What is an ingrown toenail?
The definition describes it as a condition in which the hard tissue of the nail disrupts the continuity of the soft tissue (in this case it is the lateral shaft of the nail), becoming a foreign body for it, which causes the appearance of defense mechanisms in the form of sensitivity to touch, inflammation, redness and discomfort. pain relief.
During the treatment
After correct diagnosis, the podiatrist may apply a local exfoliant, and the treatment covers only the site of the lesion. Podiatrists also have other methods to remove the imprint, e.g. with the use of podological tools - chisels, scalpel or with the use of a milling machine and special vacuum cutters. Treatments are always performed with sterile tools. It is also important to know that the correct removal of the imprint is not painful. After the procedure, a dressing is applied. The patient is informed about the possible need for another visit and instructed on how to perform further care at home. Podiatry and the therapeutic methods used by it give us the possibility of individual selection of appropriate specialized inserts, orthoses, and relieves minimizing the possibility of similar changes in the future.
Reasons for ingrown toenails:
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Incorrect shortening, including cutting the side fragments of the plate, the so-called round truncation. (the most common cause)
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Shoes with high heels, narrow toes, too tight or too loose
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Nail growth disorders, mechanical damage - drying out of the nail plate
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Often uncontrolled growth after surgery to remove a fragment or the entire nail plate
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Genetic predisposition (nail structure)
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Foot deformities
- sudden weight gain, e.g. during pregnancy,
- bad hygiene habits,
- hyperhidrosis of the feet overweight.
What are the symptoms of an ingrown nail?
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when walking, discomfort is felt in the form of unpleasant pain, which is more aggravated in shoes with narrow tips or pressure with a finger. These symptoms may disappear by themselves.
Shoes with high heels, narrow toes, too tight or too loose
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another symptom is a slight reddening of the nail fold where the nail starts to compress more and more.
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then the skin is broken and a small wound appears. It is associated with great pain, with greater pressure, blood may appear.
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if there are still no steps taken to remove the ingrown fragment, a so-called "Wild meat", often festering and unimaginably painful.
How can a podiatrist help?
First of all, the podiatrist will eliminate pain during the first visit. The sooner the treatment is introduced, the sooner satisfactory results can be expected. There are many methods of correcting ingrown nails, but the podiatrist always chooses the best one for a given patient. Most often, however, for the therapy to be effective, it selects the appropriate orthonyxial clamp.