Ingrown toenails are more common in adults because toenails thicken as you age, but some kids tend to be prone to them. Nails should grow straight out but sometimes the sides of the nail curve down and grow into the skin, causing an ingrown nail. Ingrown nails usually occur on the big toe and are quite painful. If untreated, they also can lead to an infection and sometimes, an abscess, which requires surgery.
To prevent ingrown toenails, you should:
- Cut the toenails straight across.
- Wear shoes that aren’t too tight.
If you or your child gets an ingrown toenail:
- Clean the affected toe and soak it in warm salt water a few times a day. It may take a while to see improvement.
- See a dermatologist if the nail seems to worsen. Treatment might include:
o Placing a splint between the nail and the skin
o Cutting away some of the skin or nail
o Surgery to drain the infection and remove the problem tissue, if the case is extreme
o Using a chemical, lasers or freezing to destroy the cells that make that part of the nail grow, if the problem keeps recurring
o Prescribing an antibiotic if there is an infection.
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