Being careful when trimming your toenails can help avoid problems with ingrown nails later. Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is an Ingrown Toenail? How Do Ingrown Toenails Happen? Other common causes of ingrown toenails include: Shoes that don't fit well. Shoes that are too tight can push the skin on the sides of the nail up over the nail, forcing the nail to grow in.
Shoes that are too short also can cause nails to grow into the soft skin. Toe injuries. Some severe toe injuries can make the nail fall off. If that happens, the new nail can grow back ingrown. Repeated activity. Sometimes, simply repeating the same activity — like kicking a soccer ball — over and over again can lead to ingrown toenails.
They are pieces of excess skin. A person should not pull or bite a hangnail to remove it. This can leave an injury on the finger that could cause an infection. Instead, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and gently clip it with clean nail clippers close to the base.
If it bleeds or is painful, apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage for 24 hours to help it heal. Ingrown fingernails are not usually serious, and a person can treat them at home. Home remedies include soaking the nail, using cotton or gauze, or lifting the nail with dental floss. However, if the nail shows signs of infection or a person has other health conditions, they should see a doctor.
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Included is detail on the diagnosis and when to see a…. How to fix an ingrown fingernail. Methods Infections Prevention Ingrown nail vs. Try home treatments for a few days to a few weeks. If the pain worsens or you find it difficult to walk or perform other activities because of the nail, see your doctor.
If the toenail does not respond to home treatments or an infection occurs, you may need surgery. In cases of infection, stop all home treatments and see your doctor. There are different types of surgical treatments for ingrown toenails. Partial nail removal only involves removing the piece of nail that is digging into your skin. Your doctor numbs your toe and then narrows the toenail. According to the NHS, partial nail removal is 98 percent effective for preventing future ingrown toenails.
During a partial nail removal, the sides of the nail are cut away so that the edges are completely straight. A piece of cotton is placed under the remaining portion of the nail to keep the ingrown toenail from recurring. Your doctor may also treat your toe with a compound called phenol, which keeps the nail from growing back. Total nail removal may be used if your ingrown nail is caused by thickening.
Your doctor will give you a local pain injection and then remove the entire nail in a procedure called a matrixectomy. After surgery, your doctor will send you home with your toe bandaged. You will probably need to keep your foot raised for the next one to two days and wear special footwear to allow your toe to heal properly. Avoid movement as much as possible.
Your bandage is usually removed two days after surgery. Your doctor will advise you to wear open-toe shoes and to do daily salt water soaks until your toe heals. You will also be prescribed pain relief medication and antibiotics to prevent infection. Your toenail will likely grow back a few months after a partial nail removal surgery. If the entire nail is removed down to the base the nail matrix under your skin , a toenail can take over a year to grow back.
If left untreated, an ingrown toenail infection can cause an infection in the bone in your toe. A toenail infection can also lead to foot ulcers, or open sores, and a loss of blood flow to the infected area. Tissue decay and tissue death at the site of infection are possible. A foot infection can be more serious if you have diabetes. Even a small cut, scrape, or ingrown toenail may quickly become infected due to the lack of blood flow and nerve sensitivity.
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