Here Is What You Should Know About Ingrown Toenails And How To Treat Them
By Dreamer
What are ingrown toenails?
An ingrown toenail happens when there is pressure from in growth of nail’s edge which is driven into the skin. Once this in growth edge of the nail penetrates the skin, this can cause severe inflammation and irritation to the toe.
What can be perceived as just some discomfort on the toe can go on to become a major cause of infection, if the condition is not treated well in time. The infection can cause the toe to get filled with pus and can become very painful and swollen.
If not treated, this inflammation may turn into cellulitis or can become a recurring problem.
What are the causes and symptoms of ingrown toenails?
Ingrown toenails can be caused due to variety of reasons. It can occur due to cutting the nail too short or the nail becoming inverted which then starts growing into the skin. Other causes of ingrown nails are probably hereditary reasons and also the tendency of wearing improperly fitted shoes or socks for long periods of time.
The main symptom of ingrown toenails is obviously toe nails growing inwards into the skin of the toe. The area around the toe, where the nail penetrates the skin can become very swollen and painful. This can be diagnosed by self-examination or by a doctor.
Though ingrown toenails can happen to anybody, there are certain types of people among whom the ingrown toenails are pretty common. People such as athletes who play soccer, tennis and basketball, people who wear shoes that are too large or too small, people with foot or toe deformities and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and arthritis are more prone to ingrown toenails. But there are many remedies in order to get rid of this annoying condition.
Homemade remedy to remove ingrown toenails
Before we discuss medical or surgical treatments to get rid of ingrown toenails, here is a very simple homemade remedy for the ingrown toenail problem. This is a very simple method which requires things that are readily present in the house or easily accessible and is practically painless
All you need to do is to soak your affected toe in warm water for about 15 mins, for 2-3 times every day. Now make a small cotton ball and insert it between the skin and the nail that is growing inward.
Repeat the procedure every day until the nail grows out and can be trimmed away. Avoid using sharp objects like a filer or pin to scratch the part between the skin and the nail, as it can cause injury and even infection. If the toe is filled with pus, don’t try and puncture it as it may cause serious infection.
Other treatments
Other major remedies to treat ingrown nails are mostly done by a doctor. The doctor might first assess the situation and ask you to wear better fitting shoes. But if still infection sets in, the doctor might be forced to prescribe an antibiotic to fight off the infection.
Additionally, the doctor might also advise you to partially remove the ingrown nail. If the condition continues to reoccur, the doctor might also perform a permanent removal of the nail root and the procedure is done under local anesthetic.
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