An ingrown nail or Onychocryptosis is a nail disease that many people suffer from. It is a painful condition where the nail pierces in the surrounding skin of the toenail. This condition can happen in the hands or feet. But, it is commonly found in toenails. The area is swelled up with acute pain that at times become unbearable. One should avoid doing self-treatment. Rather consult a doctor to treat it. Certainly, this condition is curable by ingrown toenail surgery which is a 35 minutes surgery and the ingrown nail will never grow back.
We should be very careful while choosing the right footwear. Tighter footwear will cause pain and put pressure on the toe and thus aggravating the infection. The common symptoms of toenail infection are that the area turns red with swelling, there is pus or water-filled in the area with acute pain. It is advisable to consult a doctor at the earliest to avoid further complications. Ingrown toenails are also caused by having too much soft skin tissue on the sides of the toes. The foot and ankle specialist (Podiatrist) deal with ingrown toenail surgery by using the specialized instruments for its type of condition.
Even though there are other methods to deal with an ingrown toenail. But, surgery ensures that this condition does not arise back. The extra overgrown toenail is removed with specialized instruments by giving local anaesthesia to the patient. Depending upon the severity of the condition the doctor prescribes antibiotics to the patient. However, it is avoided because it may delay the healing process. By surgery, the nail never grows inwards. Thus, the problem subsides with this quick surgical process.
After the surgery, there are few precautions to be taken like keeping the feet elevated and there might be a bandage too. Avoid wearing any footwear and putting any pressure on the toe by walking. Complete bed rest is advised by the doctor for 2-4 days.
Moderate cases are at times treated in a traditional manner. Regularly soaking the feet in warm water with esposm salts. and, using anti-microbial ointment on the affected area. Moreover, there is a possibility that the condition gets worse and aggravates the affection. So this method of treatment is also not very successful as compared to ingrown toenail surgery.
Sometimes Onychocryptosis is confused with other disorders of the nail. It is advisable to consult a doctor online or by visiting one or calling them at home. If the ingrown toenail is not treated on time, the infection can spread to the bone of the toe. This can lead to more serious issues like foot ulcers, sores, and loss of blood flow in that particular area. This condition worsens when one is also diagnosed with diabetes.
To conclude, it is important to follow good hygiene habits that will help us in the long run. And treat the problem at hand rather than indulging in-home treatments that may lead to more serious complications.