TL;DR:
- What is an ingrown nail? A nail penetrates the surrounding soft tissue, causing inflammation and persistent pain.
- Causes: Improper nail care (cutting too short, uneven edges), damage during pedicures, tight shoes, genetics, and obesity.
- Symptoms: Redness, swelling, pain, sensitivity, pus discharge, granulation tissue, and tissue overgrowth in advanced stages.
- In children: Occurs due to delicate skin; symptoms include redness, discoloration, and triangular/irregular nail shape.
- Home remedies: Temporarily relieve symptoms with warm soapy water soaks and petroleum jelly but see a doctor promptly.
- Treatment:
- Non-invasive: Tamponades, special tapes, nail adjustments, or flossing.
- Pharmacological: Antibiotics, antiseptics, and wound healing aids.
- Surgical: Partial/total nail removal or matrix procedures for advanced cases.
- Seek a doctor (GP, dermatologist, podiatrist) for proper diagnosis and treatment.
An ingrown toenail is a problem that may seem minor. However, ignoring it can exacerbate persistent discomfort. So how do you recognize an ingrown nail, what symptoms does it give, and what can you do to prevent infection and pain?
What exactly is an ingrown nail?
An ingrown nail is a condition that involves the penetration of the nail plate into the soft tissues that surround it. This condition causes the body to treat the nail as a foreign body. The result is the formation of local inflammation and the onset of quite persistent pain, which can grow.
How does the formation of an ingrown nail occur?
Most often, an ingrown toenail appears on the feet between the ages of 15 and 40. Much more often the condition affects men. It also happens that you can encounter an ingrown nail in a child and on the hands. However, this is not a common occurrence. Improper nail care and shortening are responsible for the main cause of the appearance of an ingrown nail. Cutting the nails too short, as well as leaving their surface uneven and sharp, promotes the ingrown nail into the skin. In addition, damage to the cuticles and cuts during a pedicure or manicure, also contribute to unwanted ingrown nail.
Other factors that cause ingrown nails.
It's not just poor grooming that affects ingrown nails. This condition can have a genetic basis, but mishandling can also contribute to the problem. It is believed that ingrown toenails occur as a result of wearing shoes that are too tight. When this happens, a lot of pressure is exerted on the nail plate, resulting in nail deformation and abnormal growth. In addition, overweight people are at a higher risk of developing this condition due to the heavy strain on their feet.
How to recognize an ingrown toenail – characteristic symptoms.
An ingrown toenail on the foot or hand gives the same symptoms. In the early stages, there is redness and slight swelling in the nail plate and surrounding tissues. The area is also more sensitive to touch and painful. If no action is taken and the condition develops, the ingrown toenail will give more annoying symptoms. These will include the appearance of a pus-like discharge, granulation growth and hypertrophy of the peri-nail shaft. The constant accompanying pain and discomfort can hinder daily functioning.
An ingrown toenail in a child – symptoms.
Nowadays, it is observed that an ingrown nail in a child is increasingly common. In addition, you can notice an ingrown toenail in a baby, which can appear in the first months of life. The reason for the appearance of this condition in the youngest is the delicate skin. An ingrown nail in the youngest usually manifests itself by discoloration, triangular or irregular shape, as well as redness. The growing nail digs into the delicate side shaft of the nail, causing damage to the skin.
Can the symptoms of an ingrown nail be alleviated with home remedies?
Annoying symptoms can cause discomfort all day long and make walking difficult. An ingrown toenail can also affect operating a phone, typing on a computer keyboard and in doing manual labor with the hands. So if pain and redness develops in the nail plate, be sure to see a doctor. Home remedies are not always effective or helpful. However, if you have to wait a few days to see a doctor, symptoms can be alleviated by soaking the legs or hands in warm soapy water and lubricating the area of the ingrown nail with petroleum jelly to soften the tissues.
Treatment of ingrown nails
In order to effectively get rid of the problem and the pain caused by an ingrown nail, it is necessary to take specialized treatment under the care of a doctor. There are several methods for fighting the condition, and the choice of the right one depends on the stage of progression and the causes that caused it.
What kind of doctor will help fight an ingrown nail?
If you notice an ingrown toenail on your foot or hand, be sure to see a doctor. This can be a general practitioner, dermatologist or podiatrist, who will be able to determine, based on a history and visual inspection of the area with swelling and redness, whether the ingrown nail has caused a bacterial infection and what treatment will be effective. If a bacterial infection has occurred, additional tests may be ordered to select an antibiotic that is effective for treatment.
Non-invasive methods of treating an ingrown nail.
Non-invasive methods of treatment are used for the early stages of the condition. Their goal is to ensure the proper direction of nail growth and protect the nail shaft from pressure. To this end, a tamponade is used, which involves placing a sterile dressing between the nail plate and the nail shaft. Moreover, ingrown toenails can be treated by using special tapes that pull the nail back in the right direction. A minimally invasive way to treat ingrown toenails is also flossing the nail plate, or undercutting it laterally, and acrylics.
Pharmacological treatment of ingrown nails.
An ingrown nail and inflammation or bacterial infection is treated pharmacologically. In this case, antibiotic and antibacterial drugs are administered. In addition, antiseptics and wound healing accelerators help in the treatment. Medications are also given when an ingrown nail causes pus.
Surgical treatment of advanced cases
Failure to take treatment at an early stage can lead to the need for surgical treatment. The ingrown nail and the treatments that are undertaken to correct the condition are divided into two types. The first is the removal of the altered nail shaft along with the tissues surrounding it. The second method is the removal of the nail or lateral edge along with the nail bed and matrix. Questions about the ingrown nail and how to pull it out often arise from patients. The final treatment method should be chosen by the doctor after visual inspection and a thorough interview with the patient. In some cases, the two surgical methods mentioned are also combined to achieve satisfactory results.
Conclusion
An ingrown toenail might start small, but it can quickly lead to serious pain, infection, and even surgery if ignored. We’ve explored the causes—like improper grooming and tight shoes—signs to watch for, and why early action is crucial. While home remedies may ease mild symptoms, professional treatment is often necessary for long-term relief. Don’t wait for discomfort to take over—consult a specialist to address the issue effectively. Proper care and early intervention can prevent complications and keep you comfortable and active.
