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An ingrown nail is a painful ailment. Initially, it only causes slight discomfort. However, as the nail grows in, pain in the big toe develops, which eventually makes it impossible to walk. What are the causes of ingrown toenails? How to prevent ingrown toenails? How do I cut toenails so that they do not grow ingrown?

Ingrown nailsusually only cause discomfort. The essence of the disease is the ingrowth of the side edge of the nail under the adjacent skin.

Toenails are most often ingrown - usually on the big toe. The fingernail of the toe is the hardest of all and sticks hardest into the epidermis.

If we start to prevent further nail ingrowth, we can avoid the often painful surgical correction. That's why it's important to know how to prevent ingrown toenails.

Ingrown nails - reasons

Incorrectly cut nails, usually "round" or too short - too close to the skin, are the most common, but not the only, cause of ingrown nails. Other reasons may also be:

  • injury to the nail shaft (e.g. when cutting the so-called cuticles)
  • removing dirt accumulated under the nails with the tip of scissors
  • wearing high-heeled shoes, narrow toes, too tight or too loose
  • accidental bumps, traps and other damage to the nail
  • performing physical exercises that put additional pressure on the foot
  • recurrent athlete's foot
  • overweight;
  • congenital predisposition to ingrown toenails (then the nail grows downward spontaneously)

Ingrown nails - symptoms

  • finger pain, which is caused by the nail plate sticking into the skin. Pain worsens with walking or other activities where the ingrown nail digits into the skin, such as when putting on shoes

With an ingrown toenail, go to a podiatrist (podiatrist)

  • redness and swelling around the nail fold (on the sides of the nail)
  • finger bleeding (if the nail pierces the skin)
  • appearance of purulent discharge around the nail fold (if there is superinfectionbacterial)

Podiatrist: foot specialist. When to visit?

Ingrown nails - treatment

  • surgical excision - the edge of the nail is cut with its bed (and not the entire nail, as is commonly believed). As a result, the nail does not grow back improperly - its edge regains its correct shape
  • clamps for ingrown nails-attach them to the nail plate to change the direction of the nail growth

GROWING NAIL - buckle instead of tearing

According to an expertSylwia Śląskiewicz, podiatrist at FootMedica, Zdrowej Stopy ClinicPodiatrist, licensed cosmetologist, certified reflexologist from FootMedica. She specializes in foot disorders, cooperated with specialists dealing with diabetic foot, in FootMedica she cooperates with physiotherapists, thanks to which she comprehensively deals with patients' feet.

What should the treatment of an ingrown nail look like?

Early stage

At the early stage of ingrown toenails, the so-called tamponing: applying dressings or a fleece under the edges of the plate in such a way as to reduce the pressure exerted on the nail shaft and minimize the resulting irritation. For this purpose, you can also use Sulci Protection Gehwol tubes (made of plastic - they are slipped over the properly prepared edge of the nail with tweezers), which protect the nail shaft from pressure. Usually, the first stage during a visit to the podiatry office is the location of the ingrown area, removal of this fragment, tamponing and preparation for further correction with a clamp. It costs about PLN 100.

Clamps for ingrown nails

Clamps for ingrown nails, the so-called orthonyxic, have been established in Poland for over a dozen years, but it is still the most effective and at the same time gentle way to fight the problem. Correction with the use of clamps consists in extending and straightening the nail growth path. Putting on the clamp is painless, it costs PLN 150-180.

Within a few months (about 6-12) the nail "remembers" how to grow properly, which minimizes the risk of recurrence. While walking, the presence of the brace is imperceptible. It is worth starting the treatment in the initial stage of ingrowth, before the inflammation develops, which shortens the treatment period and protects against pain.

In the podiatry clinic, we have a choice of several types of braces. The Polish solution is the invention - Podoklamra. Its main advantage is the ability to check the effectiveness of relieving the nail shaft, adjusting it to the shape and size of the nail and easyapp. The Fraser clamp allows for the most accurate dosing of the place and force of correction. It is made individually, depending on the condition of the nail. It consists of one element - specially profiled surgical steel.

The OnyClip System is the simplest and equally effective solution for correcting ingrown nails. A trimmed strip made of very good quality spring steel is glued to the nail, which effectively straightens the curved nail.

You can also distinguish titanium buckles, Ora and many others. Their principle of operation is similar. The effect of the course of treatment depends mainly on the skills of a specialist, who adjusts the type of clamp to the problem of the nail plate.

Arkada's Cube

Arkada's Cube is a method in which the nail is pulled out of the nail shafts using a patented device and a special acrylic mass. You feel relief immediately after the treatment and the nail looks aesthetically pleasing. As in the case of buckles, the treatment lasts from 6 to 12 months (you have to remember about follow-up visits, which guarantees the expected effect). Price: PLN 200-500.

Plasty of nail shafts

The next step in the treatment of ingrown nails is the plasticization of the nail shafts. If the nail shafts are lofty and voluminous after the corrective treatment, there is a risk of recurrence. The procedure performed by the surgeon is to reduce the overgrown parts of the shaft. When performed under local anesthesia, it is safe and convalescence is quick. Cost: PLN 500-1500.

Surgical procedures such as total or wedge nail excision are associated with a high national risk and deformities in the area of ​​the nail, therefore they are not currently recommended as a form of treatment of ingrown toenails.

Putting the nail clip on

How to prevent ingrown toenails?

First of all, cut your nails correctly. How do I cut toenails so that they do not grow ingrown?

First of all, the edges should not be rounded. The nails are cut in a straight line, according to their natural shape ("square").

At the end of the treatment, it is best to file the edge of the nail plate with a file.

If the toenails are hard and difficult to cut, it is enough to soak your feet in a bowl in warm water for 10 minutes before the procedure.

If this type of treatment does not help, you can buy an anti-ingrowth liquid at the pharmacy, which softens hard and sharp nails and reduces the discomfort associated with the ingrowth of the nail into the skin.

Toremove dust and dirt from under the nail, it is best to use a cotton swab moistened with alcohol.

The nails should not be cut too close to the skin, as it is very easy to irritate, and thus - to infection. It is also not allowed to tear off unnecessary fragments of the nail plate, as this results in injury.

Cut the cuticles away gently, preferably with the help of special cuticle removers. Thanks to the softening of the cuticles, their removal is very easy, and the risk of damaging the nail shaft is negligible. It grows when you tear up cuticles around the nail.

Ingrown toenail prevention also includes avoiding wearing tight socks and shoes with narrow toes.

Diet for ingrown nails

A proper diet, rich in mineral elements, is important in the prevention of ingrown toenails, such as:

  • zinc
  • magnesium
  • sulfur
  • silicon
  • iron

Vitamins of the B group are also indispensable, as they strengthen brittle and brittle nails.

Therefore, the menu should include:

  • oatmeal
  • nuts
  • liver
  • fish
  • vegetables (radishes, tomatoes, chicory, spinach, broccoli)
  • fruit (mostly bananas)

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Category:

Dermatology