Feet are fascinating. They are complex structures that help us balance and propel us forward with every step. Caring for our feet is vital to ensure healthy development, and a life free from pain. However, there are a variety of issues that can develop if we don’t maintain healthy behaviours towards our feet and one of those painful responses could be ingrown toenails. If you are interested to read more on the subject of maintaining healthy behaviours, then please read this blog specifically on caring for your children’s feet.
Ingrown toenails are exactly what the name suggests: it’s when the edge of the toenail cuts in to the skin next to it. The skin is soft and easy for the hard nail to penetrate and this can cause redness, swelling and pain. Some people can be prone to ingrown toenails, if their nail naturally grows in a curved shape, but more often ingrown toenails are a result of incorrectly cutting toenails in a round shape, as opposed to straight across. Another cause for irregular nail growth could be a foot an injury. However, the most frequent reason for ingrown toenails is wearing shoes that are too tight for the shape of the foot, squeezing and putting permanent pressure on the toes.
An ingrown toenail can be seen visually by spotting redness and swelling around the toe. The redness can be tender to touch and someone with an ingrown toenail will highly likely complain of pain in their toe. If undetected the toe can become infected and this will be indicated by warmth around the swelling and puss forming. In more extreme cases the person might run a fever.
If you are questioning if your child has an ingrown toenail but they are unable to tell you for themselves, then look for swelling and redness around the toenail as this would be the first indication that the nail could be ingrown. There could be other visual symptoms that your child is in pain, such as walking with a limp or walking a little differently than their usual style. It’s important to check your children’s feet and the shoes that they are wearing if you notice any difference in their walking style as these slight alterations will send signals to the brain that something is wrong and the brain can compensate for the change. This compensation could affect the child’s development.
It is possible to treat an ingrown nail yourself with some careful management. First cleanse and submerge the skin in warm salty water to keep the area clean and to soften the nail. While the nail is softened, gently lift it from the skin and place a small piece of dental floss, or cotton under the nail to help direct it to grow above the skin. Ensure that your feet are completely dry afterwards. If the symptoms and pain persist and you develop further swelling or puss, then it is time to consult your GP for further treatment. They will be able to treat the infection and might refer you to a podiatrist to treat the ingrown nail.
Ingrown toenails can often reoccur and the key to managing this is the shape of the nail. A nail curved down the side is more likely to become ingrown. In very few cases, a podiatrist might be required to treat a recurring ingrown nail with a level of nail removal. This would be a permanent solution. A podiatrist can help you to treat recurrence and will be able to give you advice on managing your foot health.
A key measure to ensure that your child is not prone to ingrown toenails is to ensure that they are wearing correctly fitting shoes, where the toebox is an appropriate shape and width for their foot. Children wear school shoes for six hours hours or more each day, so their school shoes are critically important to maintain good foot health and healthy development. Our Start-Rite school shoes are designed to nurture and protect developing feet and come in multi-width fittings so toes will never feel cramped. Styles like Luke, Elevate and Glisten have a rounded toe box shape with breathable linings that absorb moisture, to keep busy, energetic feet comfortable all day.
If you have an ingrown nail it is important not to ignore it. It is highly unlikely to go away without any intervention and it might become infected if left alone, which will most certainly require treatment from a GP.
If you would like more information on why it is so important to look after your children’s feet, then please read our blog on children’s foot health and development.
