Ingrown Toenails
Introduction
Ingrown toenail, or onychocryptosis, is a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh, causing pain, inflamed skin, swelling and sometimes, an infection.
- It usually affecting the skin on the side of the first toenail.
These occur when a section of the nail presses into the soft tissue of the nail groove. The nail curves into the flesh of the toe corners and becomes embedded in the soft tissue of the toe, causing pain.
Causes
Anatomical predispositions to ingrown toenails are
- Congenital malalignment of the nail
- Hereditary overcurvature of the nail
- Imbalance between the width of the nail matrix and the nail bed
Environmental factors include
- Trauma to foot (e.g. sports)
- Narrow or tight-fitting shoes.
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity or onychomycosis.
- Oral retinoids
- Incorrect trimming of nails (excessive or convex cutting of the nail)
Management
Initial management of an ingrown toenail should be conservative.
- Advise the patient to avoid or minimize exposure to precipitating factors, if possible.
- Resolution is often slow (7 to 14 days).
Analgesia (such as ibuprofen or paracetamol) for pain relief and refer to doctor for surgical correction.
- Toenail removal refers to a partial or complete removal of the nail plate, which is most commonly performed as treatment for ingrown toenail.
Anti-infective agents may be required if the area is infected.
Comments
Post a Comment