If you are prone to ingrown toenails, you may be worried about passing on the painful and disruptive condition to your children. While there is no direct hereditary cause of ingrown toenails and they aren’t a hereditary condition you can pass on to your child, if you are prone to them there may be some things you should know. 

Ingrown toenails are caused by the nail growing into the skin on the side of the toe; there are a few things that increase the risk of an ingrown toenail developing. While anybody can develop an ingrown toenail, those with certain toe shapes may be more at risk. This can have genetic influence, so if you have a toe that’s shaped in a way that increases the risk that you could pass this on to your child. 

While not hereditary, one other way you can pass on the risk of ingrown toenails to your child is through the hygiene and physical activity habits that you pass on to them. Ingrown toenails are more likely to occur when the toenail is trimmed in a curved shape instead of straight across. Make sure to teach your child to trim your toenails in a straight line to minimize risk. Additionally, instill in your child that they must always wear well-fitting shoes with wide toes. This is important at all times to decrease the risk of ingrown toenails, but especially if your child is physically active. Physical activity increases the pressure put on the toe by the shoe, so if you encourage your child to be active you should make sure they are using the right footwear to keep their toes safe.

If you or your child has an ingrown toenail, you should be seen by a licensed podiatrist to discuss your treatment options. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.