What Causes An Ingrown Toenail? How To Treat It?
Ingrown toenails are among the
most common of foot problems and most people would have suffered from this
condition at some time or another. It happens when the edge or side of a
toenail grows into the soft flesh that is around it. When this happens the area
around the nail becomes red, swollen and painful and infections often occur
because of the broken skin. Although ingrown toenails are most common on the
big toe, they can happen on any toe.
The Causes
There are a number of reasons why
an ingrown toenail condition develops. Among the most common are:
Ø
Cutting the nails too short or not straight
across. This can cause the growing nail to cut into the flesh that surrounds
it.
Ø
Wearing shoes that push against your toenails
causing them to grow in an unnatural manner
Ø
Injuries to the toes or toenails
Ø
Hereditary conditions like unusually curved
toenails.
In addition to these, medical
conditions like diabetes, arthritis, fungal nail disease, poor foot hygiene,
incorrect posture and gait and obesity can also cause ingrown toenails. If left
untreated ingrown toenails can infect the underlying tissue and bone which in
turn can lead to other health complications.
Home Treatment
If an ingrown toenail is spotted
in its early stages it may be possible to treat it at home. One of the most
common ways, if there is no infection, is to place a small cotton ball or waxed
dental floss under the toenail to keep it separate from the skin into which it
is cutting. Once the nail has grown enough to be clear of the surrounding skin,
the cotton or floss can be removed. Soaking the toe in warm water a few times
each day will relieve the pain and discomfort. After the soaking the toes must
be completely dried. If this does not help, over-the-counter pain medication
may be used.
When to See a Doctor
If the condition does not improve
after a few days of home treatment or if there are signs of infection, a
doctor, preferably a podiatrist (a doctor specializing in conditions of the
feet), should be consulted right away.
The doctor may try prescription
medications to relieve the condition if it has not progressed too far. This
could include topical or oral medications. However, if the doctor feels that
the condition has reached a stage when medication will not suffice, he may
advise minor surgery. There are two options here. In many cases the doctor may
trim or remove the port of the nail that is growing into the skin. A local
anesthetic is used to numb the toe before the procedure. If the problem is a recurring one the doctor
may advise removing a portion of the nail along with the underlying tissue, to
prevent that part of the nail from growing in the future. This can be done by
traditional surgical methods, the use of chemicals or applying a laser.
The actual course of treatment
will be decided by the podiatrist after examining the toe and studying the
patient’s medical history to see if there are other medical issues that have to
be taken into account when treatment is prescribed.
Preventing Recurrence
The podiatrist will advise the
patient on how to prevent the condition from recurring in the future. If the
condition has been treated at home then not cutting the nails too short,
cutting them straight and not rounded, wearing wide toed shoes to prevent
pressure on the toes and protecting the toes from sporting injuries are among
the common precautions to be taken.
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