When a toenail is ingrown, the nail is curved downward and grows into the skin, typically at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This “digging in” of the nail irritates the skin, usually creating pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe.
If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is usually marked by drainage and a foul odor. 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.
Often, you can take care of ingrown toenails on your own. If the pain is severe or spreading, nonetheless, your doctor can take steps to relieve your discomfort and help you avoid complications.
If you have diabetes or yet another condition that causes poor circulation to your feet, you’re at higher risk of complications from an ingrown toenail.
Causes
Whilst many issues can cause ingrown toenails, the significant causes are shoes that don’t fit well and improperly trimmed nails. Shoes that are too tight press the sides of the nail and make it curl into the skin. Nails that are peeled off at the edge or trimmed down at the corners are also more likely to grow to be ingrown.
Causes include:
1. poor maintenance [like cutting the nail too short, rounded off at the tip or peeled off at the edges (versus being cut straight across)][1]
2. ill-fitting shoes [those that are too narrow or too short can cause bunching of the toes in the developmental stages of the foot (frequently in those under 21), causing the nail to curl and dig into the skin]
three. trauma to the nail plate or toe [which can happen by stubbing the toenail, dropping things on the toe and 'going by means of the end of your shoes' throughout sports, can cause the flesh to turn out to be injured and the nail to grow irregularly and press into the flesh]
Symptoms
An ingrown toenail occurs when component of the nail curves into the flesh of the toe . It can occur on all toes but affects the massive toe. If dirt and sweat enter the infected area that causes the skin of the nail to become red, swollen, and tender. A tiny quantity of pus will come out of the edge.
Early in the course of an ingrown toenail, the end of the toe becomes reddened and painful with mild swelling. There is no pus or drainage. It may possibly really feel warm to the touch, but you may not have a fever.
Treatment
When the difficulty is mild, you may well only want to soak your foot in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes and place dry cotton, such as part of a cotton ball, under the corner of the nail. Signs that the difficulty is obtaining worse consist of increasing pain, swelling and drainage of the region. At times minor surgery is needed to remove the component of the nail that is poking into the skin.
Different over-the-counter preparations are accessible that can harden the skin and shrink the soft tissue along the edge of the nail so it grows typically. A soft, foam toecap can be worn even though the ingrown nail heals.