The side rolls on the fingers are formed from a fairly elastic and elastic fabric, which is characterized by increased resistance to injury. However, the sharp corners of the nail plates sometimes cut the skin of the ridges and gradually grow into the soft tissue of the finger. Much more often, onychocryptosis develops on the big toe and very rarely the nail grows into the finger on the hand. Young children are very active and during outdoor games the big toe is constantly under heavy load. An ingrown toenail in a child does not cause discomfort immediately, but gradually the side of the toe becomes inflamed, swells and begins to cause pain while walking.
If your child begins to complain of pain in the toe that bothers him from time to time, then carefully examine the skin around the nail plate and lightly press on the side ridges. If the ingrown toenail is very slight, then you can organize treatment for onychocryptosis at an early stage at home. But if the ingrown nail is already located in the deep layers of the soft tissue of the side cushion, an inflammatory process develops with suppuration and the appearance of swelling on the finger, but be sure to make an appointment with a doctor.
A child often runs barefoot and can easily hit his finger on a corner or some ledge. If, upon impact, the free edge of the plate slightly cuts the skin of the side cushion and the bruise of the finger provokes swelling of the soft tissue, then an ingrown toenail may occur;
When trimming overgrown toenails of a child, mothers often make mistakes that lead to the gradual ingrowth of the nail plate into the toe. You should not cut your toenails to the very root, and you should also not round the corners of the free edge too much. The shape of each toenail should be square, and with a ceramic (or glass) nail file you can slightly soften the corners and process the end;
If a child wears shoes with narrow toes for a long time or the straps (Velcro fasteners) on sandals are too tight, then the toes are pressed tightly against each other and the free edge of the nail easily digs into the side ridges. In this case, a wound on soft tissue may bleed and infection begins to get into it along with dirt particles;
The foot with congenital diseases such as clubfoot, flatfoot or rickets is rotated so that the load when walking is shifted to the lateral side of the big toe. As a result, the overgrown nail grows into the finger, which can cause inflammation of the soft tissue;
With vitamin deficiency or as a result of insufficient supply of necessary nutrients to the nail growth zone (matrix), the nail plate grows back deformed. The corner of a curved nail easily sticks into the side cushion and injures the soft tissue of the finger;
The development of onychomycosis gradually causes deformation of the nail plate, and cracks appear in the inflamed skin around the nails. The corner of the hard free edge of the thickened plate easily sticks into the side roller of the finger. An ingrown toenail in a child can accelerate the spread of fungus into the deep tissues of the big toe. Be sure to make an appointment with a dermatologist so that the specialist can prescribe a course of treatment for onychomycosis after identifying the causative agent of the fungal infection. You can supplement the main treatment with baths with baking soda diluted in water, treating your fingers with hydrogen peroxide, and compresses with celandine oil on a piece of cotton pad.
— in the photo: 1. Correction bracket; 2. Sawing a groove in the middle of the nail plate; 3. Plate made of special plastic; 4. How to cut your nails correctly.
The purulent infection spreads through the deep layers of soft tissue and penetrates the bone tissue of the finger. Urgent hospitalization and inpatient treatment are required;
The free edge of the nail cuts the soft tissue and infection enters the open wound. The side cushion begins to become inflamed, and purulent discharge accumulates around the nail. Surgical intervention with wound disinfection is required;
The infection penetrates the lymphatic capillaries and vessels, which begin to increase in size. The soft tissue around the ingrown nail turns red, and swelling of the upper phalanx of the finger appears.
Please leave comments on the article and share with each other the secrets of home nail care.
Often parents have to deal with illnesses of their beloved child, making every effort for a speedy recovery. They often encounter such a problem as an ingrown toenail in a child, which causes a lot of anxiety.
Sometimes you have to try many different methods and remedies before the problem disappears forever. Modern medicine, home methods and knowledge of what triggered the ingrowth process can help with this.
Every year thousands of people suffer from various pathological processes in the nail area. This also includes the problem of ingrowth, often affecting the big toe or little toe. Not everyone knows that the structure of the nail plate plays a significant role in the development of pathology. This statement especially applies to children, who are most susceptible to various pathological influences, and their nails are poorly resistant to various adverse environmental factors.
