What Causes an Ingrown Toenail Infection and How is it Treated ?
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| What Causes an Ingrown Toenail Infection and How is it Treated? |
What Causes an Ingrown Toenail Infection and How is it Treated?
In this post, we will talk about Ingrown Toenail Infection What Causes and How Is It Treated? You can find the answer to your question.
Ingrown Toenail
An ingrown toenail is usually found on the big toe. It puts
pressure on the nail bed and causes pain. An ingrown toenail is also often
infected. Possible causes of ingrowths are, for example, shoes that are too
tight and improperly trimmed nails. Read more about the causes, symptoms, and
treatment options of an ingrown toenail here.
Ingrown toenails often put pressure on the surrounding
tissue. This pressure often causes inflammation with painful swelling.
Irritated tissue is more susceptible to the ingress of bacteria, which worsens
inflammation. As a result of inflammation, "wild meat" (granulation
tissue) forms, which begins to multiply as the wound heals.
Ingrown nails cause excruciating pain, so patients often cut
nails even shorter, in most cases oval. Even slight pressure from shoes pushes
the edge of the nail into the tissue – another ingrown toenail occurs. Those
affected find it difficult to get out of this vicious circle on their own. An
ingrown toenail therefore requires professional treatment. The first point of
contact should be a doctor or a medical podiatrist.
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| What Causes an Ingrown Toenail Infection and How is it Treated? |
Ingrown Toenail: Symptoms
An ingrown toenail usually affects the big toe, more rarely
the remaining toenails. May cause severe local pain. The accompanying
inflammation causes swelling, and the tissue is often red and warm to the
touch. Putting on socks or lying on a blanket can sometimes be torture for
those affected. In advanced stages, the tissue may begin to bleed.
Additionally, in most cases, an ingrown toenail brings with it pus.
Ingrown Toenail: Causes and Risk Factors
An ingrown toenail can have several causes. Ingrown toenails
can be caused by improper nail clipping technique. If the toenail is cut far
below the edges (i.e. cut into an oval), the edges will more easily grow into
the surrounding nail bed.
Narrow shoes, especially worn by women, can also cause
ingrown nails. In tight shoes, the ever-increasing pressure between the skin
and the toenail can easily cause the nail to grow inwards. Excessive sweating
of the feet also softens the skin around the nails and increases the risk of
ingrown nails.
Ingrown toenails can be caused by genetic predisposition.
Some people naturally have wider nail beds than others. Congenital anatomical
conditions of the nail bed also play a role.
Ingrown Toenail: Traditional Treatment
As a first precaution, taping the ingrown toenail is recommended to save the surrounding tissue from the nail. For this purpose, a filled plaster strip is pushed between the nail and the inflamed nail wall. The plaster is then pulled around the finger to allow more air between the skin and the nail. Patients usually perceive this measure as a sudden relief and the pain goes away.
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| What Causes an Ingrown Toenail Infection and How is it Treated? |
Ingrown Toenail: Disease Course and Prognosis
An ingrown toenail can usually be treated well:
With early treatment, conservative methods are usually
sufficient. However, they require reliable cooperation and a lot of patience
from the patient.
If the course is worse, an ingrown toenail usually needs
surgery. The procedure brings quick success - the symptoms disappear.
After any conservative and surgical treatment, the patient should take care to cut their nails correctly (not flat and oval) and not to wear shoes that are too tight. Otherwise, an ingrown toenail will quickly grow back.
Ingrown toenails are common, especially in older people, without even realizing it. Due to their lack of mobility, many older people are no longer able to adequately and properly care for their feet and nails. A medical pedicure may be necessary afterward
Also, wearing shoes that are large enough and breathable can also prevent an ingrown toenail from developing (again).
Additionally, an ingrown toenail can be treated with
anti-inflammatory iodine ointment. Foot baths are often helpful beforehand:
They soften the tissue so an ingrown toenail can be better treated with
ointments and plasters.
Sometimes an ingrown toenail is treated with a nail trimming
splint if the nail is too rounded at the side edges. The podiatrist
(podiatrist) applies the splint made of plastic or steel wire so that it is
adhered to the sides of the nail and fixed in the middle of the nail. It is
worn for a period of approximately six to twelve months. This gently pulls an
ingrown toenail up from the depths of the nail bed. The nail transforms from
scratch to a new shape, so this process takes a very long time.
Ingrown Toenail: Operation
If conservative measures are not sufficient, an ingrown
toenail should be treated surgically: the corners of the ingrown nail and the
surrounding granulation tissue are removed under local anesthesia. The wound is
then treated with a cast or a small bandage. Regular checkups check to see if
the inflammation has healed and if the toenail is growing back.
If the toenail is at risk of regrowth, an operation to reduce
the size of the nail bed (Emmert plastic surgery or nail wedge excision) may be
helpful. The affected part of the nail and the lateral nail wall are removed in
a wedge shape. The nail generally narrows, which reduces the risk of regrowth.
After surgery, the tissue is still very sensitive for a
while. The applied plaster should be changed regularly after the first 2-3
days.