Some people are very familiar with the problem of ingrown toenails, while others are not even aware of this disease. In medicine, this disease is called onychocryptosis. And this disease is most likely to occur in people who are most prone to it due to heredity, namely, the peculiarities of the shape of the nails, the structure of the nail folds and the formation of the nail plate.
The main place where this disease occurs is the big toes. But this disease also occurs on other fingers, although it is rare. Ingrown nails into the skin occur in both men and women, as well as children.
The most likely causes of the disease are the following:
Most often, an ingrown toenail occurs on a square or rectangular nail shape. A strongly protruding transverse arch only aggravates the problem. Thus, improperly trimmed nails create sharp edges that cut into the tissue of the nail folds and, as they grow, go deeper into the skin.
How to best treat an ingrown toenail largely depends on the stage of the disease. After all, as you know, any disease is easier to cure if it is diagnosed as early as possible.
An ingrown toenail creates many problems for its owners. Not only is this a painful process, but there is also the possibility of surgery to correct the problem. Therefore, it is very important to get rid of this disease as quickly as possible.
How to cure an ingrown toenail?
Treatment of a nail that has grown into the skin comes down to removing the edge of the nail plate from the skin tissue or preventing ingrowth if a person is predisposed to this disease.
The inflammatory process in the finger is treated with medications.
Treatment for an ingrown toenail includes different methods:
Home treatment without visiting a doctor is possible only at the initial stage of onychocryptosis. At the first signs of illness, you should try to pull out the edge of the nail and cut it off. In order not to damage the skin of your feet, you need to steam three times a day for 10-15 minutes. After the skin becomes soft, the nail comes out easily and is removed. If you can’t solve the problem yourself or the situation gets worse, then you need the help of a specialist.
Conservative treatment consists of the following:
To relieve the inflammatory process, the doctor performs a tamponade procedure. A cloth soaked in antiseptic liquid is placed under the edge of the nail. Tamponade is done periodically until the inflammation goes away. In addition, if the nail is not deeply ingrown, then the fabric is used as a retainer so that the nail grows correctly. Other fixatives for proper nail growth are special splints, plates, tubes and resins.
Surgery is prescribed to the patient in cases where there is a purulent-inflammatory process in the finger or conservative treatment does not help. The abscess is opened and drained. Part of the ingrown nail is removed. Depending on the degree of ingrowth of the nail plate, the volume of its removal also depends. So, with a small ingrowth, only a small area of the nail is affected, and with a strong one, not only the ingrown plate, but also part of the matrix is removed. In some cases, the nail is completely removed. And in case of repeated relapses, phenolization (destruction) of the matrix is performed.
Laser nail removal is a more effective and painless procedure. Unlike a scalpel, a laser is more precise and the operated tissues heal faster. Laser therapy practically does not cause relapses. Which is very important for people who, due to their professional background, constantly experience stress on their feet. The laser removes part of the ingrown nail and matrix. At the same time, it effectively affects the inflammatory process, killing all possible pathogens.
Radio wave therapy, like laser, virtually eliminates relapses. It can be performed at any stage of onychocryptosis and has no contraindications. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. Highly sensitive waves do not damage adjacent tissues, do not affect the sensitivity of receptors and do not cause unpleasant sensations. The inflammatory process is completely blocked, and wounds after surgery heal easily and quickly.
You can treat an ingrown toenail at home before an acute purulent process appears. The procedures themselves consist of relieving inflammation with the help of antiseptics (furacilin, ethyl alcohol), anti-inflammatory medications (Vishnevsky ointment, ichthyol ointment), softening the skin with foot baths and removing a nail that has grown into the skin.
The basic rules for treating an ingrown toenail at home are as follows:
To quickly heal the inflamed tissue and soften the nail plate, followed by removal of the ingrown toenail, you can apply compresses at night:
To prevent ointments and compress ingredients from spreading, you should wrap your finger in film before bandaging.
How to trim an ingrown toenail at home?
After the procedures make the nail and the skin around it soft, you can begin removing the ingrown nail. For this you will need manicure tools. Scissors and nippers must be well disinfected by boiling or treating with alcohol solutions. In order not to injure the skin when pulling out the nail, it is better to use disposable manicure sticks made of wood.
