Ingrown Toenails
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.
