Ingrown nail: causes, elimination, prevention

An ingrown toenail is a phenomenon in which the edge of the nail cuts into the surrounding skin. Such a problem may be faced by people whose damaged nail begins to grow abnormally, or those whose skin around the nail plate grows too quickly, covering the nail. Usually, such a misfortune is familiar to those who abuse uncomfortable shoes or do the wrong pedicure. You need to trim your nails straight without rounding off the sides.

Why does the nail grow

The nail can grow in for several reasons: firstly, if the nail plate exerts strong pressure on the skin around it, and secondly, this phenomenon can be caused by the shape of the nail, which has a tendency to grow in. A genetic predisposition is due to an excess of soft tissues that begin to tightly clasp the nail. Thirdly, one cannot fail to note the fact that the wrong pedicure technique can cause the marigold to grow into the skin or change its shape. Fourthly, leg injuries can cause a change in the shape of the marigold and the appearance of such an unpleasant ailment. Fifth, the appearance of excess weight can provoke the ingrowth of the nail plate into the skin.

This problem can be aggravated by love, even if beautiful, but narrow and uncomfortable shoes. If you constantly wear such shoes, the nail will grow deep into the rollers and cause ingrowth. In addition to all of the above, fungal infections can lead to problems with an ingrown marigold.

Ingrown toenail: symptoms

If you began to notice that the skin around the nail began to swell, redden, and at the slightest pressure, you experience painful sensations, then these are the first symptoms of an ingrown marigold. Most often, this problem occurs on the big toes, which means that you will have difficulty wearing closed shoes.

Often, an ingrown toenail also accompanies the appearance of an infection. If you feel unbearable pain and pus coming out of your finger, it is most likely an infectious disease. Be careful: if you have diabetes mellitus, problems with immunity, circulatory disorders in the lower extremities, without properly selected treatment, the infectious process can spread to other tissues, and the whole foot can suffer!

Ingrown toenail: photo

Ingrown toenail in a child

In children, the disease of an ingrown marigold is called onychocryptosis. It means that the ingrowth of the nail in a child occurs due to the pathology of the growth of the nail plate. Just like in adults, ingrown marigolds are most often found on the big toes, because it is the big toes that are most susceptible to injury. The mechanism of marigold ingrowth is the same for everyone: the gradual ingrowth of the nail plate into the lateral ridges. The symptoms are exactly the same: gradually increasing painful sensations, then the appearance of swelling and redness. If this process is not prevented in time, then the appearance of an infection is inevitable.

An ingrown toenail is not an instant problem, so if your child complains of soreness in his toe, get it examined right away. As soon as you notice that the edges of the marigold are growing incorrectly, resting on the skin, take measures:

• prepare a warm bath of chamomile decoction or manganese solution;
• treat the focus of inflammation with an antiseptic or a solution containing alcohol, smear with brilliant green or iodine;
• carefully cut the edge of the marigold, which delivers unpleasant painful sensations;
• monitor the condition of the finger daily and repeat the procedures until the puffiness and redness are completely removed;
• Go through your shoes and replace those that are narrow and uncomfortable with more comfortable ones.

Ingrown toenail correction

Correction is needed in order to correct the direction of growth of the nail so that its lateral edges do not rest against soft tissues. There are several methods of correction:

1. First you need to soften the marigold with the help of trays. Then we make the nail thin, scraping the nail plate in the center and on the sides. Under the edge where the marigold grows, we place a cotton or gauze swab soaked in antiseptic agents. This process must be repeated until the edge of the marigold is aligned.
2. Another method is to flatten the nail plate by placing a plastic plate treated with alcohol under the edge of the nail. In this case, you will need to fix the plate with a bactericidal plaster and bandage your finger.
3. There is also a method of sawing the nail plate to reduce the width of the marigold and straighten it. In order to cut the nail, a regular nail file is used. The preparatory procedure looks absolutely the same: we prepare the finger by softening the nail with a bath. Next, we process the nail and the nail file, which we will use for sawing, with alcohol. Then, from the center of the marigold from the upper free edge to the middle of the marigold, we slightly cut the top layer so that a groove is formed. The same procedure is done with the side edges. Thanks to this, the nail will unfold as it grows, and its edges will rise.