Before the removal procedure, carry out standard steaming of the legs and treatment of the finger with an antiseptic. Use a stick to gently pick up the edge of the nail, pulling it out of the skin. Cut off the sharp edge, and again place the cloth with the medicinal agent between the nail and the roller and secure it with a bandage.
Before the next trimming, file the edges of the cut nail, and after steaming, pull out the area of the ingrown nail again and remove it with clippers or nail scissors.
To effectively remove an ingrown toenail, repeat the procedure once every two or three days until it is completely removed from the skin and the nail fold is healed.
If the problem of ingrown toenails bothers you periodically, then you should take preventive measures. It consists of the following:
We are all accustomed to the modern rhythm of life, which constantly requires us to move and does not give us rest for a minute. We spend a lot of time on our feet, which naturally leads to heaviness and fatigue. We can cope with these symptoms on our own, but what to do when there is unbearable pain in the toes that interferes with normal activity?
The appearance of pain in the toes may indicate various joint diseases in which inflammatory processes occur in the connective tissues. You should not treat them with disdain, because if you do not treat them in time, over time the pain can only intensify, causing even more discomfort when walking.
Therefore, if you have severe pain in your toes, we advise you to immediately consult a doctor for help. You need to undergo a full examination to find out the exact cause of this disease.
Most often, pain in the toes occurs for four reasons - arthritis, arthrosis, Morton's neuroma and disorders of the vascular system.
Arthritis is a disease characterized by joint inflammation and destruction. There are several types of this disease, but all of them are expressed by painful symptoms. Moreover, each of these types has its own “favorite” toes.
With psoriatic and reactive arthritis, inflammation is most often observed on the big toe. The other 4 fingers can become inflamed with rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, a person mainly notices pain in the fingers at night, when he is at rest. But they can also be observed during the daytime.
Arthrosis is a disease in which deformation of bone tissue occurs as a result of exposure to external factors or impaired metabolism. Most often, with this disease, pain is localized in the big toe.
This disease is popularly called gout. However, despite the fact that it can also cause pain in the toes, there is nothing in common between these diseases. And true gout is diagnosed much less often than arthrosis.
The male part of the world's population is most susceptible to the development of gout, while the female part is most susceptible to arthrosis. This is due to the fact that women often wear uncomfortable high-heeled shoes that have a narrow toe. In it, the big toe bends strongly inward and is pressed against the adjacent toe, resulting in a protruding bone, which is constantly injured by the shoes and begins to deform.
If no measures are taken at this stage of the disease, the disease spreads to the joints. They become thicker, leading to limited activity. In the last stages of arthrosis, the big toe is fixed in the wrong position and all attempts to straighten it remain unsuccessful.
It is worth noting that in addition to deformation of bone tissue, patients with arthrosis experience inflammation of the periarticular bursa, which leads to swelling, redness and soreness of the soft tissues.
If you delay the treatment of arthrosis, then in addition to the big toe, other toes begin to deform. Then deformation of the entire foot occurs, which greatly affects the person’s gait, because every step is difficult for him. And the treatment of such late stages of arthrosis is very long and sometimes unsuccessful.
This pathology is also called plantar fasciitis. It is characterized by the appearance of pain not in the fingers themselves, but at their base. It occurs as a result of great pressure on the nerve endings. The disease is diagnosed in most cases in women.
The occurrence of plantar fasciitis can be caused by repeated injuries to the foot, which again occurs as a result of wearing uncomfortable shoes. If a nerve is pinched when receiving another injury, traumatic neuritis begins to develop.
This pathology is chronic. The damaged nerve begins to thicken over time and becomes more sensitive to external stimuli. The pain syndrome may intensify when carrying heavy objects and walking.
Why do my toes hurt? Only an experienced doctor can answer this question specifically after conducting tests and research. Since such a symptom can quite often be a consequence of the development of any diseases.
For example, if in addition to pain you also feel numbness in your feet and fingers, this may indicate the development of diabetes. If a burning sensation appears, this most likely indicates vascular disorders or hyperactivity of nerve fibers.
If the pain syndrome is accompanied by whitening of the toes, this may indicate the development of vascular diseases, which affect the arteries of the lower extremities.
The cause of pain in the toes can also be diseases such as obliterating endarteritis and atherosclerosis of the arteries. They occur against the background of impaired circulation in the blood vessels, which leads to a deficiency of oxygen and other nutrients in the soft tissues.
