Ingrown Toenail

The ingrowth of the corner or edge of the nail into the soft flesh is called ingrown toenail. This common problem is usually seen in the big toe. In some cases, ingrown toenails, which cause multiple complaints such as pain, redness and swelling, can be treated at home. However, professional help may be needed due to severe pain, spread and possible complications. Complications of ingrown toenails may occur more in health problems that weaken blood flow, such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis.

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What is Ingrown Toenail?

An ingrown toenail, as the name suggests, is when the corner or edge of the nail digs into the soft flesh. The ingrown toenail, which is a painful health problem, extends into the toenail bed. Many people have an ingrown toenail on the big toe, but it can also occur on other fingers.

Ingrown toenails can be painful. If left untreated, it can lead to problems such as infection. The pain is more severe in ingrown toenails that result in the development of inflammation. In addition; other symptoms such as increased heat, swelling and discharge may also be experienced.

Ingrown toenails can occur due to many reasons such as wearing shoes that compress the toes, incorrect nail cutting, bumping the fingers, sweaty feet, skin softening, fungus. If the nail grows into the flesh of the toe, it may require consultation with a specialist physician.

What causes Ingrown Toenails?

If a person has an imbalance between the width of the nail bed and the size of the nail, it can cause ingrown toenails. Apart from this situation, which is shown as the most important cause of ingrown toenails; improper nail cutting, genetic nail disorders, wrong shoe preferences can also worsen the situation. The following answers can also be given to the question that many people wonder, “What causes ingrown toenails?”:

Imbalance between the nail size and the nail bed can cause ingrown toenails.
Improper nail cutting, especially curved nails can cause ingrown toenails. In order to prevent this situation, which is usually seen in toenails, care should be taken to cut the nails straight.
Cutting nails too short can cause ingrown toenails..

Injuries to the toenail can also cause ingrown toenails.
Failure to perform manicure and pedicure applications on the nails in the right way can also cause ingrown toenails.
Some people's nail structure is naturally curved inwards. Nails with this structure are called “claw nails”. Stinging may occur due to claw nails.

Wearing tight shoes and socks can cause ingrown toenails as they compress the nails.
People with unusually curved toenails due to genetic or other reasons may also experience ingrown toenails.
Trauma, such as nail growth, can cause ingrown toenails.

How Does Ingrown Toenail Go Away?

There are many methods to get rid of an ingrown nail. Therefore, it may be necessary to do different application techniques. So, how does ingrown toenail go away?

Comfortable shoes and socks should be preferred instead of socks and shoes that squeeze the toes. Especially people with ingrown toenails are recommended to wear open-toed shoes or sandals.
Care should be taken to ensure that the feet are not damp and should be kept dry during the day.
Nails should not be cut until the ingrown nail problem persists. It is important to cut the nails that are expected to grow at the right time.
An ingrown toenail can cause support in the area. Therefore, putting cotton or waxed dental floss under the toenail can help against ingrown toenails.
Feet that are washed 3 to 4 times a day should be soaked in warm water for about 20 minutes. Then a piece of clean cotton or waxed dental floss can be placed under the edge of the ingrown nail. In this way, the growth of the nails above the skin edge will be healthier.
Antibiotic creams can also be used after approval from a specialist physician. These creams, which help to relieve ingrown toenails, should be covered with a bandage after application.

What Happens If Ingrown Nail is Not Treated?

If ingrown toenail is not treated, foot movements can become difficult. In addition, severe pain and soreness may occur in the area. The most important side effect of ingrown toenails is infection. Ingrown toenails can cause bone infection by disturbing the underlying bone.

Leaving an ingrown toenail untreated can cause more problems for people with diabetes and poor blood circulation. The nerves in their feet may be damaged and they will feel the side effects more severely. Therefore, the ingrown toenail may not heal at the desired level and the infection may progress. There is also a risk that the progressive infection in the toenail may cause diabetic foot sores. This condition can become serious and progress to tissue death or even amputation.

As a result, ingrown toenails can react differently from person to person if left untreated. If you are suffering from ingrown toenails, you can prevent possible problems by going to a specialist physician for a check-up.

How to Treat Ingrown Toenails?

In patients with severe ingrown toenails, some or all of the nail is removed by surgery. Therefore, surgery may be necessary in the treatment of ingrown toenails if home treatments do not respond. In addition, recurrent ingrown toenails and risks caused by diseases such as diabetes may also require surgery.

The treatment of ingrown toenails varies from patient to patient. Some people may need to have part of their nail removed, while others may need to have the entire nail removed. After the necessary conversations with the patient before the treatment, the treatment is prepared. First, antiseptic solutions are applied and the patient’s feet are cleaned. Anesthetic is applied to prevent the patient’s nail bed from hurting. A tourniquet is placed on the root of the finger to control bleeding in the numbed area.

Ingrown Toenail in Babies

In order to avoid the problem of ingrown toenail in babies, paying attention to nail care and cutting plays a very critical role. In babies whose toenails grow fast, ingrown toenails can be very painful and painful. In case of an ingrown toenail in infants, the finger becomes red and swollen.

Any pressure on the area where a disturbing discharge may also occur may cause the baby to react by crying. Even touching the toe can be enough to feel pain. In particular, babies who suddenly start to hate shoes may limp or cry while walking. Therefore, it is necessary to be more careful against ingrown toenails in babies.

