Diagnosis

A doctor or health professional will be able to diagnose an ingrown nail according to your symptoms as well as a physical exam of the nail and skin.

Treatment

If your home remedies aren't helping the ingrown nail your doctor may suggest:

• lifting the nail. For a slightly ingrown nail, your healthcare doctor will carefully lift the nail's edge and put cotton floss, dental floss, or a splint underneath it. This helps to separate it from surrounding skin and assists the nail to develop over the skin edge, generally between 2 and 12 weeks. If you're at home, it's best to soak your toe in water and then replace it every day. Your physician may prescribe a corticosteroid lotion to apply following soaking.

   

  Another method, which reduces the requirement for regular replacement, involves using the cotton co-coated with a fixative that keeps it in place and renders it water-proof (collodion).

• Applying tape to the nail. With this method your healthcare provider removes the skin from the nail ingrown using tape.
• The gutter splint is placed underneath the nail. With this method the health professional will numb the toe, then slips an insignificant slit tube beneath the nail. The splint is held in position until the nail grows over the skin's edge. This technique helps reduce the pain caused by an ingrown nail.
• Removal of the nail in part. For a more severe toenail ingrown (inflamed surface, pain, and pus) Your healthcare provider might treat the area with numbness and then cut or remove the ingrown part of your nail. It may take between 2 and four months for your toenail ingrown to heal.
• The removal of the nail and its tissue. If you have problems repeatedly on the same foot, your doctor might suggest taking out a small portion of the nail as well as the tissue underneath (nail mattress). This could prevent that portion of your nail from regrowing. Your doctor will apply numbness to the toe and then use a chemical a laser or any other method.

After nail removal it is possible to apply a pain relief medication when you need to. It may be helpful to apply a compress that is wet for a couple of minutes for a couple of days until swelling has decreased. Rest and elevate the toe for a period of 12 to 24 hours. Once you are able to move again and doing activities, be careful not to cause injury to your toes and do not swim or make use of a hot tub until your doctor confirms that it is safe to do this. You are allowed to shower after surgery. Consult your Foot Surgeon in Perth If your toe isn't healing.

Sometimes, even after surgical success, the problem happens again. Surgery is more effective at preventing recurrences than non-surgical approaches.

Lifestyle and home remedies for home

You can treat the majority of nail infections at your home. Here's how:

• Bathe your feet with warm lather-based bathing water. Do this for 10-15 minutes to 20 mins 3 to 4 times daily until your toe is healed.
• Put a piece of floss or cotton under your nail. After each soaking apply fresh pieces of cotton or dental floss that has been waxed under the edge that is ingrown. This will aid in helping the nail develop over that skin's edge.
• Use petroleum jelly. Put petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on the area that is tender and then bandage the toe.
• Select sensible footwear. Consider wearing open-toed sandals or shoes until your toe is feeling better.
• Take pain relief medications. A nonprescription pain relief medication like Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), as well as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB and others), can ease toe pain.

Making preparations for your appointment

Your primary healthcare physician or specialist in foot care (podiatrist) is able to diagnose an ingrown nail. Make a list of questions you'd like to inquire about during your appointment. Some basic questions include:

• Is my condition merely temporary or long-term (chronic)?
• What are my options for treatment along with the pros and pros and
• What are the results I can expect?
• Do I have to wait until I check if the issue disappears by itself?
• What is the best nail care routine you suggest for my toes healing?

Your doctor is likely to ask questions like:

• When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
• Do you suffer from the same symptoms over and over again?
• What home remedies have you tried?
• Are you suffering from diabetes or another medical condition that results in low blood flow to your feet and legs?

Toenails that are ingrown are a common condition where the edge or side of a nail grows into the soft skin. It can cause irritation, redness swelling, and sometimes an infection. Toenails that are ingrown usually affect the big toe.

Most of the time, you can manage the ingrown nails on your own. In the event that your pain becomes extreme or is spreading it, your physician will be able to help ease the discomfort and to avoid the complications that can result from ingrown nails.

If you suffer from diabetes or another medical condition that causes a decrease in circulation for your toes, then you're at a greater chance of developing complications from the toenails that are ingrown.

Symptoms

Toenails that are ingrown can be a sign of:

• The tenderness and pain
• Inflamed skin
• Swelling
• Infection

When should you see a doctor?

Visit your foot Surgeon for your ingrown toenail surgery in Perth for advice if:

• Feel extreme discomfort in your toe pus, inflamed or inflamed skin that appears to be expanding
• Are you suffering from diabetes or another health condition that affects circulation of blood to your feet, and you suffer from foot ulcers or infections

Causes

Toenails that are ingrown can be caused by:

• In shoes that block the toenails
• Too short, and not straight
• Injuring a nail
• With very curly toenails
• Nail infections
• Certain medical conditions

Risk factors

Factors that increase your chance of having ingrown nails include:

• Adolescents' feet sweat more, they are more likely to which softens the nails and skin
• Maintaining nail hygiene habits that stimulate the nail to expand in the skin for example cutting nails too short or slicing corners
• A lower ability to take care of your nails
• Shoes that restrict the toes
• Engaging in sports such as running or kicks, that place your feet in danger of injury
• Being afflicted by a disease like diabetes that results in an insufficient flow of blood

Complications

These complications are more severe when you suffer from diabetes, which can result in an insufficient flow of blood and damaged nerves in your feet. A minor foot injury - cuts, scrapes callus, corn, or an ingrown nail could not heal properly, and then become infected.

Prevention

To prevent an ingrown toenail

• Trim your nails in a straight line. Don't curve your nails to fit the shape of your toe's front. If you have an appointment for a pedicure ask the person who is doing the pedicure to cut the nails in a straight line. If you suffer from a condition that results in poor circulation to the feet and you're unable to cut your nails, visit a podiatrist frequently to have your nails cut.
• Maintain your toenails at a length that is moderate. Trim toenails so they're in line at the tip of your feet. If you cut your toenails in a way that is too short, the pressure of your shoes on your feet can cause nails to develop into tissue.
• Make sure your shoes will fit correctly. Shoes that place too excessive pressure on your feet or pinch them could result in a nail growing into the surrounding tissue. If you suffer from foot nerve injuries and toes, you might not be able to detect whether your shoes fit tight.
• Wear shoes that are safe for your feet. If your activities expose you to the risk of causing injury to your toes put on protective footwear like steel-toed shoes.
• Make sure you check the feet of your children. If you have diabetes, be sure to check your feet on a regular basis for signs of ingrown toenails, or other foot issues.