Ingrowing Nails
Ingrowing nails can become difficult and painful the longer they are left. They are also known as onychocryptosis or unguis incarnates which is a painful condition of the toe. It occurs when a sharp corner of the toenail digs into the skin at the end of or side of the toe. The result is extremely painful, and your toe will become red, swollen and tender. It’s usually the big toe that’s affected, on one or both sides.
Cause of Ingrown toenails
- The shape of the nail that is curved or involuted into the flesh, but can feel very painful and also appear red and inflamed.
- Poor cutting of a curved toenail can leave a small spike of nail will put pressure on the skin and then later penetrate the skin.
- Brittle nails are in the habit of breaking off bits of nails that has sharp edges or sticking.
- Nail ‘picking’.
- Damage to the nail following trauma.
- Tight footwear, tight hosiery and tight socks can cause the sides of the nail to push into the skin, particularly if the nails are curved or ‘involuted’.
- Excessive sweating makes the skin moist, so that it the soften the nail.
- Foot deformity such as a bunion, hammer toes or excessive pronation of the feet (when your foot rolls in excessively).
- Sporty people are more prone to ingrown toenails.
Signs and Symptoms of Ingrown Toenails
- An early symptom of an ingrown toenail, the surrounding nail becomes red and painful with mild swelling. There is no pus or secretion. It may feel warm to the touch, but you will not have a fever.
- Later, extra tissue will grow around the sharp point of the nail. A yellowish fluid may begin. This is the body’s response to the trauma of a nail irritating the skin and is not necessarily an infection.
- Sometimes an infection develops. In this case, the swelling will become worse, and there may be white or yellow colour secretion from the area. The skin may be surrounded by red skin. You may develop a fever, although this is unusual.
- If you notice any of these symptoms, you should visit your podiatrist for advice.