Ingrown Toenail Treatment in Delhi, India

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition that frequently leads to infections. The common symptoms include:

• Redness around the toenail
• Swelling and itching around the toenail
• Tenderness and pain in the toenail
• Infection around the toe
• Skin near toenail becomes tender
• When applying pressure to a toe, it causes excruciating pain
• Bleeding
• Over-growing skin around the toenail

An ingrown toenail is a common condition and can occur in both men and women equally. Older people are at higher risk of ingrown toenails due to the thickening of toenails with age.

Apart from various factors, the following mostly cause ingrown toenails:

• Wearing too-tight or too-small shoes
• Cutting the toenails too short
• Stubbing of the toe
• Poor foot hygiene, not washing dirty feet often or not keeping them clean and dry
• Picking at the nails
• Injuring the toenail
• Irregular or curved toenails
• Poor blood circulation

Putting extreme pressure on the feet for a long time or kicking an object repeatedly may cause damage, increasing the risk of ingrown toenails. Playing games and activities such as ballet, kickboxing, soccer, and football puts high pressure on the toenails.

Ingrown toenails need medical attention to avoid any unnecessary infections. Doctor attention is important if:

• There is significant discomfort in the toe
• Severe erythema (redness) around the toe
• In case of extremely sore feet
• Infection develops near the nail

Depending on the stage, the ingrown toenails can be treated by surgical and non-surgical treatment. If the ingrown toenail doesn't have an infection, it can be treated at home. Depending on the symptoms and physical examination, the podiatrist diagnoses an ingrown toenail and accordingly suggests treatment.

Surgical Treatment of Ingrown Toenail

If there is excessive inflammation, pain, bleeding, and swelling, the toenail is majorly infected and needs to be treated immediately by a podiatrist.

• Lifting the nail - If there is no redness and pain, the doctor may lift the ingrowing nail and place cotton or dental floss under it. This will separate the nail from the skin and help the nail grow above the skin's edge.

• Partially removing the nail - The doctor may remove that portion of the nail for a severe ingrown toenail that causes pain and infection. Before the procedure, anaesthesia is injected to temporarily numb the toe.

• Removing the nail and tissue - If there is a severe or repeated problem on the same toe, the doctor may suggest surgically removing a portion of the nail along with its underlying tissue (nail bed). The procedure may prevent the nail from growing back.

Non-surgical Treatment of Ingrown Toenail

Depending on the seriousness of the ingrown toenail infection, the doctor may recommend topical or oral antibiotics.

Home Remedies for Ingrown Toenail

• Soaking feet in warm water - Soak the feet in lukewarm water for 15 to 20 minutes four times a day. Soaking helps to reduce swelling.

• Place cotton under the toenail - After soaking, use a fresh piece of cotton under the toenail. This will keep the nail above the skin's edge.

• Apply antibiotic cream - Use antibiotic cream on the tender area of the toenail and bandage the toe safely.

• Use sensible footwear - Try avoiding shoes and instead use sandals until the toe feels better.
• Take pain relievers - Unprescribed pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) can temporarily ease the pain.

Prevent the growth of an ingrown toenail by:

• Trimming the toenail straight: Trimming the toenails into a curve is a major reason for ingrown toenails, so ensure to trim them straight.

• Wearing the correct shoe size: Wearing too small or too tight shoes puts pressure on the toes. Make sure to buy shoes that are comfortable and of the correct size.

• Trimming toenails at moderate length: If the toenails are trimmed too short, it puts pressure from the shoes onto the toes. This may lead to skin growth around the toenail. Toenails should be trimmed moderately per the toes to avoid any problems.

• Wear good quality footwear: Excess of exercise or playing puts pressure on the toes. Wearing protective and good-quality footwear reduces the risk of toe injuries.
• Maintain foot hygiene: Practice proper nail care and always keep your feet clean and dry. Make sure the shoes and socks are clean and dry.

The ingrown toenail needs treatment. Left untreated, it can infect the underlying bone of the toenail and cause serious bone infections. Its infections can lead to foot ulcers and may cause loss of blood flow to the affected area or open sores.

A toenail can be treated at home if there is no infection. Otherwise, consulting a doctor and getting a medical examination is essential to ensure no further infections are caused.

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