Causes of Ingrown Toenails.

Having ingrown toenails can make it hard for Australians to walk or even stand. For ingrown toenail treatment, don’t just wait to clip out the extra growth. Instead, fix an appointment with a foot specialist as soon as possible. Although home remedies yield positive results, checking them up with a medical expert can prevent any unnecessary operations down the road.

What Causes The Toenails To Grow Inward?

Ingrown toenails usually cause pain and swelling due to the toes growing inward into the skin. The most likely toe to be affected is the big one, although cases for other toes are not uncommon. Take a look at this list of various causes that may give rise to ingrown toenails:

1. Physical trauma from stubbing or hitting the nails hard leads to injury. People who participate in sports activities like running or football are more likely to develop ingrown toenails.
2. Wearing tight footwear that crowds the toenails and constricts the toes.
3. Having improper hygiene habits like cutting the toenails too short of the desired length.
4. Not cutting the toenails straight and instead cutting it off from an angle.
5. Genetic conditions may lead to curving of the toenails.
6. Nail infections are caused as a result of an accident or minor injuries.
7. Other medical conditions, hereditary or otherwise, can cause toenails to grow inward. Diabetes is one of those conditions as blood flow gets constricted.

Individuals need to treat ingrown toenails as they occur to prevent any complications. Surgical intervention might be required for serious cases, although surgery may have other risks.

Home Remedies For Ingrown Toenails:

Home remedies are only recommended in a condition where the toenails can be handled without surgical means. However, if there are issues like reddening and pain, seek out a doctor as soon as possible.

1. Try soaking the feet in warm water. Soapy water seems to work well for this. The recommended frequency is around a few times every day for at least 15-20 minutes. Dry it off with cotton pads and put them under the toe to help it grow above the edge of the skin.
2. Use loose footwear that doesn’t constrict the blood flow, and go for sandals and open footwear to keep the affected area from being compressed.
3. Use petroleum jelly to smoothen out the affected area and try bandaging the toe.

Seeing A Doctor:

If the symptoms persist, it’s better to fix an appointment with a medical specialist for ingrown toenail treatment. The various procedures for treating ingrown toenails are listed down below:

1. The most common method is to lift the toenail and place cotton pads or a splint under it. In about a few weeks, the toes will start to grow over the edge. The doctor may prescribe painkillers and creams to make the process painless.
2. Foot specialists may also try to pull the skin away using strong tape.
3. For severe toenail infections, doctors will remove part of the toenail that is wedged into the skin. Although the operation doesn’t take long, it will take a few months for the toes to grow back.
4. Doctors may also recommend removing the tissue so that the toenails won’t grow again. It is done using a high-intensity laser, chemical treatment or surgery.

Although the condition of ingrown toenails isn’t that serious, leaving it like that for a long time is what causes the issues to rise in the first place. Do understand that home remedies may not work well for everyone, and seeking a medical professional might be the only viable option.