According to statistics, the appearance of ingrown nail edges is also possible in infants. It is logical to begin studying the issue with the process of formation of nail plates from the prenatal period, which becomes decisive in the development of pathology in the future. The size of future nails and their structure directly depends on how much nutrition the fetus receives during pregnancy.
The immediate length of the nail surface will depend on the size of the nail bed, which is determined by the size of the finger. The stratum corneum undergoes a complete change over a period of 3 to 6 months.
In the structure of the nail it is customary to distinguish:
Important! The listed components of the nail structure are the same for all people. The main differences are indicators such as shape, length and width. In childhood, marigolds are particularly elastic, flexible and grow rapidly.
The layers of the nail are a direct continuation of the skin and perform protective functions. According to anatomical data, the nail has a root located under the cuticle layer and a body in the form of an outer plate. Its bed is surrounded by skin lateral folds. The final formation of the listed elements of the nail occurs by the age of 15.
A child’s delicate marigolds are easily susceptible to certain internal factors and external causes, so every parent must know about them.
The following factors can contribute to ingrown nails and subsequent deformation:
Other causes may include foot injuries, rickets, or fungal infections. The latter option in childhood is quite rare, but quite possible. A child's delicate nails are not always able to withstand various external factors, which can lead to gradual ingrowth.
Every loving and caring parent should understand that often the baby cannot describe in words what is bothering him. Only careful attention will help to detect an unpleasant problem in a timely manner. If your child is restless, uncomfortable wearing shoes or walking, crying, or showing other symptoms, you should seriously consider it.
Additional signs will be redness of the periungual fold, swelling and the appearance of pain when touching or pressing on the nail.
Ingrown toenails in children are usually treated with two main methods - conservative or surgical. Surgical intervention should be resorted to as a last resort, since there is a high probability of relapses (about 60%) and abnormal nail growth in the future. If possible, you should start with conservative therapy, one of the options of which may be home (folk) remedies.
Important! It must be remembered that the start of any treatment should begin with visiting a specialist and undergoing the necessary studies, and end with careful adherence to a certain list of preventive measures. Only in this case will the final result be a complete recovery of the child.
The first thing that needs to be taken into account with any therapy option is that cut corners cannot be cut off. This will worsen the situation and cause ingrown toenails to reappear.
Next you need to do the following:
To make the ingrown area less exposed to external irritants, it is worth allowing the child to walk barefoot more at home. It is necessary to purchase comfortable shoes according to the size of your feet. If indicated, you should buy special orthopedic models, special insoles or inserts.
Home remedies for treating ingrown toenails do not always help, and sometimes you have to resort to additional measures. They often involve the use of medications, which are especially necessary for the development of inflammation. Antibacterial ointments were mentioned above.
Other medications used for ingrown toenails include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers and antipyretics. Examples include Nimesulide, Analgin and Panadol. It must be borne in mind that not all of the listed remedies can be used in early childhood, so consultation with a specialist is necessary.
We must not forget about antibiotics in the form of tablets, which are vital in case of infection of an ingrown toenail and should be used strictly according to a doctor’s prescription.
Burnt alum is often used as drug therapy. This is an original drug in powder form that can have an antiseptic effect and accelerate tissue regeneration. Specific medications and dosages should be selected exclusively by a doctor.
If conservative therapy is ineffective and complications develop, the procedure of excision of the nail or part of it is always used.
This can be done in several common ways:
The doctor may also prescribe phenolization of the nail, which involves removing the growth zone. As a result, this leads to the loss of the nail surface's ability to grow. In children, it is prescribed in exceptional cases, when other methods no longer help, and most of the plate is severely deformed.
Removing a nail or part of it in children should be done only as a last resort, since at this age the formation processes have not yet been completed. The result of such treatment may be an unsightly deformed toenail.
Regardless of the means and method of treating ingrown toenails in a child, every parent should understand that if the approach does not help, they should consult a doctor. If this is not done and therapy is not started in more radical ways, the situation can significantly worsen and provoke the development of serious complications.
