How To Tell If You Have An Ingrown Nail

Overview

Ingrown toenail | Cleveland Clinic — Ingrown toenail

What is an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail is a foot status that develops when the corner of the toenail grows downward into the skin. It usually affects the large toe. Ingrown toenails often happen when people cutting their toenails by tapering the corner of their toenail. If the toenail curves with the shape of the toe, it can grow into your peel. Ingrown toenails are common and don't normally pose a health chance to healthy people.

Who is likely to have an ingrown toenail?

Anyone can get an ingrown toenail. People at higher risk include adolescents, athletes and those who have:

Diabetes.
Severe nerve harm in the leg or foot.
Poor claret circulation.
An infection effectually the nail.

How common are ingrown toenails?

Ingrown toenails are a common foot condition. Two out of x people who see their healthcare provider for a pes problem accept an ingrown toenail.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes an ingrown toenail?

An ingrown toenail tin can have many causes:

Incorrectly cutting toenails. If y'all cut your toenails too short or rounded, the nail may grow into the skin.
Improperly fitting shoes.
Fierce the corner of the nail.
Toe trauma, such as banging your toe or getting stepped on.
Congenital (your pes shape) — for instance, if your nail is larger comparatively with your toe, or the surrounding tissue of the smash edge naturally grows effectually your blast.
What are the signs and symptoms of an infected ingrown toenail?

At start, an ingrown toenail can feel hard and swollen. If the boom grows into the skin, or the skin grows over the boom edge, bacteria can enter. The nail may become infected. Signs of ingrown toenail infection include:

Liquid or pus coming out of the toe.
Hurting.
Redness or darkening of the surface area.
Swelling.
Toe feeling warm or hot.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is an ingrown toenail diagnosed?

You can ofttimes diagnose an ingrown toenail yourself, based on your symptoms and how the toe looks.

Your healthcare provider (which may exist your regular provider or a foot specialist chosen a podiatrist) will likely diagnose an ingrown toenail by inspecting information technology. They'll examine the pare at the border of the nail. They volition diagnose an ingrown toenail if the skin is:

Growing over the nail.
Swollen, tender, warm and blood-red.

What tests might I have for an ingrown toenail?

Y'all typically don't need whatever tests or 10-rays to diagnose an ingrown toenail. In rare cases, when the toenail is severely infected, your healthcare provider might take a sample civilization to identify the infection. Ten-ray may besides be required in more serious infections.

Management and Treatment

How is an ingrown toenail treated?

You lot can care for an ingrown toenail at home. These steps help control the infection and prevent further hurting:

Soak the foot in warm h2o and Epsom salts twice daily.
Keep the foot dry the residual of the time.
Gently lift the edge of the nail and place some cotton or dental floss between the nail and the skin. Modify the pad every solar day.
Use an antibiotic cream and a bandage.
Wearable roomy shoes or sandals.
Use pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, if needed.

Can I cut the ingrown nail myself?

If y'all have an ingrown toenail, do non attempt to cut it yourself. If you cut the smash, the status may get worse. If symptoms aren't getting better with at-domicile remedies, see a healthcare provider.

Do I need a healthcare provider to care for an ingrown toenail?

If your symptoms oasis't improved within a few days, or the boom looks worse, call your healthcare provider.

Y'all should as well run across your provider every bit soon equally possible if you develop an ingrown toenail and you accept:

Diabetes.
Severe nerve damage.
Poor claret circulation.
An infection.

Does an ingrown toenail require surgery?

Most of the time, an ingrown toenail heals without surgery. In severe cases, your healthcare provider may need to remove function of the nail surgically. The procedure is called a nail avulsion. Surgery keeps the edge of the boom from growing inward and cutting into the peel. For children who keep getting infected ingrown toenails, permanently removing the nail tin help.

During a partial or consummate smash avulsion, your provider injects an anesthetic (numbing medicine) in your toe. So the provider cuts away function or all of the toenail. Information technology can take a few months for the nail to regrow. For recurrent ingrown nails these avulsion procedures can be washed permanently with the aid of a chemic to impale the nail root.

###

Prevention

How can I prevent an ingrown toenail?

Y'all tin can take these steps to forestall an ingrown toenail:

Soak the smash in warm h2o earlier cutting, or cut nails after a shower or bathroom.
Make clean your smash trimmer before using it.
Do not tear or rip nails.
Trim toenails across the summit. Don't circular the corners.
Clothing shoes that fit correctly. They should non be too loose or tight around the toes.
Avoid repetitive trauma to the sides of the nails.
If you lot have diabetes, follow all foot care recommendations from your healthcare provider. With diabetes, practise NOT exist hesitant about seeking medical help.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the outlook for someone with an ingrown toenail?

Most of the fourth dimension, an ingrown toenail is not a serious health problem. Ingrown toenail handling usually works. The ingrown toenail won't grow back if you practice good foot care.

Yous may need regular foot intendance exams if you have a status that causes foot problems, such as nerve harm or diabetes.

Living With

When should I see my healthcare provider near an ingrown toenail?

See your healthcare provider for an ingrown toenail if you lot have:

Diabetes.
Signs of an infection (pus or liquid drainage, extreme pain or redness).
Poor apportionment.
Tried topical antibody ointment, soaking and cocky-care but the toe still hurts.

What should I enquire my healthcare provider?

If you lot have an ingrown toenail, ask your provider:

Is the nail infected?
How tin can I best care for it?
Do I need surgery?
How can I go along it from coming back?
Do I demand medication?
How should I cutting my nails to avert ingrown toenails?

A annotation from Cleveland Clinic

An ingrown toenail is annoying and painful but very treatable. Ofttimes, soaking the nail will improve symptoms within a few days. If it doesn't get improve, see your healthcare provider who can treat information technology. Don't attempt to cutting the ingrown nail yourself at home. In the future, to prevent ingrown toenails, wear roomy shoes and cut your nails straight across, rather than tapering them to the shape of your toe.

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17664-ingrown-toenails

Posted by: tardywellink.blogspot.com