An ingrown toenail occurs where the edge or corner of your nail grows down and cuts into the adjacent skin of your toe. The result is extremely painful, and your toe will become red, swollen and tender. It’s usually the big toe that’s affected, on one or both sides.
Cutting your nails correctly will help to prevent ingrowing toenails. Trim the nail straight across, following the natural shape of the nail. Avoid trimming too close to the skin and avoid the temptation to pull at any hangnails.
If you have dirt trapped beneath the nail, remove it with a cotton bud soaked in surgical spirit rather than digging at it with anything hard and sharp. Your GP, Podiatrist or pharmacist may also be able to advise on the best foot care products for you.
An ingrowing toenail has an edge or corner that grows down into the skin, causing it to become red, swollen or tender. In some cases, the nail causes some bleeding to occur and this carries with it an increased risk of infection. If the ingrowing nail has caused infection, your foot is likely to cause discomfort whether you're walking, standing or sitting.
Big toes are most likely to be affected. The most common cause is cutting the nail incorrectly so creating a sharp corner or jagged edge which then grows into the skin. Impacts to the nail, unusual pressure on the nail or badly-fitting shoes can all also lead to the problem. Sports people, particularly footballers, are especially at risk since tight-fitting boots and repeated strikes of the ball can damage the nail.
It's not a good idea to try and fix an ingrowing toenail yourself. A professional, such as a podiatrist, will most likely clean the area thoroughly, trim the nail with specialist, sterile equipment then apply an antiseptic lotion and clean dressing. If it is infected, antibiotics may also be prescribed.
If the problem keeps occurring, a minor procedure to remove that part of the nail may be recommended. Using local anaesthetic, the cells responsible for creating the problem-section of the nail are destroyed, permanently curing the problem. Scholl Gel Toe Protectors can be used to cushion the tender area, providing immediate relief.