We must not forget that an ingrown nail always threatens with infection. As a result, the nail may fester. If at first everything seems quite harmless, in the absence of adequate therapy, pathological processes such as abscess, sepsis and osteomyelitis may develop. Unfortunately, a child’s body is not always able to cope with an infection, which can quickly spread throughout the body.
The infection is especially dangerous for children suffering from diabetes - their body is more susceptible. The result can be gangrene of the finger and even the foot. That is why doctors take the problem of ingrown toenails so seriously, especially in children, and always recommend starting adequate therapy on time and carrying out the full range of necessary measures. This will help avoid serious consequences in the future.
Complex therapy of any disease should be supported by preventive measures to avoid unnecessary relapses. This also applies to ingrown nails in children. After treatment, it is necessary to prevent any possibility of their reappearance.
The following fairly simple and accessible measures can help:
Do not forget about the well-known truths - it is necessary to provide the child with a balanced diet, healthy sleep and full physical activity. It is necessary to “instill” in him the correct way of life. This will strengthen the body and ensure health of all systems and organs. This will also have a beneficial effect on your nails.
Close contact with a doctor will help you to promptly notice the onset of ingrown toenails, start therapy on time and prevent the development of serious consequences.
An ingrown toenail on the big toe or any other can cause a lot of anxiety and pain, especially in childhood or adolescence. In an attempt to solve the problem, parents resort to various methods, which do not always help, and treatment can take a long time.
To prevent this from happening, you should not delay contacting a doctor, but should jointly select the most effective treatment method. A competent search for the causes of ingrowth, their elimination and adequate therapy followed by prevention will allow you to overcome the problem and prevent its recurrence in the future.
Often parents are faced with a problem such as an ingrown toenail in a child, which causes pain and interferes with walking. It is a big mistake to leave the situation unresolved, since as a result everything can end in suppuration and an inflammatory process that will require serious and long-term treatment. If you catch it in time, you can avoid such unpleasant consequences and make your baby’s life easier in a matter of days. To prevent this from happening, you need to know what factors can cause this phenomenon and try to protect the baby from them.
Any ingrown toenail in children does not appear on its own, without reason. There are certain factors that can trigger its appearance. These include:
Most often it is the legs that suffer: on the arms this phenomenon is quite rare. Timely treatment of ingrown toenails in children and proper care are necessary to avoid complications. If the defect is noticed immediately, you can cope with the problem at home. If the ingrowth has already occurred too deeply and suppuration has begun, it is better to seek help from a specialist.
Parents should know what to do if a child has an ingrown toenail, whether on the hand or toe. It is necessary to take appropriate measures to prevent destruction of the intact tissue cover, preserve the nail as much as possible and prevent the infection from spreading further. This can be done both at home and with the help of doctors.
Often, treatment of an ingrown toenail in a child ends with surgery. There's nothing wrong with it:
Parents must understand that they themselves are solely responsible for treatment at home. If complications arise, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Therefore, no matter how trivial the situation with an ingrown toenail in a child may seem to you, it is best to consult a doctor and follow his recommendations. This will speed up recovery and make life easier for the baby.
There are a number of conclusions about the dangers of washing cosmetics. Unfortunately, not all new mothers listen to them. 97% of shampoos use the dangerous substance Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or its analogues. Many articles have been written about the effects of this chemistry on the health of both children and adults. At the request of our readers, we tested the most popular brands.
The results were disappointing - the most advertised companies showed the presence of those very dangerous components in their composition. In order not to violate the legal rights of manufacturers, we cannot name specific brands. The Mulsan Cosmetics company, the only one that passed all the tests, successfully received 10 points out of 10 (check out). Each product is made from natural ingredients, completely safe and hypoallergenic.
If you doubt the naturalness of your cosmetics, check the expiration date; it should not exceed 10 months. Be careful when choosing cosmetics, this is important for you and your child.
Onychocryptosis is a fairly common pathological condition, which is known to a wide range of people as an ingrown toenail. This disease occurs due to increased growth of the nail plate, leading to its ingrowth into the edge of the nail fold. Most often, the outer edge of the big toe is affected. Due to the development of the inflammatory process, the affected area swells, turns red and becomes very painful.
