Symptoms, causes and treatments| HealthPartners Blog

Have you ever questioned, “Why does the corner of my toenail hurt?”

If you’re experiencing ache or swelling round your toenail, you might have an ingrown toenail. The excellent news is that ingrown toenails might be handled at dwelling. However, it is vital to know that if it’s simply left alone, it is attainable for the toenail to turn into contaminated and require medical remedy.

Below, we’ll let you know extra about ingrown toenails – signs to search for, what causes them, dwelling treatments and when to speak to a physician.

What is an ingrown toenail​?

Ingrown toenails occur when the toenail begins to develop into the pores and skin subsequent to it. It’s probably to occur in your large toe, however it will probably occur on any of them. Ingrown toenails might be very painful and uncomfortable, as they make it tough to face, stroll and comfortably carry out regular day by day routines.

Ingrown toenails are a typical foot situation – in truth, 20% of people that complain to their physician about foot issues have an ingrown toenail.

Ingrown toenail signs to look at for

Ingrown toenails can initially really feel arduous and achy, and signs can worsen over time. The pores and skin surrounding the toe can turn into swollen, tender, heat and purple. One of the primary signs chances are you’ll discover is toenail ache and tenderness, particularly if you place pressure on the toe.

What does an ingrown toenail appear like?

You’ll possible be capable to inform you probably have an ingrown toenail simply by your foot. The toenail itself will likely be curved down into the pores and skin, and chances are you’ll not be capable to see the perimeters of the nail. You may discover swelling, redness or pus round your toenail.

Signs of an ingrown toenail an infection

If an ingrown toenail goes untreated, ache and irritation are more likely to enhance, and may even result in bleeding and an open wound. When the pores and skin beside the toenail breaks, micro organism may enter and trigger an an infection.

There are a couple of indicators that point out you might have an ingrown toenail an infection. It’s a good suggestion to see a main care physician or a foot specialist (equivalent to a podiatrist) in case you discover the next:

• Your toe is infected, swollen or bleeding.
• There’s white or yellow pus round your nail.
• Your toe is painful or feels heat if you contact it.
• You have a fever.

Pay additional attention if poor circulation is a priority

Poor circulation, which is frequent in individuals with diabetes, may cause poor blood move to your toes and decrease feeling ought to an ingrown toenail happen. The lack of circulation can even enhance the probabilities of an infection since white blood cells is not going to be despatched to the realm.

Stages of ingrown toenails

Ingrown toenails can start as a light irritation and evolve into extra critical situations. Catching the issue early can stop an ingrown toenail from getting worse – and additionally stop the necessity for medical therapies.

Identifying the stage of an ingrown nail may also help you already know which remedy possibility may match, and learn how to maintain the ingrown nail from getting worse.

Stage 1 ingrown toenail

In this stage, the toenail has started to develop into the pores and skin, leading to a light ingrown toenail. You might discover that your pores and skin is barely infected and a bit painful to the touch. Ingrown toenails at this stage can often be efficiently handled at dwelling.

Stage 2 ingrown toenail

During this stage, new infected tissue grows over the perimeters of your toenail. If the tissue across the ingrown toenail has turn into very infected or is producing pus, it’s time to see a main care physician or foot specialist. They can suggest medical therapies or antibiotics relying on the trigger and severity of your signs.

Stage 3 ingrown toenail

At this stage, the infected pores and skin has started to develop over the remainder of the toenail, and pus is constant to ooze out of the wound. You will need to make an appointment with a foot specialist as quickly as attainable in case you discover these signs. For stage 3 signs, a physician will possible suggest surgical procedure. You may want an oral or topical antibiotic.

Ingrown toenail causes

Ingrown toenails might be brought on by elements that vary from sporting footwear that’s too tight to foot accidents.

Tight footwear

One of the commonest causes of ingrown toenails is sporting footwear that’s too tight or doesn’t match correctly. Tight footwear can crowd the toenails. Stockings, sneakers or socks which are too small or slim can constrict the toes, inflicting ingrown toenails to kind over time.

Tight footwear can even make you sweat extra, softening the pores and skin round your toenail and making it simpler to your nail to pierce and develop into it.

Improperly minimize toenails

Grooming your toenails improperly is a typical reason behind ingrown nails. Why is that? There are a couple of causes:

• Cutting the toenails too brief leaves room for the nail to develop into your nail mattress.
• Cutting your toenails in an arch to match the form of the toe may cause your toenail to develop into your pores and skin. You need to be sure you minimize your toenails straight throughout.
• Ripping your nails as an alternative of chopping them can lead to jagged corners, leaving room for a brand new nook to develop underneath the pores and skin.

Large curved toenails

If you’ve got naturally giant toenails or if they’re naturally curved, you could possibly be extra more likely to get ingrown toenails.

Thick toenails

Thicker toenails enhance your probabilities of getting an ingrown toenail. The causes of toenail thickness embody:

• Aging
• Poor circulation
• Fungal nail infections
• Nail psoriasis

Injury to a toenail

Minor accidents to your toe may result in ingrown toenails. Stubbing your toe, having your toe stepped on, dropping one thing heavy in your foot or kicking a ball repeatedly can enhance the chance for ingrown toenails.

