Medical Care:

Treatment options depend on the stage of ingrown toenails, medically known as onychocryptosis.

Stage 1 can be managed by recommending shoes with a comfortable wide toe box or open-toed shoes. Instruct the patient's parents to cut the nail straight across and avoid cutting back the lateral margins. The nail edge should extend past the tissue.

Stage 2 can be treated by stretching the soft tissue away from the side of the nail, elevating the offending edge of nail from the soft tissue, and placing a small pledget of cotton under the nail edge to lift it back into the nail grove. Instruct patients with stage 2 ingrown nails on how to perform this treatment. Parents should also be instructed to have the child rest, keep the foot elevated, and use warm soaks.

Stage 3 should be treated by removing the nail margin as described in