1. Wide feet, longitudinal and transverse flat feet, hallux valgus, as well as other congenital anatomical disorders.
2. Excess fat pads surrounding the nail phalanges of the toes.
3. Injuries to the nail and toes.
4. Long-term plaster immobilization, which makes proper nail care difficult.
5. Wearing narrow or smaller shoes.
6. Improper care of toenails (cutting them too short or rounded causes the lateral lateral nail fold or the skin-fatty tissue of the fingertip to creep onto the edge of the nail plate). As a result, inflammation develops and swelling appears, which over time leads to true onychocryptosis.
In the case when the free edge of the nail remains too long, this leads to a change in its shape (it becomes triangular or turned inward, towards the bony part of the nail phalanx), which also in some cases leads to ingrowth.
7. Paronychia (nail infections) and other inflammatory pathologies of the nail bed.
8. Fungal infections of the nail plates (onychomycosis).
9. Complications of pregnancy and other pathological conditions leading to swelling of the feet and cutting of the nail plates into the soft tissue.
Unfortunately, to date, the mechanism of this pathological condition has not yet been fully studied. However, experts are inclined to believe that part of the regrown nail begins to grow into the skin of the periungual fold due to constant load, even with the slightest deformation. The individual structure of the nail and surrounding tissues plays an important role in the development of the pathological process. In the case when the nail is constantly exposed to external stress and does not experience sufficient resistance from the nail fold, this often provokes its ingrowth.
Most often, an ingrown toenail is found on the big toe, but at the same time, recently there has been a significant increase in the number of patients in whom ingrown toenails occur on other toes (sometimes even all toes, although until recently such cases were practically not found in clinical practice met).
Total ingrown nails are common in women giving birth or in late stages of pregnancy. It should be noted that in this case the pathological process progresses very quickly and often leads to loss of motor activity.
In adult patients, onychocryptosis occurs in four stages:
It should be noted that the last stage of onychocryptosis, accompanied by the transition of an acute inflammatory process to a chronic one, develops over a fairly long time.
1. Most often in clinical practice, lateral onychocryptosis occurs, in which the nail grows in the lateral direction.
2. When a properly growing nail grows into the adjacent tissue of the periungual fold, distal onychocryptosis is diagnosed.
3. Ingrown nails, which occur as a result of hypertrophy of the soft tissues of the periungual fold, lead to its growth on the nail plate, but the nail itself does not change.
4. Onychocryptosis, which occurs due to a violation of the direction of growth of the nail plate. In this case, the axis of the nail shifts, and it grows into the periungual fold or into the soft tissue of the nail bed.
5. Onychocryptosis of the fingers is a very rare disease that most often occurs as a result of malnutrition of the nail plates, or becomes a complication of injury. Also, a pathological condition can develop after an incorrectly performed manicure, hypercalcemia or fungal nail infection.
At the site where the nail grows into the skin, swelling occurs, accompanied by hyperemia and hypothermia. With a sufficiently long course of the disease, a purulent process develops in the tissues of the nail fold, leading to the formation of ulcers.
The first sign of onychocryptosis is pain that makes itself felt when walking. Around the nail that begins to grow in, hyperemia and swelling of the periungual tissues develop. Very often, people try to cut off the sharp edge of the nail that irritates them, but this leads to even more ingrown nail plates. As a rule, after some time, an infection penetrates into the wound formed by the nail, which entails the development of purulent inflammation.
In this condition, patients experience severe pain, their movement becomes problematic, and sometimes it is impossible to even step on the affected limb. Necrosis of the soft periungual tissues and the nail plate itself gradually develops. As a result, the finger becomes deformed and wearing shoes and walking becomes almost impossible.
When the inflammatory process enters the chronic stage, a thickening of the edematous zones is noted, purulent discharge becomes scarce or stops altogether, and the so-called “wild meat” appears on the periungual fold, resulting from the proliferation of granulation tissue.
