New School Shoes, Sore Toes? Why September Can Trigger Ingrown Toenails

September always seems to bring the same problem into the clinic, sore, painful toes after children go back to school.

All summer they have been in sandals, sliders, trainers or barefoot around the house, and then suddenly they are back in school shoes for most of the day.

For some children, this is when an ingrown toenail starts to become a problem.

“It Was Fine All Summer…”

A common story we hear at Foot Corner is:

“My child’s toe was absolutely fine during the summer, but since going back to school it has become really sore.”

At first, parents often think it is just the new shoes rubbing.

They leave it for a few days hoping the shoes will soften.

But instead, the toe becomes more painful.

It may start to look red or swollen, and sometimes the child will begin avoiding football, PE or certain shoes because it hurts too much.

When we examine the toe, we often find that the edge of the nail is starting to press into the skin.

This is an ingrown toenail.

There are lots of reasons a toenail can become ingrown.

Sometimes it is simply the shape of the nail.

Some nails are naturally very curved and grow into the skin at the sides.

Other times it can be caused by pressure from shoes, especially if the toe box is a little narrow or the child’s feet have grown.

Children’s feet can grow quickly, so shoes that fitted perfectly only a few months ago may already be starting to feel tight.

Football boots can also be a problem because there can be repeated pressure and trauma to the big toenails.

And one of the biggest causes we see is how the nail has been cut.

When a toenail starts to hurt, it is very tempting to cut the corner out.

We completely understand why people do it.

You can sometimes get instant relief.

The problem is that if the nail is cut too far down the side, a tiny sharp piece of nail can be left behind.

As the nail grows, that little spike can start digging into the skin again.

Then it becomes sore.

So you cut it again.

It feels better.

Then it grows back.

And the whole cycle starts again.

We see this all the time.

If your child starts complaining about a sore toe, have a quick look rather than leaving it for too long.

You may notice:

• Redness around the side of the nail
• Swelling
• Pain when the toe is touched
• Pain when wearing shoes
• The nail appearing to disappear into the skin
• Bleeding or discharge
• Your child avoiding sport because the toe hurts

The earlier we see an ingrown toenail, the easier it can sometimes be to manage.

What Can We Do at Foot Corner?

The first thing we do is have a good look at the nail and work out why it is hurting.

Sometimes the problem is very simple.

There may just be a small piece of nail pressing into the skin which we can carefully remove.

For many patients, taking that pressure away can make the toe feel much more comfortable very quickly.

We can then advise you on how to cut the nails, what footwear to look for and how to hopefully stop the problem coming back.

But some ingrown toenails are a little more stubborn.

They keep returning again and again.

“We Keep Cutting It Out, But It Keeps Coming Back”

If this sounds familiar, it may be worth considering nail surgery.

I know the words nail surgery can sound quite scary, especially when we are talking about a child or teenager.

But it is actually a procedure we carry out regularly at Foot Corner.

The toe is completely numbed with local anaesthetic first.

In many cases, we only need to remove the small section of nail that keeps causing the problem and not the whole toenail.

We can then treat the nail root so that troublesome section is much less likely to grow back.

Once everything has healed, the nail usually just looks slightly narrower.

Most importantly, the aim is to stop that repeated cycle of pain.

A Few Simple Things Parents Can Do

Try to make sure school shoes have plenty of room around the toes.

Shoes should not squeeze the toes together.

Keep checking the fit because children's feet can grow faster than we realise.

When cutting toenails, try not to cut them too short and avoid digging deeply down the sides.

And if your child plays a lot of football or sport, keep an eye on their big toenails.

Sometimes children put up with discomfort for quite a while before mentioning it.

One thing I would always say is don't ignore an ingrown toenail and hope it will disappear.

Sometimes it will settle.

But sometimes it gradually gets worse until the toe becomes very painful, swollen or infected.

If you are unsure, it is always better to have someone take a look.

At Foot Corner in Ashford, Surrey, we see ingrown toenails in children, teenagers and adults regularly.

Sometimes the solution is very simple.

And if something more needs to be done, we can talk you through all the options and decide together what is best.

If you or your child has a painful or recurring ingrown toenail, please contact Foot Corner to book an appointment.

We will be happy to take a look and help get you comfortable again.