Ingrown Toenail (Part One)
If you trim your nails too short, especially on the sides of your big toes, you might set the stage for the nail to grow into the skin.
Like many people, when you trim your nails if you cut the sides then the nails bend, curve, and take the shape of the fingers. But this technique may encourage the nail to grow under the skin of your finger.
The cut sides of the nail start to incorporate, digging under the skin. An ingrown toenail can also happen if you wear shoes that are too tight or too short.
Symptoms
When you experience an ingrown toenail, it can cause discomfort, swelling, and tenderness. Later, it can become red and infected, and feel very painful. An ingrown toenail is a common thing and especially painful in young people. Ingrown toenails are most often found on the big toe.
An ingrown toenail happens when the skin on one or both sides of the nail grows over the edges of it, or when the nail itself grows under the skin. Redness, pain, and swelling at the edge of the nail can result, and infection can follow quickly. Sometimes a small amount of pus can be seen leaking from the affected area.
An ingrown toenail develops for many reasons. Some cases are congenital (born with it)-the nail is too big for the finger. Trauma, such as stubbing the toe or stepping on it, can cause an ingrown toenail.
However, the most common cause is wearing tight shoes or cutting the nails too short.
Anatomy of the nail
Treatment
Non-surgical Treatment
An ingrown toenail should be treated as soon as it is noticed. If caught early (before it becomes infected), home care can prevent the need for further treatment:
- Soak your foot in warm water 3-4 times a day.
- Keep your feet dry for the rest of the day.
- Wear comfortable and suitable shoes for your feet and toes. Consider wearing sandals until there are no signs of inflammation.
- You may take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
- If there is no improvement in 2-3 days, or if the condition worsens, contact your doctor.
You may need to lift the edge of the nail up from its embedded position under the skin and place some cotton threads between the nail and the skin. Change this packing every day.
| Title | Sent by | Date of publication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| • | Deformimet e kembeve tek femijet. | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 23/02/2013 |
| • | Dhimbja e Mesit | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 14/05/2013 |
| • | Këputja e tendinit të Akilit | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 05/06/2014 |
| • | Fraktura e Kalkaneusit - Kocka e Thembres | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 11/10/2012 |
| • | Clubfoot - Këmba e shtrembur ose Pesequniovarus | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 06/02/2013 |
| • | Proteza e gjurit | Dr. Ervin PRIFTAJ | 10/01/2015 |
| • | Tendini quadriceps | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 14/04/2016 |
| • | Skolioza idiopatike | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 26/08/2014 |
| • | Parandalimi i dhimbjes se mesit | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 02/05/2013 |
| • | Proteza unikondilare e gjurit | Dr. Ervin PRIFTAJ | 07/01/2015 |
| • | Menaxhimi Ponseti | Dr. Ledian Fezollari | 07/02/2013 |
Very meaningful and simple to understand. Thank you, Dr. Ledian
Sent by Artur, më 04 February 2014 në 10:25
Hello Mr. Artur! It is our duty to inform patients as well as the public about the most common diseases in the community..
Sent by Ledian Fezollari, më 05 February 2014 në 01:02
Hello doctor...I wanted to ask...about 4 months ago, I accidentally cut the big toe of my foot deeply on one side, and this caused an infection in the toe and swelling in the flesh next to it...I treated it with Betadine and cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide before treating...I wanted to ask, currently, the toe has grown...in the part where I cut it deeply, it is hollow inside...but the flesh is still swollen and red...it hurts so much it breaks my heart...I am breastfeeding my daughter and I don't know if I can use any antibiotics...please give me some advice...regards
Sent by Elena, më 07 March 2014 në 13:28
Hello! You can take Augmentine 1 g tab, 2 times a day, 1 tablet for 5 days...also continue with betadine foot baths...the toenail cut should be made as above...try to insert a cotton swab under the nail every day to raise its level higher..
Sent by Ledian Fezollari, më 12 March 2014 në 04:10
Hello Dr. Ledian, where can we perform these surgical interventions, in which hospital or clinic?
