Ingrowing Toenail Information

An Ingrowing Toenail is when the nail pierces the flesh of the toe. It can feel extremely painful. In more severe cases, it can cause pus and bleeding.

Here shows a step by step process of an Ingrowing toenail treated recently.

	Before Operation
	Cutting of the nail during the surgery
	Toenail immediately after the operation
	Toenail two days after the surgery
	Toenail four days after the surgery

An Ingrowing Toenail is most common on the big Toenail but can also affect the other toes too.
Sometimes a nail can curl (involuted or convoluted) into the flesh and is not piercing the skin then it is not an Ingrowing Toenail. This can be painful and also appear red and inflamed.

Why Ingrowing Toenails Occur

Active, sporty people are particularly likely to suffer from Ingrowing Toenails; because they perspire more. Younger people are also likely to get an Ingrowing Toenail too, as they pick their nails more, compared to older people who may not be able to reach their Toenails.

Women often develop an Ingrowing Toenails from cutting their toenails too low in order to relieve the pressure and discomfort of an involuted nail.

There are also many other factors that can make you more likely to suffer from an Ingrowing toenail, such as:

• Your gait (the way you walk)
• Suffering from a Bunion
• Suffering from Hammer Toes
• Excessive/ Over Pronation of the feet (when your foot leans/ rolls inwards).
• Your Toenails naturally splaying or curling out instead of growing straight.
• This encourages your nail to grow outwards or inwards into the flesh causing discomfort.
• Tight footwear
• Wearing tight hosiery's and socks, as it causes your skin to push into the Toenail, which then pierces the flesh and creates inflammation of the toe

Symptoms

• The condition of the toenail can become aggravated when wearing tight shoes.
• The area of Toe/ Toenail can become sensitive and very painful to touch, which can mean an infection may be present.
• When constantly walking in shoes, the toe will be very painful.

How To Treat Ingrowing Toenails

Early Stages:
You can attempt to prevent your Ingrowing Toenail yourself by learning to cut your Toenails properly. It is ideal to cut your Toenails straight across and not to cut the Toenail too low at the edge or down the side. The corner of the nail should be visible above the skin. It is easier to cut your Toenail after a bath or shower because your nail becomes soft.

Having good hygiene can also prevent you suffering from Ingrowing toenails. Try and avoid moist feet by alternating your footwear so that air can circulate in them and dry out any dampness in the shoes. If possible, wear open-toed sandals in the summer.

If you have booked an appointment to see the Podiatrist, then in the mean time you can relieve your Ingrowing Toenail discomfort by bathing your foot in a salty footbath. This will help prevent the infection causing further discomfort and reduce inflammation. After your foot bathe, thoroughly dry your foot and apply a clean sterile dressing, especially if you have discharge and try to rest your foot as much as possible.

Most importantly if you suffer from Diabetes and are taking steroids or are on anti-coagulants, please do not attempt to cut your nails or remove the Ingrowing spike of nail yourself.

Your Ingrowing Toenail all depends on the severity of your condition. For the most basic painful and irritable Ingrowing Toenail the Podiatrist will remove the offending spike of nail and cover with an antiseptic dressing.

If your toe is too painful to touch, the Podiatrist may inject a local anaesthetic before removing the part of the nail that is causing the painful symptoms.

Ongoing Problems:
If the Ingrowing Toenail is left untreated, the infection can spread to the rest of the toe. Ideally the quicker you treat your Ingrowing Toenail, the less painful the treatment will be. For further advice or a consultation regarding your Ingrowing Toenail, please contact one of our Podiatrists.

Further Information:
If you suffer from involuted nails then the Podiatrist can remove the part of the nail that is curling into your flesh and file the edges of the nail to create a smooth surface.

If you are suffering from bleeding or discharge from the Toenail infection or even excessive healing flesh (hypergranulation tissue) around your nail, you will need to take a course of antibiotics. As Well as having the spike on the Toenail removed.

If you see your GP about your Ingrowing Toenail, they can prescribe a course of antibiotics if you have an infection but most likely they will refer you to a Podiatrist.

If you are prone to Ingrowing Toenails from underlying health problems such as gait, the Podiatrist may be able to recommend various treatments for the problem. The Podiatrist may also be able to recommend a more permanent solution to the nail itself, such as partial nail avulsion (PNA), which is done under a local anaesthetic, where a wedge of the nail is removed including the root of the nail. This will make the nail becomes a little narrower. This surgery is highly successful.
After the surgery is completed you will have revisit the Podiatrist for re-dressings on the Toenail until the healing process is complete.

Podiatrist Consultation

For further assistance regarding your Ingrowing Toenail and you would like to contact a Podiatrist please click on the link below or telephone: Tel: 01162 677799 or Mob: 07802 793 747

http://www.cureyourfeet.com/156/choose-your-region/

Medical Terms

Onychocryptosis