An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the nail penetrates the skin instead of growing normally. Although all nails can be subject to this problem, it is the big toes of the feet that are most often affected. The ingrown toenail is easily detectable because of the pain felt when the affected part is pressed by shoes, when walking or when pressed with the hands. In aggravated cases, the slightest movement of the feet can be painful. The affected area also shows redness or a swelling of the skin at the level of the inflammation. The ingrown toenail thickens under the skin and can usually be detected with the flick of a finger. When an infection starts, the swollen part shows pus and becomes increasingly painful.
An ingrown toenail can be caused by different factors, such as:
Heredity is also a significant factor of ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails also tend to affect older people and athletes more. Indeed, these individuals tend to have swollen feet due to shoes worn constantly or excessive sweating. In addition, certain diseases such as osteoarthritis of the toes or poor vascularization of the extremities of the body, especially in the case of diabetes, increase the risk of having an ingrown toenail.
In its benign form, it is useless to consult a doctor to treat an ingrown toenail . In case of infection, however, approaching a specialist is preferable. Here are some steps to take to treat an ingrown toenail:
