All of us have faced this at some point in time when our nail was cut a little too deep and it hurt a lot. While this may not be problematic if it occurs rarely, frequent instances of it may give rise to something that is known as an ingrown toenail.
What is it, though?
An ingrown toenail is, essentially, a toenail growing in a direction that penetrates the membrane of the skin. While it may be extremely painful, it may also be infectious, since our feet are subject to massive amounts of dust exposure.
The condition usually affects the big toe although it is quite possible for other toes to be affected by it too. An ingrown toenail may present itself with swelling and redness of the skin around that area. In severe cases, there might be inflammation and infectious discharge as well. It is important that when you notice these signs you visit a podiatrist specialized in foot pain in Liverpool and seek immediate treatment.
Causes of an ingrown toenail
It is generally a result of a disturbance in regular nail growth. This can be caused because of a number of reasons.
1. Incorrect footwear
If one is opting for footwear that is too small or tight, it can cause a restriction in the organic growth of nails. Wearing such footwear for a prolonged period of time would put pressure on toenails, resulting in ingrowth. Tight, small shoes can also cause pain in the heels. If so, you can either seek a more specific heel spur treatment or generally get treated for heel pain in Liverpool.
2. Cutting nails incorrectly
Many people have a habit of cutting their nails in an erroneous manner. While some may cut them in inappropriate shapes, some others cut the nails a bit too deep, leaving the nail area sensitive. A practice of cutting nails along the contour should be followed in order to avoid ingrown toenails and ensuing pain.
3. Naturally incurvated nails
Due to genetic inheritance, it is possible that some people’s nails are naturally incurvated or curved inwards. In such cases, if they are not cut on time, the toenails can penetrate the skin and cause pain. A podiatrist dealing with foot pain in Liverpool will be able to help with this condition.
4. Skin-nail proportion and chubby toes
If the skin around the toenail is chubby and the nail area is much smaller in proportion to the toe, then the toenails can grow to pierce through the skin causing a lot of pain.
Treatment for ingrown toenail
Its treatment can be done in two ways.
- Generally, the nail and toe areas are softened and edges of the toenail are cut carefully. Most of the time, this procedure and a connected heel spur treatment can solve the issue.
- Individuals can also opt for nail surgery. During nail surgery, local anesthesia is given and then the toenail is surgically removed. It does not require hospitalization. But post-surgery care needs to be taken till the wound heals.
In severe cases, additional pain in other parts of the foot can be treated for heel pain in Liverpool too. To read up about more tips to tackle ingrown toenails or to get in touch with our experts, visit Liverpool Podiatry.
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