Due to the fact that the thickness of the nail plate is approximately the same on all fingers, ingrown nails can occur on any of them. The symptoms of this disease are similar to the symptoms of onychocryptosis on the legs. Hyperemia and swelling appear in the affected area, and in the area of the periungual fold there is discomfort, which over time develops into pain. A small ulcer forms at the site of the ingrown nail, and with a prolonged inflammatory process, proliferation of granulation tissues is noted.
Most often, an ingrown toenail in a child occurs due to a family history or due to improperly selected shoes. In this case, any attempts to prevent the problem using conservative treatment methods end in failure. Therefore, parents should accept as early as possible that their child will require surgery.
If the parents wish, the procedure for removing an ingrown toenail can be performed under general anesthesia. As a rule, general anesthesia is indicated for children under ten years of age. During surgery, the entire nail plate will not be removed, but only the corners that have grown into the soft tissue will be cut off. Next, a “patch” is made from the cut piece of skin, spreading the skin tissue as far apart as possible and preventing further ingrown nails. As a rule, a five-day hospitalization is recommended for young patients. During the hospital stay, the child is given dressings, and then, after discharge, the operated finger will require special attention for some time.
It should be noted that with proper care, ingrown toenails in a child, for which surgery is the only effective treatment, can be avoided. If you find the tip of the nail plate resting on the skin, it is recommended to steam your foot in an infusion of chamomile, and then treat the inflamed area with iodine. Next, you should very carefully cut off the corner of the nail that is about to grow into the skin tissue and monitor its condition daily.
The shoes the child wears should also be carefully examined.
If the above symptoms occur, it is best to seek help from a surgeon who can correctly assess the degree of development of the pathological process and prescribe appropriate treatment.
To make a correct diagnosis, as a rule, no special techniques are required, since the disease is detected during a visual examination. However, to determine the severity of the inflammatory process, the patient may be prescribed a blood test, and in an advanced stage of onychocryptosis, an X-ray examination of the bones of the feet (if the purulent process spreads to the bone, there is a possibility of amputation). The patient may also need to consult a dermatologist, since in the presence of fungal nail infections, treatment of onychocryptosis without eliminating the cause of its occurrence is inappropriate.
Many experts consider an ingrown toenail to be a congenital pathology that develops due to the irregular shape of the nail plate. Normally it should be fan-shaped, but in this case it takes on a cylindrical shape. Thus, the matrix of the nail plate is involved in the pathological process, and only after correcting its shape or removing the ingrown part along with the nail, can the current situation be corrected.
Orthonyxia is a conservative technique, which, unfortunately, is not able to completely eliminate the cause of the disease and ensure complete recovery of the patient. This method involves simultaneous bending and short-term fixation of the growing part of the nail. To do this, antibacterial ointment or a cotton swab soaked in Castellani's solution, X-ray film, a special spatula, a lead plate or silver wire are placed under its edge. It should be noted that these methods, which are quite easy to implement, have to be used for a long time (and sometimes for a lifetime). At the same time, they can be effective, but only in the very early stages of ingrown nails, and this procedure can only be trusted by a professional. That is why, back in the eighteenth century, orthonyxia was sharply criticized, and from about this period, surgical methods for the treatment of onychocryptosis began to be used in clinical practice.
This technique includes three groups of operations:
In this case, the Schmieden method or the Bartletti method is used.
In the case when the patient has an excess of soft periungual tissues along the lateral and plantar surfaces, the nail folds gradually cover the nail, and the sharp edges of the nail plate cut into the skin due to pressure from below, surgery according to the Bartletti method is indicated. In all other situations, one- or two-sided resection of the nail phalanx is performed using the Schmieden method.
If the operation is performed correctly, already on the 12th day the patient can walk in loose shoes and perform sedentary work, and after two weeks all restrictions can be removed, except for playing sports.
Note: it should be emphasized that the results of traditional surgical treatment of onychocryptosis are sometimes very contradictory.
The most optimal way to treat onychocryptosis today is considered to be surgery involving the use of a carbon dioxide laser. The advantage of this technique over traditional surgical intervention is greater radicalism in removing the nail matrix, detailed visualization during incision and subsequent evaporation of tissue, the ability to remove inflammatory infiltrates and activate the laser coagulation effect.
