Ingrown Toenail Symptoms and Treatment
A foot disease known as an ingrown toenail occurs when the nail's corner grows into the skin. It usually affects the big toe.
Ingrown toenails often occur when people cut their toenails by tapering the corner of the nails. If the toenail curves into the shape of the toe, it can grow into the skin.
These are common and do not usually pose a health risk to healthy people, however,If treatment is delayed, they may result in infections that extend to the foot's underlying bone structure.
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Get A Second OpinionCauses
Here are some of the causes of ingrown toenails:
- Footwear Shoes and socks: that squeeze the toes and are too tight increase the chance of ingrown toenails.
- Cutting toenails too short: Not cutting straight or trimming the edges of the toenail can cause the surrounding skin to fold over the nail. The nail can then push on that skin and pierce it.
- Toenail injury: It can result by kicking something hard, dropping something on your toe, and other accidents.
- An unusual curvature: This increases the risk of the nail growing into the soft tissue, causing inflammation and possible infection.
- Posture : The way a person walks or stands can affect the likelihood of developing these toenails.
- Poor foot hygiene or excessive sweating:It is more likely to form if the skin on the toes and feet is warm and wet.
- Fungal infections can increase the risk.
- Heredity: It can be hereditary.
- Genetic factors :Some people have longer toenails from birth.
Who is Likely to Have An Ingrown Toenail?
People who are at risk & likely to get this include:
- Adolescents
- Athletes
- Diabetes
- severe injury to the nerves of the foot or leg.
- Poor blood circulation
- An infection around the nail.
Symptoms of An Ingrown Toenail Infection
It start with minor symptoms that can escalate. Pay attention to the initial symptoms of this condition to avoid infections and other complications.
- Redness or hardening of the skin around the nail
- Swelling
- Pain when touched
- Pressure under the nail
- Throbbing
- Bleeding
- Accumulation or exudation of fluid
- Bad smell
- Heat in the area around the nail
- Pus-filled abscess where the nail-pierced the skin
- Excessive growth of new and inflamed tissue at the edges of the nail
- Thick and cracked yellow nails, specifically in fungal infections
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Book an AppointmentTreatment for Ingrown Toenails
Non-Surgical Treatment
Ingrown toenail should be treated as soon as it is detected. If they are detected early (before infection stars), home remedies can prevent the need for further treatment:
- Soak the feet in lukewarm water 3-4 times a day.
- Keep the feet dry for the rest of the day.
- Consider wearing sandals until the condition improves.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to treat pain.
- If it does not improve in 2 or 3 days, or if the condition worsens, call the doctor.
Surgical Treatment
- If there is excessive inflammation, swelling, pain, and discharge, the toenail is likely infected and should be treated by a doctor.
- A person may need to take oral antibiotics.
- The surgeon may perform a surgical excision of a portion of the nail, surrounding soft tissue, underlying nail bed, and even the growth center.
- Surgery is effective in preventing the edge of the nail from growing inwards and cutting the fleshy folds as the toenail grows forward.
- Permanent removal may be recommended for children with chronic and recurrent infected ingrown nails.
