Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails or hangnails are a common condition where the corner or side of the toenail grows into the soft flesh.
This condition will cause pain, inflammation of the skin, swelling, and sometimes infection. This ingrown toenail also occurs most often on the big toe.
Actually, you can treat ingrown toenails yourself. However, if the pain that appears feels severe or is spreading, contact a doctor so that they can give advice to relieve the pain and help you avoid complications of ingrown toenails.
If you have diabetes or another condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet, you’re at greater risk for complications from ingrown toenails.
Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails
Symptoms of ingrown toenails can be very painful and gradually worsen.
Well, early-stage symptoms include:
- The skin next to the nail becomes soft, swollen, or hard;
- Pain when pressure is placed on the toes;
- There is fluid buildup around the toes;
- If the toe is infected, symptoms include:
- Red, swollen skin;
- Painful;
- Bloody;
- Pus comes out;
- Excessive growth of skin around the toes.
Causes of Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails can happen to anyone, both men and women.
However, ingrown toenails may be more common in people with feet that sweat easily, such as teenagers.
Older people are also at higher risk because toenails thicken with age.
Many things can cause ingrown nails, including:
- Cutting toenails incorrectly (straight cuts, as angling the sides of the nail can encourage the nail to grow into the skin).
- Having irregular and curved toenails.
- Wearing footwear that puts a lot of pressure on the big toe, such as socks and stockings that are too tight or shoes that are too tight, narrow, or flat for the foot;
- Toenail injuries, including stubbing your toe, dropping something heavy on your foot, or kicking a ball repeatedly.
- Bad posture.
- Poor foot hygiene, such as not keeping feet clean or dry.
- Genetic influence.
Using the feet extensively during athletic activities can also make a person more susceptible to ingrown toenails.
Activities in which a person repeatedly kicks objects or puts pressure on the feet for long periods of time can cause toenail damage and increase the risk of ingrown toenails.
These activities include:
- Ballet;
- Football and futsal;
- Kickboxing.
Risk Factors for Ingrown Toenails
There are several factors that increase your risk of experiencing ingrown toenails, including:
- Actively playing sports, such as soccer, futsal, or kickboxing, and even ballet;
- Poor foot hygiene;
- Genetic predisposition.
Ingrown Toenail Diagnosis
A doctor will most likely be able to diagnose toenail fungus with a physical examination.
If the toe appears infected, you may need an X-ray to show how deeply the nail has grown into the skin.
X-rays can also reveal whether an ingrown toenail is caused by an injury or not.
Ingrown Toenail Complications
If left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can lead to infection of the bone in the toe.
Toenail infections can also cause foot ulcers, or open sores, and loss of blood flow to the infected area.
Tissue decay and tissue death at the site of infection can also occur.
Foot infections can be more serious if you have diabetes.
Even small cuts and scratches, or ingrown nails can quickly become infected due to lack of blood flow and nerve sensitivity.
See a doctor right away if you have diabetes and are concerned about an ingrown toenail infection.
If you have a genetic predisposition to ingrown toenails, they will keep coming back over time.
This problem requires some treatment or surgery.
In this case, the doctor will recommend a partial or full matrixectomy to remove the toenail that is causing chronic pain.
Ingrown Toenail Treatment
Ingrown toenails that are not infected can usually be treated at home.
To treat it, here are 3 choices of ingrown toenail medication that can be obtained at the nearest pharmacy.
However, if the toenail has penetrated the skin or there are signs of infection, seek medical attention. Signs of infection include:
- Feels warm around the wound;
- Pus appears;
- Redness and swelling.
Home Care
To treat an ingrown toenail at home, try:
- Soak your feet in warm water for about 15 to 20 minutes three to four times per day;
- Push the skin away from the edge of the toenail with a cotton ball soaked in olive oil;
- Use over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen to reduce pain;
- Apply a topical antibiotic or steroid cream to prevent infection.
Try home treatments for a few days to a few weeks.
If the pain gets worse or you find it difficult to walk or do other activities because of the nail, see a doctor.
Additionally, if the toenail does not respond to home care or becomes infected, you may need surgery.
In case of infection, stop all home treatment and see a doctor.
Surgical Treatment
There are different types of surgical treatments for ingrown toenails.
Partial nail removal involves removing only the piece of nail that is embedded in the skin.
The doctor will numb the toe which then narrows the toenail.
Partial nail removal is 98 percent effective in preventing future ingrown toenails.
During partial nail removal, the sides of the nail are cut so that the edges are perfectly straight.
A piece of cotton is placed under the remaining part of the nail to keep the ingrown nail from recurring.
Doctors also treat the toe with a compound called phenol, which prevents the nail from growing back.
Total nail removal may be used if the ingrown nail is caused by thickening.
The doctor will give a local pain injection and then remove the entire nail in a procedure called a matrixectomy.
After Surgery
After surgery, the doctor will apply a bandage and ask you to rest at home. You will need to elevate your foot for the next day or two and wear special footwear to allow your toe to heal properly.
Avoid movement as much as possible. The bandage is usually removed two days after surgery.
Your doctor will also advise you to wear open-toed shoes and soak your toe in salt water every day until it heals.
You will also be prescribed painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infection.
Nails will likely grow back several months after partial nail removal surgery.
If the entire nail is removed down to the base (the nail matrix beneath the skin), the toenail can take more than a year to grow back.
Prevention of Ingrown Toenails
To help prevent ingrown toenails, you can do several things, such as:
- Cut your toenails straight across. Don’t curve your nails to match the shape of the front of your toes. If you get a pedicure, have the person do it straight across. If you have a condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet and you can’t cut your nails yourself, see a professional regularly to have your nails trimmed.
- Keep your toenails at a moderate length. Trim them so they are even with the tips of your toes. If you cut your toenails too short, the pressure from your shoes on your toes can cause the nail to grow into the tissue.
- Wear shoes that fit properly. Shoes that squeeze or pinch your toes too much can cause your toenails to grow into the surrounding tissue. If you have nerve damage in your feet, you may not be able to feel if your shoes are too tight.
- Wear protective footwear. If your activity puts you at risk of injuring your toes, wear protective footwear, such as steel-toed shoes.
- Check Feet. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily for signs of ingrown toenails or other foot problems.
When to See a Doctor?
If the ingrown toenail shows signs of infection, such as pus, bleeding, or severe inflammation, you should contact a doctor immediately.
Especially for people with diabetes because this condition can have an impact on the wound-healing process.