| Ingrown
nails, the most common nail impairment, are nails
whose corners or sides dig painfully into the soft
tissue of nail grooves, often leading to irritation,
redness, and swelling. Usually, toenails grow straight
out. Sometimes, however, one or both corners or
sides curve and grow into the flesh. The big toe
is usually the victim of this condition, but other
toes can also become affected.
Ingrown
toenail may be caused by: |
If
you suspect an infection due to an ingrown toenail,
immerse the foot in a warm salt water soak, or a
basin of soapy water, then apply an antiseptic and
bandage the area. People
with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or other
circulatory disorders must avoid any form of self
treatment and seek podiatric medical care as soon
as possible.
Other
"do-it-yourself" treatments, including any attempt
to remove any part of an infected nail or the use
of over-the-counter medications, should be avoided.
Nail problems should be evaluated and treated by
your podiatrist, who can diagnose the ailment, and
then prescribe medication or another appropriate
treatment.
At
the Michigan Foot and Ankle
Center, we can resect the ingrown portion
of the nail and may prescribe a topical or oral
medication to treat the infection. If ingrown nails
are a chronic problem, we can perform a procedure
to permanently prevent ingrown nails. The corner
of the nail that ingrows, along with the matrix
or root of that piece of nail, are removed by use
of a chemical, a laser, or by other methods. |