This technique has its advantages:
Radio wave treatment is a surgical method and therefore requires pain relief. After anesthesia, the nail is partially cut on both sides with a scalpel, and then the growth zone of the nail is treated with a Surgitron radio wave surgical generator. Tissue coagulation is carried out within six seconds. If “wild meat” is present, radio wave processing is also carried out. Then the surgical field is treated with an antiseptic and covered with a sterile bandage, which can be removed only after 4 days. As a rule, by this time the wound will have almost healed, and the patient can begin to work (although he will have to walk for some time only in wide shoes).
It should be noted that after radio wave treatment in 95% of cases, onychocryptosis does not recur.
1.Use of an alcohol solution of iodine.
Iodine is a drug that traditional healers recommend using to dry “wild meat”. At the same time, thread flagella are moistened in it and placed under the ingrown corners of the nail plate. Many patients suffering from onychocryptosis got rid of this disease with the help of iodine. However, it should be borne in mind that this is a very long and painstaking treatment, which involves pulling a flagellum of several threads under the ingrown corners of the nail. Then several times a day they are moistened with iodine or iodinol (a softer, but no less effective drug).
2. Treatment with ointments
Levomekol copes very well with inflammation, however, if the pathological condition is aggravated by a purulent process, then such treatment will be ineffective. In this case, traditional healers recommend applying ichthyol ointment or balsamic liniment according to Vishnevsky to the affected area. However, in the presence of “wild meat”, such treatment can provoke its growth. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is wiser to see a professional.
3. An ointment made from rendered pork fat, chicken egg yolk and vinegar helps a lot. This remedy is applied to the affected area overnight, after which the finger is well insulated.
4. Healing baths
To prepare them, folk healers recommend using chamomile flowers, a mixture of soda and potassium permanganate, or a concentrated saline solution (you can use either table or sea salt). The procedure should be carried out within an hour.
5. To get rid of “wild meat”, some healers advise treating the affected area with 3% hydrogen peroxide, and then a pharmaceutical liquid for warts (“Clandestine”). It should be noted that this is a very painful procedure, and it is not suitable for everyone, and it must also be performed daily until the formation completely disappears. Also, “wild meat” can be removed using burnt alum, pink solution of potassium permanganate or xeroform.
6. In order to soften your nails, you should pass an aloe leaf through a meat grinder and make a compress from it overnight.
With a long course of the pathological process, the formed “wild meat” becomes denser, and the nail phalanx begins to change not only its shape, but also its structure. It should be noted that at this stage of onychocryptosis, the inflammatory process can affect the bone tissue, and therefore it is no longer possible to stop the development of the disease and normalize the condition of the nail plate.
With inadequate treatment (or its complete absence), the nail plate can peel off, and the entire foot is often involved in the inflammatory process.
Onychocryptosis is very dangerous for patients suffering from diabetes, since in this situation even the first stage of the disease can end in gangrene.
This form of pathology is no less dangerous for people with weakened immunity, which allows the infection to spread unhindered through the tissues.
An ingrown toenail is a condition of the nail plate in which part of it grows into the soft tissue of the lateral nail folds.
This is a fairly common and very painful disease. To combat it, both folk remedies and the most modern medicines and equipment are used. However, after treatment of this disease, quite often the nail grows back. Therefore, the question of how to cure an ingrown toenail without relapse is still relevant.
Ingrown toenails most often occur on the big toes. This disease also occurs on other toes and hands, but much less frequently. There are many reasons why a nail grows into the lateral nail folds.
The most common causes of ingrown toenails are:
The development of ingrown toenail disease occurs in several stages. As with any other ailment, the earlier treatment is started, the higher the likelihood of success and less serious complications. Therefore, at the first signs of an onset of the disease, it is necessary to undergo examination by a specialist. A podiatrist treats toenails.
Treatment of an ingrown toenail occurs in the following areas:
Symptoms of an ingrown toenail appear as follows:
Stage 1 . At the initial stage, painful sensations appear at the site of the ingrown nail, which increase with pressure or compression. There is redness of the nail fold and a slight local increase in temperature (becomes warmer).