Sent by skerdi, më 31 March 2014 në 12:42
Hello, doctor, I am a 14-year-old girl. I have noticed that by wearing rollers often, I have gotten what you might call an ingrown toenail on my big toe, I don't know what to do and I wanted to consult with you once, please reply to me what should be done because I have a lot of pain in it... thank you
Sent by Dergua nga Genita, 06102014, më 06 October 2014 në 14:39
Hello doctor, I am speaking on behalf of my mother, she has suffered for years with this kind of problem, now again she is experiencing this kind of issue with her toe, the big toe has been operated on several times and yet the problem has recurred, what can she do for example, or is there another way? It's an unbearable pain...thank you
Sent by LORENZO, më 20 October 2014 në 09:55
Hello doctor, I am a 14-year-old girl and I need your help. The nail on my big toe often grows into the skin and I have treated it myself several times... but this time it has become infected and is very swollen... and every time I take off my shoes when I return from school, I find it very dirty... perhaps the nail has not yet grown and I can't cut it...but it hurts a lot since the flesh has grown over the nail... I am in a lot of pain... please can you give me some advice on what I should do? Thank you!
Sent by Enxhi, më 05 November 2014 në 08:00
Hello! Esteemed lady, can you come to American Hospital 2, so I can take a look at your finger.....because there is a high chance it might need minor surgery to remove the part that has entered the flesh
Sent by Ledian Fezollari, më 13 November 2014 në 03:24
The writing above is quite understandable. I am a 14-year-old girl, and I have an ingrown toenail. However, a piece of it has surfaced on my finger, and I have been in pain until I started soaking my foot in warm water with salt and vinegar as a friend suggested. I have noticed that my finger is a bit better. Is it possible for it to heal without me having to undergo surgery? Because surgical intervention on the nail is not a pleasant experience, and I have been in pain when I had it operated on a few months ago, and the same nail has grown into the flesh again. It is very true that I did not cut it properly. Thank you for your understanding
Sent by Flutura, më 01 December 2014 në 12:10
Hello Dr. Ledian. I had surgery on my big toe; it was quite a difficult operation because it was infected, and the infection had spread to the bone. The doctor didn't just remove the nail but also the flesh from both sides of the toe. The doctor who operated on me advised me not to wet the toe. It's been 6 months, and it hasn't fully healed yet. Even when I wear shoes, I feel pain. I've been careful not to wet the toe, following the doctor's advice. I wanted to ask if I should continue doing this or if I can wet it since it's halfway healed? Thank you for your advice! I look forward to your response
Sent by Ana, më 11 January 2015 në 12:42
Hello doctor, I crushed my thumb and it has turned black and swollen and I have constant pain (24 hours). I went to the doctor and they did an x-ray, didn't clean the wound but gave me two small pills and some medicine, and bandaged it, and 7 hours later the pain still continues but not very severe
Sent by Aldrit krqsniqi, më 21 February 2015 në 15:10
Thank you very much indeed, I am a 15-year-old boy who had surgery on the toe of my left foot, and now it's starting to happen again on my right foot. But thanks to your very informative advice, which I had no idea what to do about, I now feel relieved and hope to avoid surgery on the toe. Thank you
Sent by Ervisfiora, më 26 May 2016 në 15:02
The topics are well-chosen, elaborated very beautifully with well-argued figures, deserving of every praise
Sent by Dr. Muhamet Balaj ,mjekë famil, më 15 September 2016 në 06:50
Hello, can you help me because I got a splinter in my flesh in case it happens
Sent by redona daci, më 25 November 2016 në 08:24
Sure..let's meet on Wednesday at the trauma hospital to do it
Replay from Dr. Ledian Fezollari, më 25 November 2016 në 09:06
Hello doctor. I have a splinter in my flesh, and what should I do?
Sent by Albi, më 26 November 2017 në 08:38
For example... Come on Tuesday to the Trauma Hospital... I will visit you... (0674933565)
Replay from Dr. Ledian Fezollari, më 26 November 2017 në 09:57
Hello doctor, a few weeks ago I noticed that the big toe of the foot had ingrown. I have tried many methods but it hasn't gone away. What else can I do..
Sent by Albiona Berisha, më 15 November 2019 në 13:23
You need to be visited up close... there is a chance that you may need surgery
Replay from Dr. Ledian Fezollari, më 15 November 2019 në 15:41
I am a 15-year-old girl and a few months ago my toenail grew into my flesh. At the moment, the toenail has grown but there is still an open wound next to the nail and pus comes out when I wear shoes. Can you recommend something?
Sent by ester , më 06 January 2020 në 09:25