East Coast Podiatry
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Last Updated: 16 Nov 2021

Ingrown Toenails in Children

An ingrown nail occurs when the edges of a nail become embedded under the surrounding skin. This often results in:

  • Irritation
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Inflammation

Ingrown toenails can happen in children of any age and are most likely to develop on the big toe. In some situations, other toenails and fingernails may be affected as well, although cases of ingrown fingernails are rare.

Infection can occur in the wound due to skin breakages caused by sharp nail edges. If inadequate treatment is given, ingrown toenails are highly likely to recur and an infection may create severe complications if it spreads to the surrounding soft tissues, blood stream, or bones.

Ingrown Toenails May Be Caused By:

  • Improperly trimmed nails leaving a spike at the corner
  • Crowding of toes due to tight footwear
  • Trauma to the feet
  • Poor nail picking habits
  • Growth and development of the child

Once an ingrown nail breaks the skin, the wound will not heal properly unless the spike is removed and the infection is treated.

Contact us if you have any questions or make an appointment with a podiatrist to assess your child’s ingrown toenail. We will recommend the best mode of treatment and suggest prevention methods to reduce the occurrence of future ingrown toenails.

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