Most often, such pathologies are accompanied by other symptoms. A person may experience brittle nail plates, pale skin, hair loss, and increased sensitivity to cold temperatures.
It is also worth noting that pain in the toe can be caused by an ingrown toenail. It not only causes pain when walking, but also causes swelling and redness of the skin.
An independent attempt to eliminate an ingrown toenail can lead to infection and the formation of a purulent process. Therefore, this procedure should only be performed by a specialist under sterile conditions, and not at home.
Severe pain in the toe can be caused by hardened soft tissue, which is a collection of dead cells. It is worth noting that some hardenings may have a core that penetrates deep into the epidermis. Such formations are considered especially painful, they are very difficult to remove, and when they are cut frequently, they grow. Here you also cannot do without the help of a specialist.
Toe pain never appears without a reason. Its appearance is provoked by various diseases that arise as a result of wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes. That is why women are more likely to suffer from this disease than men.
Therefore, the only preventative measure to prevent pain in the toes is to wear comfortable and practical shoes. Don't chase fashion, because it costs your health!
It should also be noted that excessive physical activity can also lead to the development of joint diseases, accompanied by pain in the toes. So take care of yourself and stop lifting weights.
Leg health problems are always serious. Whatever part this concerns, you need not to delay and promptly seek help from specialists. Painful big toe is a common problem. To make a correct diagnosis, an examination and consultation with a doctor is necessary. To maintain a beautiful gait and healthy feet, you need to start fighting the problem of big toe pain at the first discomfort. Even if your big toe just hurts, this is a cause for concern.
Why does your thumb hurt, does a bone protrude, or does the shape of your nail change? Common reasons for such changes cause the following problems:
Let's take a closer look at how the diagnoses differ and are similar.
Those who know little about the real clinical picture call arthrosis gout. This is a huge mistake. Diseases are different and require different approaches to treatment. The only thing they have in common is pain in the big toe.
Arthrosis accompanies mostly women, and gout accompanies men. This is due to the fact that women more often sacrifice the health of their feet for beautiful, but uncomfortable shoes. If a woman wears tight shoes that compress the bones, fingers and foot, then deformation of the big toe occurs. Under the influence of walking, not only the bones of the thumbs, but also the joints begin to suffer. Inflammation begins in them. They begin to increase in size. Over time, any movement of the thumb causes pain. And later the bones of the thumb hurt even at rest. If you do not pay attention to this in time, then the curvature, compaction and thickening will deform the bones so much that the reverse process will no longer happen. The finger may remain in the wrong position forever. This causes friction against the shoes and inflammation in the tissues around the joints. After this, inflammation of the joint occurs. The big toe becomes swollen and red.
As a consequence, the process covers the rest of the toes and foot. Unfortunately, this process cannot be stopped or corrected with medications. This cannot be done without the help of a surgeon. Therefore, women who love narrow heels should think carefully about the consequences of wearing such shoes. At the slightest pain, you need to change your favorite shoes to comfortable ones, give your feet rest and stop the deformation of the remaining toes. Why women are so reckless and do not pay due attention to the health of their feet can be explained. Beauty, up to a certain age, is more important to them.
Unlike arthrosis, gout has completely different conditions for its appearance. Everything is much more complicated here. Among the reasons cited are metabolic disorders. Uric acid salts, instead of being eliminated from the body, are deposited in the joints and kidneys. This injures the organs and causes severe pain. Inflammation of the joints is the beginning of the disease. It is the lower extremities that suffer first.
The first attack of gout begins with inflammation of the big toe of the right or left foot. As a rule, the finger begins to hurt sharply. This appears at night.
If gout is not diagnosed in time, the disease will enter a long-term phase. The inflammation may persist for several months. There may be an increase in body temperature, redness of the tissues on the finger at the joint and where the nail is. The main causes of gout are poor lifestyle, diet, and alcohol abuse. This disease is one of the first described by doctors. Why it was called the disease of aristocrats is not difficult to guess. The disease affected people with high material income due to their large and incontinent appetite and alcohol abuse.
If, with arthrosis, a process of deformation of the finger, bone, or nail occurs, which can be corrected by a surgeon, then gout becomes a consequence of a number of causes that can be eliminated. Medicines, lifestyle changes and dietary changes can help here.
The disease is associated with the degeneration of fibrous tissue and its thickening in the foot.
