What Are Ingrown Toenails
- Most common nail impairment
- Side of the nail abnormally digs into the soft tissue causing pain
- Most commonly seen in the big toenail, although smaller toes can be affected
Causes
- Genetics / Heredity
- Pressure from shoes
- Crowding of toes
- Recurring trauma to the feet from normal activities
Symptoms
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Drainage (clear fluid or pus)
- Odour
- Thickened surrounding skin
When To Visit A Foot Specialist
- If any of the following symptoms above are present and no improvements are noted with home treatments
- Individuals with poor circulation, diabetes, etc. need to seek immediate treatment as soon as symptoms begin
What Can I Expect During The Visit
- Physical examination of the lower limbs
- Non-surgical or surgical removal of the ingrown portion of the nail (depending on severity)
- Permanent correction of the ingrown portion of the nail to prevent recurrence
- Prescription of topical / oral medications to treat infection
Prevention
- Trim nails straight across, ensuring they grow beyond the alongside skin
- Never rip or tear nail edges
- Do not dig into the corners with a nail file or any other device
- Wear shoes that have wide and deep toe boxes to accommodate your foot properly
- Most common nail impairment
- Side of the nail abnormally digs into the soft tissue causing pain
- Most commonly seen in the big toenail, although smaller toes can be affected
Causes
- Genetics / Heredity
- Pressure from shoes
- Crowding of toes
- Recurring trauma to the feet from normal activities
Symptoms
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Drainage (clear fluid or pus)
- Odour
- Thickened surrounding skin
When To Visit A Foot Specialist
- If any of the following symptoms above are present and no improvements are noted with home treatments
- Individuals with poor circulation, diabetes, etc. need to seek immediate treatment as soon as symptoms begin
What Can I Expect During The Visit
- Physical examination of the lower limbs
- Non-surgical or surgical removal of the ingrown portion of the nail (depending on severity)
- Permanent correction of the ingrown portion of the nail to prevent recurrence
- Prescription of topical / oral medications to treat infection
Prevention
- Trim nails straight across, ensuring they grow beyond the alongside skin
- Never rip or tear nail edges
- Do not dig into the corners with a nail file or any other device
- Wear shoes that have wide and deep toe boxes to accommodate your foot properly