For treatment, you can use traditional medicine recipes that are effective at this stage.
Tamponade of an ingrown toenail has a good effect. The procedure involves placing a soft cloth soaked in antiseptics under the edge of the nail. A popular method for solving this problem is a medical hardware pedicure, which will allow you to painlessly and efficiently remove the ingrown corner of the nail.
Stage 2 . If you do not take any action at the early stage of ingrown nails, then at the next stage the nail fold becomes compacted and infected. The nail fold noticeably swells, and purulent contents form inside it. The finger begins to bleed, and ulcers may form at the site of infection.
If such inflammation is not treated, it can lead to purulent inflammation of the bone tissue and other serious complications. At this stage, examination and treatment by a specialist is mandatory. An infected finger is treated with medications, and surgical intervention is possible if indicated.
Stage 3 . The third stage is characterized by a significant increase in the nail fold. The disease passes from the acute phase to the chronic phase. At this stage, the epidermis layer of the nail fold is absent, capillary vessels are visible.
This state of living tissue with an ingrown toenail is called wild meat. The pain does not stop, and the tissue gradually dies. This position can lead to gangrene and, as a result, amputation of the entire finger. Treatment at this stage requires surgical intervention, as well as complex drug therapy.
People of all ages face the problem of ingrown toenails. This disease often causes concern to young mothers. Ingrown toenails in infants can occur due to a hereditary predisposition or improper nail care. Before treating a child's ingrown toenail, the problem area must be thoroughly examined.
If there is no redness and significant swelling of the nail fold, then you can cope with this disease on your own. To do this, after bathing (to soften the nails), perform a tamponade procedure by carefully lifting the ingrown edge of the nail and placing a small piece of sterile gauze under it. As the nail grows, you should trim it correctly, without rounding the corners.
Particular attention to the problem of ingrown toenails should be paid to people at risk due to the following diseases:
If you discover an ingrown toenail, you should begin treatment immediately. At the initial stage, when there is no inflammation of the nail fold yet, you can carry out treatment yourself, using traditional medicine. If self-treatment does not give the desired effect, and the inflammation intensifies, then you need to consult a podiatrist or surgeon.
Diagnosis of an ingrown toenail consists of a visual examination and some additional studies. To assess the degree of the inflammatory process, as well as to exclude diabetes mellitus, you will need to take a blood test. If purulent inflammation is severe, then x-rays of the foot bones may be required to exclude osteomyelitis. If onychomycosis is suspected, it is necessary to undergo additional examination by a dermatologist.
For medical treatment of ingrown toenails, antibacterial and emollient ointments are used, which are applied to the inflamed tissue. If there is pus in the nail fold, then use Ichthyol ointment or Vishnevsky ointment. These medications are good at drawing out pus from internal tissues and also have antibacterial properties.
Before applying ointments, it is recommended to make foot baths with ingredients such as soda, salt and manganese solution.
The bath can be done up to three times a day for 10 or 15 minutes. This procedure helps reduce swelling, relieve pain, and also prepares the damaged area for more effective local treatment with medications.
Treatment with ointment for ingrown toenails is best done at night.
To do this, perform the following steps:
A popular medication for ingrown toenails is burnt alum.
This drug is available in the form of a white powder with the following properties:
The drug applied to the site of inflammation forms a protective film, reduces itching and pain, and removes redness. It has a detrimental effect on bacteria and is suitable for treating ulcers and purulent wounds.
In advanced cases of purulent inflammation, oral medications may be prescribed.
These include medications that have the following effects:
Antibiotics for oral administration are prescribed based on the results of the examination. Such drugs are prescribed by a doctor, and in this case you should not self-medicate.
They are most effective at the initial stage of development of the disease. But in the process of any treatment they should not be neglected. Treatment of ingrown toenails at home using folk remedies occurs in the form of foot baths, compresses and applications. Most often, compresses are used to soften an ingrown toenail and relieve inflammation of the nail fold.
