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Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Ingrown Toenail (for Teenagers)
Description
If you have tenderness, redness, and swelling of skin around
the corner of the toenail on one of your big toes, you have
an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails are usually caused by
tight shoes (for example, cowboy boots) or improper cutting
of the toenails. They take several weeks to heal.
Home Care
- Soaking
Soak your foot twice a day in warm water and
antibacterial soap for 20 minutes. While the foot is
soaking, massage outward the swollen part of the
cuticle.
- Antibiotic ointment
If your cuticle is just red and irritated, an antibiotic
ointment is probably not needed. But if the cuticle
becomes swollen or oozes secretions, apply Neosporin
ointment (no prescription needed) five or six times a
day.
- Cutting off the corner of the toenail
The pain is caused by the corner of the toenail rubbing
against the raw cuticle. Therefore, your physician will
cut this corner off so that the irritated tissue can
heal more easily. Your physician needs to do this only
once. The main purpose of treatment is to help the nail
grow over the nail cuticle rather than get stuck in it.
Therefore, during soaks try to bend the corners of the
nail upward.
- Shoes
Wear sandals or go barefoot as much as possible to
prevent pressure on the toenail. When you must wear
closed shoes, protect the ingrown toenail as follows:
If the inner edge is involved, tape a foam pad between the
first and second toes to keep them from touching. If
the outer edge is involved, tape a foam pad to the outside
of the ball of the toe to keep the toenail from touching
the side of the shoe.
- Prevention
Prevent recurrences of the ingrown toenail by making
sure that your shoes are not too narrow. Get rid of any
pointed or tight shoes. After the cuticle is healed,
cut the toenails straight across, leaving the corners.
Don't cut the nails too short. Cut the nail weekly to
prevent pressure on the end of the nail, which can push
the corners into the skin. Also, after every shower or
bath, lift up the corners of the nail.
Call Your Physician Immediately If:
- You develop a fever.
- A red streak spreads beyond the toe.
Call Your Physician During Office Hours If:
- Any pus or yellow drainage is not cleared up after 48
hours of treatment.
- The cuticle has not totally healed in 2 weeks.
- You have other concerns or questions.
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