Troublesome ingrown nails are usually a big pain for anyone unlucky enough to develop one. They are unsightly, painful, and make wearing shoes, an obstacle.
Ingrown nails usually target the large toenail, and are a result of wearing shoes that are too tight around the toenails, not cutting the nail properly, injury, or illness that affects toe circulation, such as diabetes. Sometimes it’s inevitable as some people have toenails too large for their toes, or have naturally downward growing nails.
More or less, the ingrown toenail is a result of the nail growing into the soft flesh surrounding the nailbed, by growing at a curve, usually downwards. The result of it growing into the surrounding flesh, results in swelling, sensitivity, and pain.
At this point, one needs to take action to attempt solving the problem them self before it gets worse and could infect the underlying bone.
The A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia (2011) provides the following to treat an ingrown toenail at home:
- Soak the foot in warm water 3 times a day, but keep the toe as dry as possible otherwise.
- Gently massage the inflamed area of the toe.
- Wet a piece of cotton or floss with antiseptic, and place under nail.
- When attempting to trim the nail, soak it to soften the nail, and using a clean, sharp trimmer, trim only across the top. Do not attempt removing the ingrown nail yourself.
- Wear sandals.
If none of these help, seeking a professional to have the ingrown toenail removed will be required.
Getting Professional Treatment
The Podiatrist is a specialist in s foot, ankle, knee or lower leg problems. The time to see a podiatrist is when you suspect something may be wrong or when pain will not subside.
It is always our express intent to recommend that you take no chances with foot, ankle or knee pain, or injuries. Professional treatment to relieve the pain is available from doctors such as Delray Beach’s Dr. Ian Goldbaum of Delray Beach Podiatry, who has provided us with this blog. If the pain continues, a podiatrist with Dr. Goldbaum’s experience should be consulted. You must get proper treatment to prevent permanent damage.
Our Staff writers are freelance writers with higher education related to, or experience researching and writing for, medical blogs; with education or experience equal to under graduate and graduate degrees in the fields of medicine.
Related articles
No responses yet