More such cases have been registered in women over the age of 35, on the right or left leg. The disease does not often occur on both legs at the same time. The source of pain spreads to the thumb. Although the development of the disease occurs where the bones of the third and fourth toes are located. Sometimes, between the bones of the second and third fingers. Very rarely, the disease affects other fingers and bones. Here the reasons also lie in the mechanical effect on the feet and fingers. Incorrect shoes, flat feet, overload, injuries - these are the factors that increase the risk of acquiring plantar fasciitis (this is the second name of the disease). The big toe hurts just like the rest. The main discomfort occurs at the base of the finger.
Women are affected by this disease five times more often than men.
The relationship between diabetes and toe pain may seem strange. Unfortunately, the disease is so complex that it involves many organs, nerve endings, and limbs. After a hard day, long walking, overload, the bone on the toe may hurt at night or in the morning. In addition, you may feel a burning sensation in your feet.
An ingrown toenail is also a consequence of mechanical stress. Incorrect shoe shape, toe injuries, fractures, dislocations, nails cut too deep, infections and fungi - all this causes inflammation in the joint.
You can determine that a nail is becoming ingrown by several signs: a change in shape, redness of the upper part of the finger near the nail, possible discharge of pus, the finger experiences acute pain with a twitching character.
Ingrown toenails are a common problem. You should not self-medicate; the problem can worsen.
In addition to all the above reasons, painful sensations can occur due to a huge layer of dead cells. These growths must be removed so that blood circulation is not obstructed.
The legs bear the greatest physical load. All day long they carry a body whose weight sometimes exceeds their strength. If you experience any pain, be it pain in a bone, a finger or a foot, you need to pay close attention to the signal. If there is a suspicion that pain in the toes may be inflammation, you need to seek help from a neurologist, traumatologist, endocrinologist or surgeon.
When your big toe hurts, wearing shoes becomes painful, discomfort appears, to eliminate which you need to urgently consult a doctor, because this symptom may indicate the development of a dangerous disease.
The disease, the symptoms of which are pain and swelling, can be mechanical or infectious in nature. The most common causes of pain are the following: ingrown toenails, arthritis and arthrosis, gout. Let's analyze these reasons in more detail.
Gout is a chronic disease that results from the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints. The most common lesion involved is the thumb of the lower extremity.
Salt deposition occurs due to a decrease in their excretion through the kidneys, which, in turn, occurs when metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. Metabolic disorders can be a consequence of: genetic failure; poor nutrition; bad habits; diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac ischemia; suffered injuries.
Psychosomatics plays an important role in determining the cause of gout. It is worth noting that psychosomatics in such a disease is expressed in the need to dominate, impatience, and anger. All these human qualities are expressed through the symptoms and signs of gout.
In addition to pain in the joint of the big toe, other symptoms of gout occur:
To clarify this diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, a blood and synovial fluid test of the joint, and an ultrasound. Treatment of pain in the big toe joint and other manifestations of the disease is based on conservative methods, diet, and physical therapy, which is prescribed only by a doctor.
In Chinese medicine, there is such a common method of eliminating the disease as acupuncture with a hot needle. Few people know it in our medicine, but it is quite effective in its homeland. The method is as follows:
In general, three sessions will be enough to return the limb to natural function and eliminate the symptoms of gout.
An ingrown toenail mainly appears on the big toe, but the one next to it is no exception. An ingrown toenail can occur for the following reasons:
performing a poor-quality or incorrect manicure (cutting the nail too deep);
wearing uncomfortable shoes (when the big toe, including the nail, is strongly compressed by the shoes);
if the nail has a specific shape (may have a genetic predisposition);
with existing flat feet;
if the tip of the nail grows in from the side due to a sharp increase in a person’s weight;
if the leg is injured;
the presence of fungal foot disease.
The psychosomatics of the disease determines that the tip of the nail can grow into the skin when a person is worried about moving forward towards his goals.
The skin under the nail in the area where it grows may become red and swollen. A concomitant symptom is severe aching pain at the base of the big toe both when walking and at rest. Late stages of the pathology are accompanied by suppuration of the wound.
When the tip of the nail grows into the skin, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment. If treatment with conservative methods is impossible or ineffective, surgical intervention is resorted to. Your doctor will also tell you how to treat the disease at home.
