How the Foot Doctors at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle in Treasure Valley Help Clear Up Your Child’s Painful Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails can make life difficult for children. Although simple cases are often treatable at home—without the need to see a doctor or make an appointment with your podiatrist—severe pain and the risk of infection can make intervention a matter of practical necessity.
Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle has spent years helping Caldwell and Meridian families keep their kids’ feet healthy. If your child displays symptoms of an infected or unusually troublesome ingrown toenail, contact us today to schedule an exam.
An Overview of Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail is a common foot condition caused by the corner or side of a nail expanding into the soft, surrounding skin. Although ingrown toenails can affect any toe on either foot, most cases involve the big toe.
People of all ages, shapes, and sizes get ingrown toenails. Here are the typical risk factors for this condition:
- Improper toenail trimming
- Injury to the toenail
- Poorly-fitted footwear
- Intense physical activity
- Excessively sweaty feet
Children—especially those who are active or fighting their way through a big growth spurt—are much more likely to experience ingrown toenails than adults. This condition can even become a recurring problem in some kids, appearing multiple times per year even after buying a new pair of shoes or having a long conversation about the right way to trim their nails.
Symptoms of an Ingrown Toenail
Older children can usually determine whether they have an ingrown toenail without an adult’s assistance. However, younger kids may struggle to identify the source of any foot-related discomfort—sometimes requiring that adults ask questions and take a close look before reaching a tentative diagnosis.
The most obvious symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:
- Pain and tenderness, especially around the edge of the affected toenail
- Noticeably inflamed skin
- Swelling
If left untreated, some ingrown toenails can develop unpleasant bacterial infections.
Treating an Ingrown Toenail at Home
If an ingrown toenail is diagnosed early, parents may be able to relieve or resolve symptoms by trying different at-home remedies. Common techniques include switching footwear, trimming nails straight across, and soaking the foot in a bucket of soapy, lukewarm water before applying an antibacterial ointment.
Preventing Ingrown Toenails from Coming Back
Although ingrown toenails can occur without any apparent explanation, many have clear-cut causes. Reduce your child’s risk for recurring problems by:
- Talking to your child about the right way to trim their toenails.
- Keeping nails at a moderate length and even with the tips of the toes.
- Paying close attention to growth spurts, and replacing shoes that become too tight or otherwise ill-fitting.
If an ingrown toenail is very painful or keeps coming back even after being successfully treated, you may need a podiatrist’s input to prevent further complications.
