What is this?! (Toe)

[ICSH1]

I’ve just noticed this on my 10 year olds toe…he says it doesn’t hurt. It’s not hot (and neither is he) he’s currently kicking a ball around so he’s clearly not that bothered by it but I am! Would a trip to the pharmacist tomorrow be enough? Why do you only ever see these things at night 🤦🏼‍♀️

I don’t know whether my photo will upload, for reference there is a distinctly crusty red section at the nail bed of my son’s toe. He says it doesn’t hurt and he’s fine in himself. He’s currently kicking a football so it can’t be bothering him that much

I think you need to make an appointment with the GP.

Do I need to take him somewhere tonight do you think?

No!! GP at some point in the next few days.

Sorry I’m on meds for health anxiety and I’m on my own at the moment so have no one to calm me down

I wouldn't like to give medical advice as I'm not a medic. Personally at our GP we would be able to send an email request for an appointment tomorrow attaching a picture and they would triage and send an appointment.

If you unsure you could contact 111 for advice.

As Above, GP appointment. Does not need A&E or 111.

I’d be inclined to get him to soak in warm soapy water to see if any of it comes away (without picking).

Ok thank you. I always find these things difficult to deal with, fortunately he’s as fit as a fiddle but I still worry. I was kind of hoping someone might have seen something like it before!

It looks like a scab to me are you sure he hasn't just injured it without realising?

Fungal nail?

That’s kind of what I thought! He is an absolute terror for running about without any shoes on. I try and stop him but …🤦🏼‍♀️ the nail itself looks fine

My friend thought that from the picture. Even after 12 years of parenting I guess I’ve not seen it all!

I kind of just wanted to see if anyone knew off the tops of their heads and/ of if it was serious. Because of my HA, I’ve got no judgement and always think they need to be seen IMMEDIATELY

I wonder if his shoe has been digging in? That can be one of the causes of fungal nail. If not could just be a scab as PP mentioned bit neither of those are urgent for tonight

It’s really possible. He plays alot of football and if his sock seam was in the wrong place I could imagine that could cause an issue

I also feel horrendous for not noticing it before, the mum guilt is very real

Could be fungal or some sort of wart.
You need the pharmacist not the GP or 111.

Looks like a fungal nail. You can have it treated by a pharmacist.

Thanks everyone, you’ve absolutely saved me tonight. Heroes! 🦸🏻‍♂️

All the crust came away in the bath and now it’s just red. Does that suggest what it might be? The pharmacist said she wasnt sure 🤦🏼‍♀️

Looks like impetigo maybe? (Mild bacterial skin infection, might need antibiotic cream). Being red under the crust would fit with that.

Haven’t RTFT so apologies if someone has said this already but whilst waiting to see GP/pharmacist or whoever, worth soaking the foot in a strong saline solution. Many a manky foot/finger thing that I’ve cured in myself and in others with this.

My ds plays a lot of football too and often has similar toe injuries and his big toe nails have both
fell off at some point. Soak his foot give it a rub with a towel and I bet some of it will come off. I think a scab. Check his boots though if they get too small they can scrunch his toes which then rub on the football socks.

so I popped by the GP surgery on the off chance they’d have a free appointment and someone had literally JUST cancelled so I managed to get him seen today 🙌🏻 The GP said it was an infected nail bed and lots of things cause it but most commonly an injury or something rubbing and causing a blister. It’s weird he hasn’t complained of pain 🤨 anyway he’s given me antibiotic cream but if that doesn’t work we’ve got oral antibiotics too. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

This reminds me of my son's toe a while back. I think it was granulation. Or slough. Have a look at slough and granulation. Salt water soaks I think were recommended.