A bunion near the big toe, or more precisely, at its base, often occurs with flat feet. You can also note such reasons as wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, poor diet, hereditary and other diseases. In this case, the bone that abducts the big toe begins to become inflamed, modified and protruding. The appearance of the bone resembles a large subcutaneous lump. People often believe that a protruding bone at the base of the thumb is a symptom of gout. To determine the correct diagnosis, you need to consult a specialist.
Big toe deformity develops in 4 stages:
Stage 1 – There is no pain syndrome, the bone noticeably protrudes.
Stage 2 – The pain is mild and fleeting and intensifies when the leg moves.
Stage 3 - The phalanx of the thumb suffers a displacement of 30 - 50 degrees. The bone and finger hurt a lot when a person stands for a long time.
Stage 4 – The thumb is displaced by more than 50 degrees. The bone and finger hurt constantly.
If the bone at the base of the thumb hurts, treatment is as follows: diet; drinking enough fluid; wearing comfortable shoes made of quality materials; massage and physical education; physiotherapy.
If all methods are ineffective, surgery to remove the bone is prescribed. Contraindications for the operation are existing diseases: diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, heart disease, thrombophlebitis.
Arthritis of the big toe is most often a consequence of reactive or psoriatic arthritis and gout. The psychosomatics of the disease states that arthritis develops in those people who are too strict with themselves and cannot relax and express their desires.
Most people have this disease for many years. Exacerbation of arthritis occurs at the time of change in weather conditions, season or climatic conditions. Symptoms of the disease are:
the big toe hurts when bending, as well as when a person moves;
limited finger mobility;
unpleasant stiffness at the site of the lesion;
increased body temperature;
redness and swelling of the skin over the affected area.
Treatment, first of all, consists of following a diet prescribed by the doctor. He also prescribes other treatment, which will differ in each specific case, depending on the cause of the disease.
Deformation of the big toe and the appearance of a bump on its side is called “bursitis,” which occurs for the following reasons: uncomfortable shoes that a person wears; genetic predisposition; rheumatic and metabolic pathologies present in humans.
The psychosomatics of such a disease lies in the lack of joy in a person towards the things around him and life in general.
Symptoms of bursitis are clearly expressed:
With significant progression of the disease, swelling and pain syndrome may spread to the lower leg. A callus may appear on the inside of the finger. In the case when a person eliminates it with the help of pumice, files and creams, there is an increase in trauma to the inflammation zone, and the foot becomes even more deformed.
If the infection enters the synovial bursa, signs of intoxication develop. These include malaise and weakness, as well as elevated body temperature.
Treatment of the initial stage of the disease consists of the following: wearing comfortable shoes; limiting loads on the foot; to eliminate swelling and pain, it is recommended to elevate the leg; physiotherapy.
Advanced cases require other treatment: taking painkillers, antibiotics, wearing special insoles in shoes.
The muscle of the big toe, just like all the other muscles of the foot, can hurt after a load on it. The pain will be aching, but not severe, which occurs when moving.
Muscles (muscles) also hurt after keeping the limbs in one position for a long time. This may include flying on an airplane, sitting or standing for a long time. This occurs when blood stagnates in the veins in the case of a monotonous position of the limbs. In this case, endotoxins accumulate, and muscles (muscles), or rather their cells, succumb to oxygen starvation. As a result of such processes, the pain receptor is activated and the muscles (muscle) begin to ache.
Such pain can be eliminated with a short rest, and blood stagnation in the limbs can be eliminated by giving them an elevated position.
The next reason why the muscles (muscle of the big toe) of the feet may become sore is walking in shoes with high heels. This usually applies to women. Joint pain can be confused with muscle pain in diseases such as osteoarthritis deformans, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
In order not to waste time, energy and money on treating the manifested disease of the toe, it is better to take care of prevention. Let us highlight the following rules of prevention:
Only a doctor can determine why the big toe hurts based on the diagnostic results. You should not delay visiting a doctor, as pain may indicate a serious illness. Otherwise, you may end up with irreversible consequences.
Ingrown toenail
Many people have an ingrown toenail, and everyone is interested in how to treat it. This phenomenon is also called nail incarnation.