These procedures are needed primarily in order to relieve the inflammatory process and unpleasant painful sensations.

Remember that self-healing of an ingrowing marigold is good and acceptable in the early stages of the onset of the disease. If you are faced with more serious symptoms, you should definitely go to a specialist in order to avoid possible serious consequences.

Ingrown toenail treatment

To treat an ingrowing marigold at home, warm baths with antiseptics are used to relieve inflammation. For these purposes, potassium permanganate, Furacilin, Chlorhexidine are dissolved in water, or infusions are prepared from herbs such as chamomile, marigolds, St. John's wort, celandine, etc. at the rate of one or two tablespoons of herbs per liter of water.

After steaming in the bath, try to trim the edge of the marigold that cuts into the skin. Before going to bed, it is recommended to apply a bandage by treating the inflamed area, for example, with Levomycetin. If you experience pain, use antiseptics containing lidocaine. Under the side edge, you can put a gauze or cotton swab soaked in an antiseptic, gently pushing the edge of the roller over the nail with a cotton swab.

In the presence of inflammation, swelling and even abscesses, Vishnevsky or Levomikol ointment will be effective. Bandages should also be applied at bedtime.

Continue to repeat all the necessary procedures until all signs of inflammation are completely eliminated.

Treatment of an ingrown nail with a laser

An ingrown nail can also be treated with a laser. When treating a disease with a laser, you will be removed, or the nail plate and lateral ridges will be evaporated with a carbon dioxide laser. With this method of treatment, during the procedure, the vessels will be "sealed" and you will not lose a drop of blood.

This method of dealing with an ingrown toenail has a number of clear advantages:

• The highest accuracy when acting on the affected area, allows you to eliminate the problem with the ingrowth of the marigold without affecting other areas of the skin.
• The duration of the procedure is only 20 minutes.
• Laser intervention does not injure, there is no blood loss during treatment.
• Laser treatment guarantees sterility during the procedure.
• Has anti-inflammatory effect, promotes rapid healing.
• It has an analgesic effect.
• After laser intervention, the patient will not have traces of hematomas, which prevents the appearance of infections.
• The nail and toe will retain their natural shape after the operation.
• Laser treatment takes place under local anesthesia.
• The recovery period is quite short, 5-14 days. Restrictions affect only physical activity - the recovery period in this case reaches a month.

How to remove an ingrown toenail

An ingrown marigold can be trimmed by yourself at home. In order to prevent improper nail growth, use a cotton or gauze swab soaked in an antiseptic. To do this, slightly lift the side edge of the nail plate and place the prepared swab there. Perform the procedure at night and until the inflammation and swelling are completely eliminated.

If you cannot cope with the problem on your own due to severe painful sensations, contact a specialist. The doctor will numb the lesion and remove the ingrown part of the marigold. The more carefully you monitor the condition of your fingers, the lower the likelihood of this trouble re-occurring.

Ingrown toenail prevention

In order for the problem of growing marigolds to bypass you, you need to properly care for your marigolds.

• Remember the most important thing: cut your nails not too short and in a straight line, avoiding cutting off the corners. With the right pedicure, your nail will have a square shape with a slightly rounded upper part. Do not use scissors with rounded edges.
• Avoiding tight, uncomfortable shoes that put pressure on your big toes will be a preventative measure.
• Monitor the condition of your feet to recognize and prevent fungus at the slightest suspicion of it.
• Practice good foot hygiene to prevent fungal infections. This primarily refers to excessive sweating.
• If you or your child has an irregular marigold shape since birth, do not be upset! With the help of a properly performed pedicure, you can easily cope with this trouble.

People with flat feet, clubfoot and other disorders of the structure of the foot should be more careful in the prevention of this disease. Due to the different load on the foot, as well as its incorrect position in the shoe, the big toe can be subjected to pressure even in shoes that seem loose at first glance.