Sandy Crest Medical Centre - Health Tips

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Ingrown Toenail

This is relatively common. The corner or side of the toenail grows into the soft flesh of the toe. Often results in pain, redness, swelling and an inflammatory discharge. It usually affects the big toe.

While it can often be taken care of at home, seek further attention from a podiatrist or GP in the following instances:

•  Severe cases – not responding to home care or where pain, swelling or infection is severe

• Diabetics

• If there is poor circulation

Causes:

• Wearing shoes that crowd/ squeeze toes

• Cutting toenails too short or not straight across
• Injury to toenail
• Unusually curved toenails
• Thickening of toenails

Possible complications:

• Bone infection

• Amputation of toe or foot in diabetics or persons with other circulatory problems

Treatment includes:

• Trimming or removing the ingrown portion of the nail

• Doctor may recommend using topical or oral antibiotics
• For a recurrent ingrown toenail, your foot doctor or GP may remove a portion of toenail along with the nail bed to prevent that part of nail from growing back.
• Avoiding wherever possible the above causes