Aloe . One of the recognized remedies for treating ingrown toenails is aloe. This procedure is performed in the form of a compress of crushed leaf pulp wrapped in gauze. The medicine is applied to the sore spot at night. Aloe relieves inflammation well, disinfects and softens the tissue of the nail fold.
Lamb fat . This treatment for ingrown toenails has proven itself due to its good results in softening the nail plate. After softening, the ingrown edge of the nail is easily freed from the soft tissue and removed by cutting and filing. To prepare the mixture, you can add laundry soap to the lamb fat in equal proportions. Leave the compress on for at least 4 hours.
Onion . It is good to use at the stage when an abscess has already formed. It is mixed with honey. 1 onion, 1 tbsp. spoon of honey. This compress is made at night, generously lubricating the inflamed area.
Butter . The most affordable ingredient for a compress, which is found in every home. They lubricate the sore spot and secure it with a bandage. To achieve a positive effect, at least 6 hours of exposure to the medicinal component is required.
If treatment of an ingrown toenail is ineffective, then surgery is prescribed to remove part of it or the entire nail plate. The specialist prescribes one or another option for surgical intervention depending on the nature of the disease and stage of development.
Wedge resection . As a result of this operation, part of the ingrown nail plate is removed. In this case, a positive effect is achieved if the nail matrix does not have pathological changes. Otherwise, ingrowth occurs again.
Selective resection . This operation removes not only the ingrown part of the nail plate, but also part of the matrix responsible for the deformation. Relapses are rare, since the area of the nail root responsible for its abnormal growth is destroyed.
Removal of the entire nail . Prescribed for significant deformation of the nail plate. Relapses often occur due to pathology in the root part of the nail, which is not subject to surgical intervention.
Nail phenolization . Complete destruction of the growth zone of the nail. As a result of this operation, the nail does not grow back. This type of surgery is prescribed in exceptional cases when other methods do not produce results.
There are the following types of surgery to remove an ingrown toenail:
Laser correction . Today, the most popular method of removing ingrown toenails. Relapses after such an operation occur in no more than 2%.
The operation using a laser is not complicated and can be performed immediately after examining the problem area by a specialist.
How to remove an ingrown toenail with a laser step by step:
In addition to removing the problematic part of the nail, laser treatment of ingrown nails is also carried out at the site of inflammation.
The laser has a detrimental effect on the causative agent of purulent infection, revitalizing and healing living tissue.
The procedure lasts about 30 minutes. The rehabilitation period is no more than a week. This does not require medicinal healing or disinfectants. Care: change the dry dressing covering the wound.
The disadvantages of laser treatment are scarring of living tissue and curvature of the nail plate from burns if the operation is performed incorrectly. Working with a laser requires not only professionalism, but also increased attention from a specialist.
Radio wave method . No less effective than laser. There are practically no relapses after performing the operation using this method. The operation lasts from 5 to 10 minutes under local anesthesia. The Surgitron device efficiently removes the ingrown part and part of the growth zone of the nail, as well as the compacted layers of the nail fold. After surgery, care consists of changing the antiseptic dressing.
Surgical method (incisions) . The most painful type of operation, but in some cases necessary according to the doctor’s indications. Relapses are quite common. The rehabilitation period is long, with the use of medications for healing and disinfection.
Shoes . In order to avoid the problem of ingrown toenails or to avoid relapse after treatment, the first step is to throw out all uncomfortable shoes without regret. Comfortable, breathable shoes that fit the anatomical structure of the foot will not cause the disease.
Pedicure . To trim nails correctly, it is better to use special clippers that remove the free edge of the nail, making it square. Sharp corners are slightly rounded with a nail file. Do not sharply round the corners of the nail towards the nail folds.
Hygiene . Fungal infections of the nails often lead to their deformation, including ingrown nails. Therefore, it is important to keep your feet clean and prevent fungus in public places. For this purpose, be sure to wash your feet daily, and also wear replacement shoes when visiting baths and swimming pools.
Treatment of diseases . A number of diseases discussed above can contribute to the formation of an ingrown toenail. Therefore, timely treatment is necessary, this is especially important in the presence of orthopedic pathologies and circulatory disorders.