Learn How To Treat Inflamed Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown nail, scientifically called onychocryptosis, happens when the corner of the nail grows and begins to enter the skin around the nail.
The problem affects men and women, without distinction, and occurs most frequently in the first toe, the “big toe”.
Ingrown toenails usually cause a lot of pain, and leave the area inflamed, with redness and swelling.
It doesn't usually cause problems bigger than discomfort and pain, but it can get worse if left untreated.
So, let's understand how it appears and what to do to treat inflamed ingrown toenails.
What are the causes of ingrown toenails?
The nail normally grows vertically in relation to the finger. Therefore, it does not injure or push against the skin around it.
However, some factors can cause the side edge to grow into the skin, causing inflammation and pain.
Among the most common reasons are:
- Wear tight shoes that “squeeze” your toes.
- Trim the nails wrongly, rounding the sides.
- Trim your nails too much, keeping them too short.
- Play sports that can injure your nails.
- Anatomical variations and congenital deformities such as curved nails and bunions.
- Traumatic injuries such as a fall or crash.
- Onychomycosis (nail mycosis).
Keep in mind that poor eyesight, physical inability to reach your toes, and thick nails can make cutting your nails difficult.
In this case, it is recommended to seek assistance from a podiatrist to perform toenail maintenance.
Also, you should always wear comfortable shoes that provide enough space around your toes.
What NOT to do if an ingrown toenail is inflamed?
If the nail is very ingrown, inflamed or has pus, especially if it is not possible to walk normally, a podiatrist or dermatologist should be seen to remove the nail.
- It is NOT recommended to attempt the procedure at home, due to the risk of aggravation or infection.
- It is also not advisable to put on a tight bandage, as it can worsen the inflammation and, consequently, the pain.
- Covering the affected area with cotton or gauze, as some people point out, can also be dangerous because smothering can increase the proliferation of bacteria in the area.
In summary, avoid resorting to home treatments. Seek professional guidance from a doctor or podiatrist, who will be able to carry out the necessary procedures and indicate the most appropriate resources for each case.
So how to treat inflamed ingrown toenails?
In most cases, the podiatry treatment is quite simple, and consists of removing the piece of nail that is causing inflammation.
However, there are patients who present recurrent ingrown nails and, therefore, it is necessary to apply foot orthoses, that is, simple devices capable of correcting and/or restructuring the nail, to avoid new occurrences.
Molecular memory fibers, for example, are easy to apply and extremely discreet. They pull the nail, modifying it, in order to reach the ideal shape. Other orthotics rely on the action of rubber bands or metallic threads, which correct the curvature without damaging it.
These devices are applied only by podiatrists, who will assess each particular case, in order to list what is the need and what is the best device for each patient.
In more serious cases, or when there is an infection that requires the use of medication, a dermatologist's medical evaluation is necessary, as the podiatrist cannot prescribe medication or perform surgeries - as podiatry only uses analgesia, but cannot apply injectable anesthesia .
Your doctor may prescribe topical antibiotic ointments or creams, as well as oral analgesics and antibiotics.
Oral antibiotics are especially recommended for people with low immunity, who do not respond to the application of ointments or creams alone.
As for surgical procedures, they are indicated in cases where the nails are frequently ingrown and treatment with orthotics or cutting does not work.
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia and, in most cases, it is not necessary to remove the entire nail.
The most common procedure is canthoplasty, that is, the removal and remodeling of the sides of the nail. The technique is minimally invasive, brings satisfactory results and recovery is quick. Surgeries must be performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
What are the risks of not treating an inflamed ingrown toenail?
Over time, the wound may get worse and show discharge and pus. Pus does not necessarily mean infection. It may just be the body's reaction against the skin's aggression. However, in more serious cases, it can become, yes, an infectious process.
The care must be redoubled in cases of patients with diabetes, circulatory problems or compromised immunity, as they have difficulty in healing and weaker body defenses.
In these people, the inflamed ingrown toenail can cause ulcers, gangrene, and spread through the finger to the bone, causing osteomyelitis (infection of the bones).
Therefore, whenever there is an ingrown toenail with pus, especially with pain, swelling and/or a strong odor, see a podiatrist.
The podiatrist is the professional trained to carry out the simplest and most effective local procedures. In case of need for drug therapies, seek a dermatologist.
