Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition of the toe. Ingrown toenails are a common condition--particularly among teenagers. Onychocryptosis, commonly known as ingrown nails, occurs when a sharp corner of the toenail digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. An ingrown toenail may also happen if you wear shoes that are too tight or too short. When you first have an ingrown toenail, it may be hard, swollen and tender. Later, it may get red and infected, and feel very sore. It is a painful condition in which the nail grows or cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed. While ingrown nails can occur in both the nails of the hand and feet, they occur most commonly with toenails. If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odor. Symptoms of an ingrown nail include pain along the margins of the nail (caused by hypergranulation that occurs around the aforementioned region), worsening of pain when wearing shoes or other tight articles, and sensitivity to pressure of any kind, even that of light bedding. To avoid ingrown toenails, you should cut your nails straight across. The top of the nail should make a straight line. The ingrown nail can also apply pressure in the nail fold area without penetrating the skin - this is not technically an ingrown toe nail, but can also be painful.

Ingrown toenails are common in adults but uncommon in children and infants.If you have had a toenail fungal infection, you are at greater risk for developing an ingrown toenail. An ingrown toenail can develop for a variety of reasons, and some people are more prone to the condition than others. Any of your toenails can become ingrown, but the problem more often affects the big toe. Redness, and swelling at the corner of the nail may result and infection may soon follow. Sometimes a small amount of pus can be seen draining from the area. Trauma, such as stubbing the toe or having the toe stepped on, may also cause an ingrown nail. The condition may become serious in people with diabetes. When you first have an ingrown toenail, it may be hard, swollen and tender. Later, it may get red and infected, and feel very sore. The toe is not necessarily infected, but this can develop after the nail penetrate the skin to become ingrown. If left untreated, the inflammation can spread to the rest of your toe and the area becomes infected and may ooze pus. It may smell unpleasant. Ingrown toenails sometimes correct themselves as they grow out, but more advanced cases may need to be corrected with surgery.

Causes of Ingrown toenail

The common causes of Ingrown toenail include the following:

Improper trimming.
Trauma, such as stubbing the toe or having the toe stepped on, may also cause an ingrown nail.
Poor maintenance, like cutting the nail too short, rounded off at the tip or peeled off at the edges (versus being cut straight across), is likely to cause ingrowth.
Wearing shoes that are tight or short.
Disorders such as fungal infections of the nail can cause a thickened or widened toenail to develop.
Injury near the nail may cause an ingrown toenail.
Unusually curved toenails.

Symptoms of Ingrown toenail

Some symptoms related to Ingrown toenail are as follows:

Pain along the margins of the nail.
Warmth.
Tenderness in your toe along one or both sides of the nail.
Swelling of your toe around the nail.
Pus draining from the area.
Infection of the tissue around your toenail.

Treatment of Ingrown toenail

Here is list of the methods for treating Ingrown toenail:

Soak the feet in warm salt water.
If an infection is present, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed.
You may take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Wash the foot including the affected area twice a day with soap and water. Keep the foot clean and dry during the rest of the day.
Apply a mild antiseptic solution to the area.
If the ingrown nail is severe, or if conservative care is difficult, or if the ingrown toenail does not respond well to conservative care, then minor surgical intervention is a good option.