Ingrown toenails occur when the nail grows into the adjacent skin, causing pain and infection. Ill-fitting shoes and improper trimming are common causes. Treatment methods vary depending on severity, with doctors often cutting off part of the nail and prescribing antibiotics.
An ingrown toenail is a problem that occurs when the side of the fingernail or toenail begins to grow into the adjacent skin. Ingrown toenails tend to be much more common than ingrown toenails due to most people wearing shoes every day. When shoes are too tight for your feet, the toenails, especially the big toe, may push against the surrounding skin. An ingrown toenail usually causes pain or mild discomfort initially, which is usually followed by an infection if not treated quickly. Doctors use different treatment methods for ingrown toenails and the treatment normally used depends on the severity of the problem.
There are two types of ingrown toenails: ingrown toenails and ingrown toenails. Toenails could become ingrown due to ill-fitting shoes or due to improper trimming of toenails. Shoes that don’t fit properly are the most common cause of ingrown toenails. People don’t often get ingrown toenails, and when the problem does occur, it’s usually the result of excessive nail biting or trimming the nails into a curved shape rather than a straight one. When a nail is curved instead of straight, there’s a good chance the curved nail can push into the skin next to it, which can lead to an ingrown toenail.
The first symptom a person might notice from any type of ingrown toenail is a slight reddening of the skin surrounding the nail and some pain. Most people also find that the skin surrounding their nails is very sensitive to touch. It’s not uncommon for people to refer to the doctor for ingrown toenails at this point because they may not realize that something that requires treatment is wrong. As the nail continues to grow into the skin, an infection will likely develop and a person may notice increased pain along with pus or some other type of discharge oozing out of the skin next to the nail. Most people decide to see their doctor when they notice an infection.
When an ingrown toenail isn’t infected or the infection is very mild, it may be treatable at home with warm water and regular application of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream. If these methods do not improve symptoms, a visit to a doctor is usually necessary. Doctors often have to inject anesthetic into the sides of the fingers or toes, depending on the type of ingrown nail you have, and cut off part of the nail when the problem is severe. When ingrown toenails are recurring, part of the nail bed may also need to be trimmed to prevent the nail from growing back at the awkward angle that keeps causing recurring regrowth. Oral antibiotics are also usually prescribed to patients to help rid the body of any infections caused by ingrown toenails.
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