Ways to stop ingrown toenails

There are a number of issues you are able to do to stop ingrown toenails:

• Monitor your toes – Regularly examine the realm round your toenails for redness, swelling or pus. This is particularly vital you probably have restricted feeling in your toes due to diabetes or one other situation.
• Practice correct nail care – When trimming your toenails, minimize the nail straight throughout somewhat than at a curve or angle. To keep away from them rising again into the nail mattress, don’t minimize your toenails too brief.
• Choose correct footwear – Choose footwear that matches correctly and doesn’t put an excessive amount of pressure in your toes. Make certain to put on protecting footwear if you take part in actions that would trigger a foot damage.

What occurs when ingrown toenails aren’t handled?

When left untreated, ingrown toenails can result in infections that vary from reasonable – like pus and swelling on the an infection web site – to extreme, like a bone an infection, ulcers and tissue decay.

If you start to see signs like redness or irritation, take steps to stop them from getting worse.

At minimal, an ingrown toenail could make it uncomfortable to stroll, and at worst, it will probably trigger critical infections.

In circumstances the place an ingrown toenail an infection is mixed with a preexisting sickness that causes poor circulation, like diabetes, the contaminated wound might be harmful and even life threatening.

How to deal with an ingrown toenail: Home treatments

It’s fairly attainable that you simply’ll be capable to care for delicate ingrown toenails by yourself. Since ingrown nails often worsen with out remedy, you’ll need to give your toes some additional care you probably have tenderness and redness close to your toenails.

The following are therapies you’ll be able to attempt at dwelling. But see a physician instantly you probably have indicators of an an infection, equivalent to a fever or a toe that’s heat or leaking pus.

• Soak your toe – Soak your foot in heat water for about 20 minutes two or 3 times a day till the soreness improves. If your toe is purple or swollen, including castile cleaning soap or Epsom salt to the water might assist scale back irritation.
• Push the pores and skin again – You can push pores and skin away from the toenail edge with a cotton swab or cotton ball soaked in olive oil. This might be useful even when the ingrown toenail could be very minor.
• Try lifting the nail – If the sting of your nail has started to develop into the encircling pores and skin, you’ll need to rigorously separate it. Gently raise the ingrown fringe of your toenail from the encircling pores and skin and place cotton, dental floss or a splint underneath it. This separates the nail from the encircling pores and skin and helps the nail develop above the pores and skin edge. Your physician may suggest you employ a corticosteroid cream. You might must soak your toe and change the splint day by day for 2-12 weeks earlier than seeing outcomes.

Other dwelling treatments to attempt

If you’re nonetheless feeling discomfort however don’t see any indicators of an infection, these dwelling treatments may assist.

Wear sneakers and socks that aren’t too tight

Choose snug footwear that does not press down on or squeeze your toes. Be certain to put on socks or stockings with room to your toenails to develop correctly. Open-toed sneakers or sandals are a terrific possibility whereas your toe heals.

Use over-the-counter drugs to scale back ache and irritation

Over-the-counter drugs can be utilized to minimize the discomfort chances are you’ll expertise whereas ready to your toe to heal. Pain relievers, like acetaminophen, might assist ease your toe ache. Anti-inflammatories, like naproxen and ibuprofen, may also help to scale back irritation. Steroid lotions or topical antibiotics, equivalent to polymyxin and neomycin (each present in Neosporin), can be utilized to stop an infection. You ought to at all times seek the advice of together with your physician earlier than beginning a brand new over-the-counter medicine.

“Home remedies” you shouldn’t attempt

Avoid the next treatments to stop the ingrown toenail from getting worse.

• Don’t decide at your toe or toenail.
• Don’t use a pointy object, like manicure scissors or needle to dig underneath your nail, as this may trigger an infection.
• If you’ve got an an infection, don’t attempt to drain pus out of your toes by yourself.

If you’ve got an an infection or your toe ache is severely uncomfortable, make an appointment with a foot specialist – they’ll be capable to safely deal with an ingrown toenail.

Medical remedy for ingrown toenails

If dwelling treatments have not helped the ingrown toenail or whether it is at a extra superior stage, your physician can suggest extra therapies.

When to see a physician

There are a couple of explanation why you need to see a physician for an ingrown toenail, particularly after you’ve tried dwelling treatments:

• Your toe isn’t getting higher from dwelling therapies after 2-3 days, or it will get worse.
• You expertise extreme discomfort, pus or irritation that could be spreading.
• You have a fever.
• You have diabetes or one other illness that causes poor circulation.

Antibiotics

If the ingrown toenail is contaminated, you’ll possible want antibiotics – and the earlier the higher. Infections can unfold to different areas of the body, inflicting extra points than an ingrown toenail.

If you suppose you’ve got an an infection, make an appointment with a main care physician or foot specialist instantly. The physician will deal with the an infection first. Once the an infection is gone, chances are you’ll want one other remedy to assist repair the ingrown toenail.

Surgical nail removing

Your physician might suggest surgical procedure to take away half or all your toenail if an ingrown toenail is severely infected or contaminated.

The sort of surgical procedure that your physician recommends will rely on a number of elements, together with the severity of the ingrown toenail and if the ingrown nail is more likely to come again.

Get assist treating ingrown toenail signs

Our foot specialists may also help you establish and deal with a variety of foot issues, together with ingrown toenails and toe infections – and you don’t want a referral earlier than making an appointment.

If you favor, you’ll be able to discuss to your main care physician about an ingrown toenail. They’re usually in a position to deal with ingrown toenails, particularly ones which are within the early phases. If wanted, they’ll refer you to a foot specialist for extra superior remedy.