Ingrown Toenails
Apart from being painful and inflamed an ingrown toe nail, if left untreated, can progress to an infection and even an abscess that requires a surgical intervention.
Ingrown toe nails are common in adults, but quite rare in children. This is not to say they may not occur.
Any nail can become ingrown, but the condition is mostly found in the big toe.
Causes
• Tight and ill fitting shoes and high heels that cause the toes to compress together. Pressure then causes the nail to grow abnormally.
• Improper trimming of the nails can cause the corners of the nail to dig into the skin. Nails need to be trimmed across not round.
• Fungal infections and other disorders of the nail can cause a thickened or widened nail to develop and in-grow
• Injury near the nail may cause an ingrown nail
• Genetics: If a member of the family has an ingrown nails, then you are more likely to develop them. Chubby toes may be more prone.
Sypmtoms
• Redness, or a lighter colour surrounded by redness and pain
• Swelling of skin adjacent to the corner of the toenail
• If an infection develops, then the swelling will worsen and white or yellow coloured drainage will form at the site
Treatments
See your podiatrist if:
• The ingrown nail is infected (especially if you have not been immunized)
• You are diabetic
• You have poor circulation
• Your suffer HIV/AIDS
• You are on any chemotherapy
• You are slow to heal or prone to infections
Options your podiatrist can include:
• Correct cutting to improve the situation
• Infection control.
• Ways to manage the nail so that surgery is not necessary.
• Advice on how to manage the nails at home in order to prevent more invasive interventions.
• Surgical correction, if necessary (see below for more information)
Surgical Intervention
Surgical intervention is sometimes necessary to alleviate pain, infection and further in-growing.
The surgical procedure is simple, in most cases it is highly successful and relatively
convenient in regard to down-time.
Usually only a small portion of the nail needs to be removed. This is undertaken in day surgery, which is performed at the clinic and completed within an hour.
The next 1-2 weeks
• Remove the bandages the next day
• Soak toe in warm salt water for 2 minutes
• Apply betadine liberally to the area
• Repeat daily until healed
One week Post-Operative review
• Is made for the week following the procedure
• Contact us earlier if signs of infection continue (redness or pus or pain)
Post-Operative Treatment
24 hours post surgery
• Pain or mild discomfort is normal for 24 hours after the procedure
• Elevate the foot for 3 hours after surgery
• Take regular oral analgesia as required
• Leave bandages in place over night
• It is normal for the surgical site to weep fibrin, a clear pink fluid, as part of the healing process