
- Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
- Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
- Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
- Genetic predisposition
Prevention
Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.
Treatment
Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Lansdale, PA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
Read more about Ingrown Toenail Care