Ingrown Toenail on the Hand

An ingrown toenail on the hand directly affects daily life. An ingrown nail, which can interfere with basic habits, can lead to minor accidents. Therefore, it may be necessary to remove the ingrown nail. After consulting a specialist physician, it is decided what kind of treatment will be applied. An ingrown nail on the hand can be treated with both natural methods and surgery. However, this situation is determined according to the discomfort in the patient’s nail.

In ingrown toenail on the hand, it will be sufficient to apply similar treatment methods as ingrown toenail. Therefore, many treatment methods can be used. As a result, ingrown toenail affects the quality of life of the person. If left untreated, it can lead to serious problems such as infection.

Ingrown Toenail on Foot

The most common part of the ingrown nail is the foot. The main causes of ingrowing for more than one reason can be listed as; moist feet, tight shoes and socks, improper cutting of nails. Stinging caused by these problems affects both the quality of life and health of the person. People who have difficulty walking can expect an infection in their feet after a while.

Therefore, treatment of ingrown toenail on foot should be done as soon as possible and the problem should be prevented from growing. If a patient has a condition such as diabetes, ingrown toenail on foot can become an even bigger problem. These conditions, which cause a lot of pain and pain, can make ingrown toenails a different problem. As a result, it would be the best decision for people with ingrown toenails to consult a specialist doctor and get treatment quickly.

Ingrown Toenail Inflammation

Ingrown toenails can become extremely uncomfortable over time. If left untreated shortly after the ingrowth, the nail and surrounding tissues can become infected. If the inflammation of the ingrown toenail begins, the pain can become much more severe. Especially this pain may progress towards the foot after a while and cause problems such as swelling, redness and discharge.

People with diseases such as diabetes and rheumatic diseases are more affected by ingrown toenail inflammation. These people, who feel the complications of ingrown toenails even more severely, may need surgery.

In order to prevent the problem of ingrown toenail inflammation from getting worse, you should go to a specialist doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, the problem may get bigger and bigger, causing increased pain and suffering.

Cream for Ingrown Toenail

More than one method is applied for ingrown toenail treatment. One of the most striking methods is cream. The application of cream for ingrown toenail shows 60 to 70 percent success. Especially applying creams containing antibiotics to the part where the infection occurs is very effective. However, this process should proceed under the control of a specialist physician.

Otherwise, creams applied in the wrong sizes may cause different problems. Cream is also recommended for ingrown toenails in infants. In infants, where only antibiotic creams are recommended for use, getting a doctor’s approval plays a critical role. After applying cream for ingrown toenails, the area is covered with a bandage to prevent infection.

Ingrown Toenail Before and After

A person with an ingrown toenail feels pain and soreness. The area, which is at risk of infection, may become uncomfortable after a while. Therefore, you can easily feel the difference the ingrown toenail before and after. The fact that ingrown toenails directly affect the quality of life can damage people’s habits. In particular, people who want to go out may have difficulty wearing shoes and socks.

The change that will be experienced before and after ingrown toenail should not only be considered in terms of health. Having negative effects on both health and quality of life, ingrown toenails have many effects from routine habits to feeling happy. Therefore, the comfort after treatment of ingrown toenails can be evaluated from many perspectives.

Ingrown Toenail Treatment Costs

Ingrown toenail treatment costs vary depending on the quality of the cream used and the extent of the discomfort in the area. If half or all of a patient’s nail is to be removed, this may affect costs. In addition, the size of the ingrown nail also affects the process. If the patient’s nail is infected, it may also be necessary to resort to different methods for treatment. The equipment of the doctor who will perform the procedure and the quality of the hospital also affect the costs of ingrown nail treatment.

As a result, since each patient’s needs and health conditions are different from each other, it is not possible for them to be treated with the same costs. If you want to get more detailed information about ingrown toenail treatment and ask questions about the process, you can contact Lygos Clinic’s expert team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ingrown Toenail

Which Doctor to Go to for Ingrown Toenail?

Generally, the orthopedics department is visited for ingrown toenails on the big toe. In the absence of an orthopedic department, the general surgery service can also be consulted for ingrown toenail treatment.

How Does Ingrown Toenail Infection Go Away?

Ingrown toenail infection can pass with the use of antibiotic cream given by the doctor. In case it does not pass, the nail is removed by the specialist physician by performing surgery and a bandage is applied to the area.

What Happens if an Ingrown Toenail Progresses?

If the ingrown toenail progresses, pain and suffering may increase. After the ingrown nail; Symptoms such as increased heat, swelling and discharge may also occur after a while. The formation of infection in the area also causes the problem to grow gradually.

How to Use the Ingrown Toenail Apparatus?

The 2 hooks of the ingrown toenail apparatus should be threaded into the ends of the nail. Then the screw is tightened slowly and the nail is corrected. A single session may not be sufficient for deeper ingrown nails. Therefore, the procedure may need to be repeated in 3 to 4 sessions.

How Long Does Ingrown Toenail Heal?

Ingrown toenails usually heal spontaneously. However, the discomfort experienced by the patient may prolong the process and require treatment. It is expected that the healing process will vary between 1 and 7 days after the ingrown toenail treatment takes effect.