An ingrown toenail often occurs because a nail is not trimmed correctly or because shoes are too tight. An ingrown nail can cause an infection.
If your toe is infected, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Most ingrown toenails can be treated at home. You should trim toenails straight across, so the ends of the nail grow over the skin and not into it. Good nail care can prevent ingrown toenails.
An ingrown nail grows into the flesh instead of over it and usually affects the toes, particularly the big toe. The site of an ingrown nail can be painful, tender, red, swollen, and can sometimes develop pus.
Ingrown nails are most often caused by:
Most ingrown nail problems can be prevented by proper nail care, such as cutting nails straight across, and by wearing shoes and socks that fit well. Home treatment, such as soaking the affected nail in hot water, can often help relieve pain. Antibiotics may be needed for an ingrown nail that becomes infected. A severely ingrown nail may have to be partially or completely removed.
The main symptom of an ingrown toenail is the pain from the nail growing into the skin instead of over it. If the ingrown toenail gets infected, it might be swollen or red, and it might drain pus. The area around the ingrown toenail is often painful.
You can try the following steps at home to relieve the pain caused by your ingrown toenail and help the nail to grow out naturally:
Use these home treatment steps for 3 days. If they do not help, you might need to see your doctor. Be sure to see a doctor if your toe gets infected. Your toe might be infected if it hurts more than it did before you tried the home treatment. Call your doctor if your toe is red, warm, swollen, or drains pus, or if there are red streaks leading from your toe.
Your doctor might give you antibiotics. If your toenail is very ingrown, your doctor might suggest minor surgery to remove all or part of the ingrown nail. He or she may refer you to a podiatrist.
During this surgery, the doctor will numb your toe. Then he or she will cut the edge of the ingrown toenail and pull out the piece of nail. To prevent the nail from growing into the skin again, your doctor might destroy all or part of the nail root. This is called ablation. If your doctor removes all or part of your nail but does not destroy the root, it will begin to grow back within a few months.
After the surgery it is important to take care of your toe so that it can heal. Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow. He or she may tell you to:
You may be able to help prevent ingrown toenails by wearing roomy and comfortable shoes and socks that do not press on your toes. If you work in a place where your toe might get hurt, wear sturdy shoes such as steel-toed boots to protect your toes.
Be sure to trim your toenails properly. You can do this by cutting your toenail straight across, not curved. Make sure you do not cut your toenail too short. You can also leave your toenail a little longer at the corners to help it grow over the skin.
If you have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, talk with your doctor before you trim your own toenails. People with diabetes have a hard time feeling their toes and might cut themselves without realizing it. Peripheral arterial disease can cause toes to be very painful.
Many hospitals and health care centers have foot care clinics, where someone can help you trim your toenails. Ask your doctor to recommend a foot care clinic near your home.
Your doctor will do a physical exam to diagnose an ingrown toenail. He or she will look at your toe where the nail has grown into the skin.
An ingrown toenail can have a number of different causes. Cutting your toenail too short or rounding the edge of the nail can cause it to grow into the skin. Wearing shoes or socks that don't fit well can also cause an ingrown toenail. If your shoes are too tight, they might press the nail into the toe and cause it to grow into the skin.
You can get an ingrown toenail if you hurt your toe, such as stubbing it. This can cause the nail to grow inward. Repeating an activity that injures the nail, such as kicking a soccer ball, can also cause an ingrown nail.
An ingrown toenail is a toenail that has grown into the skin instead of over it. This usually happens to the big toe, but it can also happen to other toes. An ingrown toenail can get infected. It may be painful, red, and swollen, and it may drain pus.
Anyone can get an ingrown toenail, but adults get them more than children do. People who have curved or thick nails are more likely to get an ingrown toenail. This is more common in older adults.
Wedge a small piece of wet cotton under the corner of the nail to cushion the nail. This will also help lift the nail slightly off of the skin.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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