It causes pain in the affected finger. This phenomenon occurs when the nail has a sharp end and begins to grow into the finger, damaging the skin in the corners. Then inflammatory processes may develop. Then additional tissue appears on the affected area, and a yellowish substance oozes from the wound. An ingrown toenail on the big toe causes a lot of pain and trouble, the treatment of which will take a long time. If left untreated, this disease can develop not only inflammation caused by infection, but also an abscess. In this case, surgical intervention will be required.
Osteomyelitis is a rare disease that is more of a side effect of damage to the bone structure of the leg. Nails begin to damage the skin most often in people aged 19-35 years. By the way, according to statistical data, this phenomenon is more often observed in the male half of the population. The nail on any finger can begin to damage the skin due to pathological changes, but in most cases, osteomyelitis develops on the big toe of the lower extremities.
There are many reasons why an ingrown toenail appears on the foot, the treatment of which must begin by identifying the factors that caused the development of this phenomenon.
Causes of ingrown toenails
For example, changes in the nail can be caused by wearing uncomfortable shoes. Because it is too narrow, it puts pressure on the finger. The situation is even worse with shoes that have not only a narrow toe, but a high heel. Only the body weight will be transferred to the fingers, and the pressure will only increase. Because of this, the nail begins to grow incorrectly.
If a person cuts his nails incorrectly, then this may be another reason that causes non-standard growth and shape of the nail plate. To avoid this problem, doctors recommend cutting the nail plate evenly without curves.
If the patient has fungus of the feet and nail plates, then the risk of improper nail growth and damage to the skin increases. This is due to the fact that a fungal infection causes deformation of the nail plate. It begins to thicken. Sometimes the nail plate becomes wider.
Any injury to the foot or the entire lower limb can cause an ingrown toenail, which only an experienced doctor knows how to treat. The nail begins to deform due to changes in the structure of the foot or toe and repeats all the changes in the bone. Because of this, the plate grows into the skin in places that are not intended for this.
By the way, the reason may be heredity. If one of your relatives has such a problem with their legs, then another family member may also develop it.
Some people have initially rounded nail plates. There is also a group of people who have changes in the bones of the finger. These pathologies lead to problems with the plate on the finger.
An ingrown toenail is a fairly common problem. Most often the problem affects the outside of the finger. This pathology mainly appears on the big toe of the lower limb. But the nail can be deformed on any toe of any foot, and the problem can even become bilateral.
Ingrown toenails are a fairly common problem.
The patient feels severe aching pain at the site of injury. Swelling and redness appear. In the early stages, suppuration does not occur, but then abscesses appear. Excess skin grows. A yellowish substance oozes from the wound. The skin around the affected area turns pale.
An ingrown toenail in its early stages can be successfully treated at home. This does not require surgery on the leg. It is necessary to wash the foot with a sore toe at least 2 times. The water should be warm. You don’t have to use soap, salt or other means. The main thing is to steam the skin. But it's best to use soap. It is very useful to use tar or laundry soap. You can even make a soap bath. To do this, laundry soap needs to be finely chopped and dissolved in water. This will help eliminate pain, soften the skin and nail plate, and also eliminate inflammation in the wound.
You will have to stop using high-heeled shoes. It is necessary to select very comfortable and soft shoes so that the foot in them does not become deformed and does not strain more than necessary. If possible, it is better to wear open shoes until the problem goes away. Sandals will do.
You can try to slightly lift the corner of the nail plate and secure it with cotton wool or a bandage. Of course, such actions will cause pain, but then the nail will begin to grow correctly. The cotton swab needs to be changed every day.
It is allowed to take medications that have analgesic properties. For example, ibuprofen or acetaminophen will do. Treatment with such procedures will take 1-2 weeks. If there is no improvement, you should go to the hospital.
Ibuprofen for pain relief
In some cases, doctors recommend using special splints. There are several types, but all of them are designed to protect the skin from the corners of the nail plate. Splints can be in the form of a plastic plate, a cotton swab, a special tube or various resins.
In some cases, the doctor may try to cut or bend the ingrown nail, a photo of which is presented in medical reference books, towards the central part. This will help change its shape. In order for the plate to begin to grow in the right direction, a plastic structure can be fixed on top of it.
If a growth of new skin appears around the inflamed area, which interferes with the healing of the wound and the growth of the plate, then the doctor removes the excess skin. This will help the wounds heal faster.
