I cant believe i am once again asking for opinions on my sons toe - but here we go (pic)

[Makinganewthinghappen]

My 15 year old has an ingrown toenail. It got infected and he had antibiotics it didnt work so he had another set. We now have an appointment to see podiatrist on 20th december .

His toe is still red and im wondering if i should go back to the gp again or just wait until the podiatrist appt? I feel a bit ridiculous going back for a third time about a toenail!

My son had similar but not as bad and he had part of the nail removed which resolved it. It does look very red, personally i would try to get a doctors appt.

Ooooo I'd sort that out in 2 mins flat!

Soak in a bowl of warm salt water,that will help for starters and yes, I would go back just to double check with the GP, could be red from the nail pressing or could still be infection.

Soak it. Yes.
Have you got a GP app where you can send a photo in?? Looks like it needs toenail cut down one side which costs £300 at a chiropodist

Oww. Is it still hot to touch? I think I’d go back, or at least send them a picture.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Ooooo I'd sort that out in 2 mins flat!

Soak in a bowl of warm salt water,that will help for starters and yes, I would go back just to double check with the GP, could be red from the nail pressing or could still be infection.

I agree to regular salt water soaks - it was the only thing that cleared my DHs grim toenail infection

If you can cut it as short as possible exposing the infection and then soak in a bowl of dilute medical grade hydrogen peroxide it should start oxidising the bacteria and clearing it until you can see the podiatrist.

If he can let it grow for a bit cut a V shape in the middle of the nail, it then starts to grow inwards instead of out. And apply some fusidic acid cream to keep infection at bay.

My toes were like this pretty much my whole teenage years. The nail needs removing down one side otherwise it'll go from this to oozy infection - to antibiotics - back to this. The GP used to cut them out with local aesthetic. Don't they do that anymore? Once it's sorted make sure his shoes are big enough and he's not cutting his nails too short. He always needs to cut in a straight line, not rounded.

If the red area is hot he needs to go back to the GP.

I would mark the redness with a pen tonight and check in the morning. At least then you know if it has spread.
Salt water soak and then magnesium sulphate on it if you have any. It draws out infection.
It may well need antibiotics this time but good to have in if it is prone to infection so you can get on too of it early.

That looks painful! My 3 month old has what I think is an ingrown toenail, it's become red all around it. I'm phoning the GP for an appt tomorrow. Will the GP be able to do anything?

Ask the podiatrist to take out a strip down the side. It's like magic

You could try this:
First soak for 5 minutes in warm salty water, then dry, floss under that side of the toe nail (dental floss) and then push a small piece of cotton wool under where you've flossed.
Leave it in and that should lift it up enough to get some pus drainage for him.
Push the cotton wool in with clean tweezers (run tip of tweezers under boiling water first ).
Needs antibiotics too. Ring/ email GP. Any chance of an earlier podiatry appointment? Never heard of a private podiatrist charging anywhere near £300 for treatment of ingrown toenail. Maybe Mayfair 🤷‍♀️
Anyway maybe Google private podiatrists in your area, most have prices on their website. Good luck.

Thanks! We have been soaking it regularly since this all started all it seemd to do is make the skin peel but not actually help the infection or growth in any way!
It does feel warm to touch.

The podiatrist appointment is as a pre appointment for removing some nail to see if he is suitable.
Im just not sure if i should be worrying about the infection or if it can wait for the appointment.

Our local private podiatrist (London) charged £30 to sort out DD2’s ingrowing toenail.

I’d go to the doctor, the other appointment is almost two weeks away yet. Better safe than sorry.

My son had exactly the same. Absolutely take him back it looks infected.

Looks like it needs toenail cut down one side which costs £300 at a chiropodist

This has to be a typo! If it’s not, pp has been had.

I'm an NHS podiatrist and that looks exactly like all the other hereditary ingrowing toenails. It is broad and flat and they grow really deep so not way can you cut that part of the nail out.
Nails like that run in families and they all look the same.
No amount of salt footbathing or antibiotics will sort that out long term and it will keep getting irritated.
Nearly all NHS trusts do nail surgery for free. Your GP needs to refer him for a partial nail avulsion under local anaesthetic with phenolisation. You can watch this procedure on youtube.
I've had both mine done and they were painless.
In my trust we have a 2-3 week waiting list and its free.

@MadameFantabulosa

Our local private podiatrist (London) charged £30 to sort out DD2’s ingrowing toenail.

Don't let anyone do that. You'll find it is too deep looking at that nail and it will just grow back. It looks infected but it's more likely to be skin irritation from the the nail digging in and causing hypergranulation (overgrown skin). It definitely needs surgery. I'd put that in as an urgent.

That looks so painful.
Gp I think. He must be struggling wearing shoes
I had surgery on my ingrown toenails years ago after years of indecision and its a game changer.
I was referred through the NHS.

If the red part of his toe is noticeably warmer than the white part, I’d be taking him back.
Sometimes skin can be a dull red colour post infection, and it takes some time to return to the normal colour.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky ‘you can watch this procedure on YouTube’

You can watch lots of them, multiple times rubs hands on thighs with glee .

It doesn't matter how many times you need the gp, if you need it, you need it. Ant it looks like he need it.

It's £200 around here for private toenail surgery at the chiropodist/podiatrist.

I asked for a referral for dd to have it done on the nhs and luckily the podiatry people come to her gp once a month. She had it done on Tuesday, the cutting out of mail down each side.