Ingrown Toenails: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
An ingrown toenail is when the nail is curved downward and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This irritates the skin, often resulting in pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.
If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and result in an infection, which is often marked by the expression of a yellow, white, brown or green fluid and a foul odour.
Ingrown toenails should be treated as soon as they develop in order to prevent or treat an associated infection. If you are uncertain as to the severity of your ingrown toenail, seek advice from your Chiropodist immediately. Your Chiropodist will also be able to recommend a home care or a professional treatment plan that prevents the recurrence of this condition.
Symptoms of ingrown toenails
Ingrown toenails exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:
- A nail that curves downward into the skin
- Pain, redness, swelling and warmth in the toe
- Extra skin with red, inflamed tissue growing around the point of the toenail
- Expression of a white, yellow or green fluid accompanied by a foul odour
- Chronic bleeding from the sides of the nail
- Fever (Rare, but may result from ingrown toenails.)
Professional treatment of ingrown toenails
Ingrown toenails should be treated by your Chiropodist as soon as they develop in order to prevent or treat an associated infection. Professional treatment of ingrown toenails may include any of the following options:
- Cutting the affected portion of the toenail that is buried in the surrounding skin. This usually relieves the pain immediately by eliminating the cause of the ingrown toenail, allowing the infection and pain to clear up
- Oral antibiotics can be prescribed to treat the toenail infection and pain
- Should the problem recur or persist, your Chiropodist may remove and cauterize the toenail root with a concentrated chemical solution to prevent the affected portion of the toenail from growing back. This technique permanently corrects the ingrown toenail, leaving no scars after healing
Prevention of ingrown toenails
If you are prone to ingrown toenails, your Chiropodist could explain and demonstrate measures to prevent the recurrence of this condition.