Is your toenail so painful that you can’t touch it? Ingrown toenails are a common source of pain and can leave you in complete agony even if something as light as your bedsheet touches your toe! At Podiatry Station, we can help relieve your pain with specialist treatment from our professional and experienced podiatrists.
Book your treatmentAn ingrown toenail is where a piece of nail pierces the flesh of the toe. It can feel as if you have a splinter, be extremely painful and inflamed or infected. In more severe cases, it can cause pus and bleeding. Ingrown toenails most commonly affect the big toenail but can affect the other toenails too. A nail that is curling (involuted) into the flesh, but isn’t piercing the skin, isn’t an ingrown toenail, but can also feel very painful, as well as appear red and inflamed.
Active and sporty people are particularly prone to ingrown toenails because they sweat more. Younger people are also more likely to get it as they pick their nails more, compared to older people who may not be able to reach their toes!
The most common symptom of an ingrown toenail is pain followed by inflammation in the surrounding nail area. However, not everyone identifies an ingrown toenail correctly. Sometimes you may have a curly nail that has a lot of debris (dirt or fluff) underneath it, or a corn or callus down the side of the nail, which can be nearly as painful. However, if it is a corn, the pain tends to be throbbing as opposed to the sharp pain you get with an ingrown toenail. If this is the case, your podiatrist will remove the debris, and if necessary, thin the nail.
Contact us for moreWhile you are waiting to be seen by a podiatrist, you can relieve the discomfort in your toe by bathing your foot in a salty foot bath, which helps to prevent infection and reduces inflammation. Apply a clean sterile dressing, especially if you have any discharge, and rest your foot as much as possible.
How a podiatrist will treat you will depend largely on the severity of your condition:
An ingrown toenail is not usually serious, unless you have an existing condition such as diabetes, poor circulation or a reduced immune system. However, if left untreated, infection can develop in the rest of the toe and foot, and in very rare cases could get into the bloodstream. The quicker you deal with it, the less painful the treatment will be.
The best ways to help prevent an ingrown toenail are:
It’s advisable to seek professional help if the ingrown toenail is causing severe pain, signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus), or if there is a persistent issue despite home remedies. People with diabetes or circulatory problems should consult with a podiatrist promptly to avoid complications. Podiatrists can provide appropriate treatment, including nail trimming, antibiotics for infection, or, in severe cases, a minor surgical procedure to remove part of the nail.
In some cases, mild ingrown toenails may resolve with proper at-home care. However, if there is persistent pain, signs of infection, or frequent recurrence, medical intervention may be necessary. Podiatrists can provide effective treatments, such as nail trimming, antibiotics for infection, or, in more severe cases, a minor surgical procedure to remove part of the ingrown nail. Seeking prompt attention can prevent complications and promote quicker recovery.
