Ingrown Toe Nails
Definition
Known to physicians as onychocryptosis,
ingrown toe nails are a common, painful
condition that occur when skin on one or
both sides of a nail grows over the edges of
the nail, or when the nail itself grows into
the skin. This condition is usually very
painful and can be associated with infection
of the toe. Some ingrown toenails are
chronic, with repeated episodes of pain and
infection. Irritation, redness, an
uncomfortable sensation of warmth, as well
as swelling can result from an ingrown
toenail.
Cause
Ingrown toenails develop for many
reasons. In some cases the condition is
congenital, such as toenails that simply are
too large. People whose toes curl, either
congenitally or from diseases like
arthritis, are prone to ingrown toenails.
Often trauma, like stubbing a toe or having
a toe stepped on, can cause a piece of the
nail to be jammed into the skin. Repeated
trauma, such as the pounding to which
runners typically subject their feet, also
can cause ingrown nails.
The most common cause is cutting your
toenails incorrectly, causing them to
re-grow into the skin. Tight hosiery or
shoes with narrow toe boxes only make
matters worse. If the skin is red, painful
or swollen on the sides of the nail, an
infection may be present. This occurs
because the ingrown nail is often in a warm,
moist and bacteria-rich environment. When
the nail penetrates the skin, it provides a
convenient entry for germs that can cause
infection. Untreated, the nail can go under
the skin, causing a more severe infection.
In either case, the infection needs to be
cured with sterile instruments and
antibiotics.
Treatment and Prevention
Ingrown toenails should be treated as
soon as they are recognized. In many cases,
people with uninfected ingrown toenails can
obtain relief with the following simple
regimen:
- Soak the feet in warm salt water
- Dry them thoroughly with a clean
towel
- Apply a mild antiseptic solution to
the area
- Bandage the toe
If excessive inflammation, swelling, pain
or discharge is present, the toenail
probably is infected and should be treated
by a physician. A podiatrist can trim or
remove the infected nail with a minor
in-office surgical procedure. He or she can
remove the offending portion of the nail or
overgrown skin with a scalpel and treat the
infection. Unless, the problem is
congenital, the best way to prevent ingrown
toenails is to protect the feet from trauma
and wear shoes with adequate room for the
toes.
Cutting toe nails properly goes a long
way toward the prevention of ingrown
toenails. Using a safety nail clipper, cut
the nails straight across, so that the nail
corner is visible. If you cut the nail too
short, you are inviting the nail corner to
grow into the skin. It is the natural
tendency, when the edge of the nail starts
to grow in, to cut down at an angle at the
nail edge, to relieve the pain. This does
relieve the pain temporarily, but it also
can start a downward spiral, training the
nail to become more and more ingrown. |