Children are susceptible in developing ingrown toenails in their feet for a myriad of reasons. One of the main ways a child can get an ingrown toenail is by cutting his or her nails too short. To prevent such an occurrence, cut their nails evenly and be sure not to trim them down too much. Ingrown nails may also occur if a child wears socks and shoes that do not adequately cover his or her feet.

Other cases of ingrown toenails can simply be caused by a genetic predisposition to curved nails. No matter how the ingrown toenail was caused, do not attempt to treat this condition at home. Removing an ingrown nail with a “bathroom surgery” can lead to a bacterial infection.

Ingrown toenails are terribly uncomfortable, and in the worst cases surgery might be required to get rid of them. If you think you have an ingrown toenail, consult podiatrist Dr. Genine Befumo of University Foot & Ankle Center. Dr. Befumo will confirm your diagnosis and do everything she can to treat your problem.

Ingrown Toenails Causes
Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

There are a number of risk factors for ingrown toenails. Some include cutting your nails too short, participating in strenuous sports, diabetes, obesity, and fungal infection. Some are genetically predisposed to ingrown nails, although wearing ill-fitting or damp shoes can exacerbate the problem.

Treatment
There are a number of steps you can take to treat ingrown nails:

-Let your toenails grow out
-Soak the toes in hot water with antibiotic soap or Epsom salts
-Placing a piece of cotton under the affected nail may allow the toe to grow up instead of into the nail bed
-Rest with your feet up

If however, your pain is severe, or you see red streaks running up your leg, you should see a podiatrist. Your podiatrist may make a small incision and remove part of the toe nail to relieve the pressure. A local anesthetic may be used to lessen the discomfort of the operation.  Topical medication may also be prescribed to prevent the regrowth of the problem nail.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our offices in East Brunswick and Monroe, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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