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Of all the things that can go wrong with the feet, an ingrown toenail is probably one of the most painful. There are home treatments that those suffering with this painful condition can try, but in most cases an ingrown toenail requires the medical care that chiropodists can provide. Patient need to understand what an ingrown toenail is, its causes and treatment options--both at home and medical treatments. An ingrown toenail occurs when the nail curves or grows downward toward the skin. They usually grow into the skin that borders the toenail. When the nail penetrates the skin it causes pain, swelling, redness and warmth in the area. Because the toenail causes a break in the skin, bacteria can enter, which leads to infection. An infected ingrown toenail causes symptoms such as pus, drainage and a foul odor. Even if a person does not have the symptoms of an ingrown toenail, the nail penetrating the skin can still cause infection. When infection is suspected, the patient needs to seek the help of chiropodists. There are a several causes of ingrown toenails. In some patients the susceptibility to ingrown toenails is inherited. However, the most common cause of ingrown toenails is improperly trimming the nail. When a person cuts the toenails too short, skin around the toe can overlap the nail. Other causes include trauma to the toe, such as stubbing the toe, dropping an object on the toe and doing activities that put repeated pressure on the toe, such as walking and running. Wearing tight shoes can also put pressure on the feet. Certain nail conditions can also lead to ingrown toenails, such as a fungal infection that leads to toenail loss. Chiropodists can examine the feet and help the patient determine what is causing the ingrown toenail and suggest methods of preventing them in the future. In many cases, ingrown toenails respond to home care methods; however, if they do not or if the toe is infected, a person should considering chiropodists in the area to care treat the condition. Home care consists of soaking the affected foot in warm salt water and massaging the feet. When attempting home care, a person should never try to cut the dig the toenail out of the skin on their own, because if infection has not set in, it will. Trying to dig the nail out only makes the condition worse and more painful. If home remedies do not work, chiropodists can examine the area and determine if infection is present. If it is, the chiropodist must send the patient to his or her primary care doctor to get a prescription for oral antibiotics. Chiropodists can perform a simple surgical procedure to remove the corner of the offending nail. The patients toe is numbed with medication and the doctor may remove the corner of the nail, a portion of the nail or the entire toenail, depending on the severity of the condition. After the surgery, the toe is bandaged and there is very little, if any pain, so the patient can immediately return to normal activities. Following surgery the patient is usually given antibiotics to prevent infection. A person can help prevent ingrown toenails by trimming the nails properly and wearing shoes that fit properly. Cut the toenails in a straight line and not too short. Avoid wearing shoes that are tight across the toes, and when running avoid wearing shoes that are too loose, as this can put pressure on the toes with foot movement. Repeated trimming of the toenails does not prevent ingrown toe nails; it only increases the likelihood of the condition.
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