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Ingrown Toenail
When a toenail is ingrown, the nail is curved downward and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail).
Symptoms
- Pain at the border of the nail
- Redness
- Swelling
- Warmth in the toe
- Foul odor
- Pus from the nail
However, even if your toe isn’t painful, red, swollen, or warm, a nail that curves downward into the skin can progress to an infection.
Causes
- The most common cause of ingrown toenails is improper cutting of your toe nails
- Inherited nail shape
- Trauma to the nail
- Certain nail conditions are often increase the risk of ingrown toenails. Such as toenail fungal infection or if you have lost a nail through trauma
Treatment
Home treatment is strongly discouraged if you suspect you have an infection, or if you have a medical condition that puts your feet at high risk—for example, diabetes, nerve damage in the foot, or poor circulation.
Home Care
If you don’t have an infection or any of the above conditions, you can soak your foot in room-temperature water (add Epsom’s salt if you wish), and gently massage the side of the nail fold to help reduce the inflammation.
Avoid attempting “bathroom surgery.” If your symptoms fail to improve, it’s time to see a East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates.
Medical Care
East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates Surgeon will examine your toe and select the treatment best suited for you.
- Oral Antibiotics
- Surgery - A simple procedure, often performed in the office, Surgery involves numbing the toe and removing a corner of the nail, a larger portion of the nail, or the entire nail
- Permanent removal - Various techniques may be used to destroy or remove the nail root. Most people experience very little pain after surgery and may resume normal activity the next day.
- Preventing Ingrown Toenails
Many cases of ingrown toenails may be prevented by following these two important tips:
Trim your nails properly & Avoid poorly-fitting shoes
The Truths & Myths About Home Treatment
The Myths
- Cutting a notch (a “V”) in the nail will reduce the tendency for the nail to curve downward
- Repeated trimming of the nail
borders is a good way to treat ingrown toenails
- Cotton placed under the nail will relieve the pain
- You can buy effective ingrown
toenail treatments at the drug store
The Truths
- Cutting a “V” does not affect the growth of the toenail. New nail growth will continue to
curve downward
- Repeated nail trimming fails to correct future nail growth and can make the condition worse
- Cotton placed under the nail can be harmful. It can easily harbor bacteria and encourage infection
- Over-the-counter topical medications may mask the pain, but they fail to address the underlying problem
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