Ingrown Nails

Ingrown toenails are known to Podiatrists as onychocryptosis. Ingrown toenails are a common, painful condition that occurs when skin on the side of a nail grows over the edges of the nail, or when the nail itself grows into the skin.

Ingrown toenails can develop for many reasons. In some cases the condition is congenital, such as toenails that are simply too large or there is too much tissue at the side of the nail, this is called ungulalbia. This excessive ungulabia can have a tendancey to "roll up", and around the nail border that allows the nails to puncture the tissue. Pain and commonly infection will then follow. 

Persons whose toes curl, either congenitally or from diseases like arthritis, are prone to onychocryptosis. 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. Ingrown nails also can be caused by incorrect cutting or trimming, causing them to re-grow into the skin, or by excessively tight stockings or shoes with narrow toe boxes. Bedridden patients commonly develop ingrown toenails if their bedsheets are kept tucked-in tightly.
 

Symptoms

Onychocryptosis should be treated as soon as it is recognised. If the skin is red, painful or swollen on the sides of the nail, an infection may be present. Infection often occurs with this condition because the ingrown nail is in a warm, often moist and bacteria-rich environment. When the nail penetrates the skin, it provides a convenient entry for germs that can cause infection. At first, the skin around the nail may be only mildly red or inflamed. 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. People who attempt to fix an infected toenail themselves normally only make the problem worse.
 

Treatment

In many cases, people with uninfected ingrown toenails can obtain relief with the following simple regimen:

• soak the feet in warm soapy or salt water;
• dry them thoroughly with a clean towel; 
• apply a mild antiseptic solution to the area; and 
• bandage the toe.

Various over-the-counter preparations also are available that can harden the skin and shrink the soft tissue along the edge of the nail so it will grow normally. A soft foam toecap can be worn while the ingrown nail heals.

If an ingrown toenail recurs you will require a more permanent solution. For a permanent solution for your ingrown toe nail please see our Surgery section.

Prevention

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. Nails should be properly trimmed with clippers. In trimming the toenails, a reasonable and comfortable length should be allowed from the point where the nail emerges from the soft tissue. Nails should be cut straight across, not curved, which can cause them to bend downward at the ends and grow into the soft tissue along the sides of the nails.

For further advise please contact one of our professional team here  or give us a call, our number is listed on the Contact page.