Surgery is necessary when it is necessary to remove part of the plate or remove an abscess or fluid from the cavity. The operation can be performed in the office. Its duration depends on how severe the situation is. Tetanus vaccination is mandatory. In some cases, the doctor additionally performs an X-ray examination for the patient. This is required to find out whether the infection has affected the bone structure. After the operation, you will have to wear a bandage for 2 days and monitor the wound.
Many people are interested in how to cure an ingrown toenail using traditional medicine. To do this, you can use various available means and gifts of nature.
For example, you can use potassium permanganate. It must be dissolved in water, and the water must be hot. It is necessary to keep your feet in this solution longer. After the patient has steamed his feet, the finger must be wrapped in a clean plantain leaf, which has previously been slightly kneaded with hands so that the juice is released from it. The finger with the leaf needs to be bandaged and a warm sock worn. The bandage should be changed once a day.
An ingrown toenail, a photo of which is available for general viewing, can be treated with a decoction based on St. John's wort or chamomile. This therapy is more suitable in the early stages of the disease. You will need 6 tablespoons of raw materials per 2 liters of boiling water. The product should be infused for an hour. After this, the broth must be filtered. While it infuses, the product will have time to cool, and your feet need to be steamed in warm water, so the broth will need to be heated again. Baths with a decoction of St. John's wort or chamomile will make the nail plate softer. This will allow you to carefully cut off the excess. Then cotton wool is applied to the nail. It must be kept there until the nail grows in the correct shape. After this, the treatment can be completed.
Very convenient is a special device for your finger, which needs to be lubricated inside with butter. This device should be put on the affected finger before going to bed. Then put on a warm sock. In the morning the compress can be removed. Gradually the pain will go away. When it completely disappears, you can carefully cut off the part of the nail that cuts into the skin of the finger. Then gauze, bandage or cotton wool is placed under the nail. After this, it is better not to cut the nail until the wound has healed. Otherwise there will be a relapse.
You can use aloe juice. To do this, crush one leaf of the plant and add 20-30 drops of ordinary clean water. After this, the product must be mixed until smooth. You need to wet the bandage in this liquid and then bandage the sore finger with it. Place cling film over the compress. In the morning you can cut out the extra section of the plate.
It is very useful to do salt baths. Regular table salt is suitable for this. You can add a few drops of iodine. However, sea salt baths will be more effective for your feet. This procedure helps soften the code and make the nail plate softer. In addition, salt helps eliminate inflammatory processes.
Instead of salt, you can use regular baking soda. It will help solve the problem if you have an ingrown toenail. Furacilin is also effective. For a liter of warm water you will need only 1 tablet of this medication. Thanks to soda, salt or furatsilin baths, the pus will come out on its own.
Prepare a special ointment and how to treat an ingrown toenail with this remedy is immediately clear. First you need to mix honey, garlic pulp, aloe, onion and butter. All ingredients must be thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mass is formed. Next, the substance must be boiled for a couple of minutes. This compress is applied to the injured finger overnight.
Instead of preparing the ointment yourself, you can use the usual Vishnevsky ointment. If you apply the substance overnight, then in the morning the plate will already be soft.
At home, the problem can be eliminated no earlier than 1-2 weeks. If there is no improvement during this period, then consultation with a doctor or surgical intervention is necessary. If surgery has been performed, the nail and finger usually heal well. But the main thing is the risk of re-development of the pathology. This can occur even if the cellular structures of the plate have been destroyed. Repeat surgery is required in 20% of cases. When part of the plate is removed, it is restored within a year.
If the nail has already grown into the skin once, the situation may repeat itself again. It is best to take preventive measures. The most important thing is to cut the nail plate correctly. The cut should be smooth. There is no need to make curves. Be sure to leave the edge of the plate a little longer. In other words, you should not cut the record down to the base. Thanks to this, it will not grow into the skin. Be sure to choose comfortable shoes. Feet should always be dry. You need to wash your feet at least once a day. This will prevent the development of fungal disease.
An ingrown toenail, which can be treated either at home or through surgery, is a serious problem for human health. This is due to the fact that if left untreated, an abscess begins to develop and the tissues become inflamed. Additional tissue and a wound appears on the finger, from which fluid comes out. It is better to consult a doctor in time, carry out a diagnosis and decide on treatment, than to suffer every day and delay solving the problem. Otherwise, this phenomenon will cause complications.