INGROWN NAIL

Ingrown nail is the condition in which the nail enters the skin. Ingrown nail can occur on the fingers and toes but it is mainly found on feet with the majority involving the big toe. It can occur in both sexes and at all ages. It is a condition that affects many people and can cause serious problems if not treated in time.

SYMPTOMS

Local Pain in the area
Swelling of the area
Redness of the finger
Inflammation of the area
Discharge of purulent fluid from the area
Fever
Bleeding from the area

If the area is neglected and treatment is not started immediately, then the infection can progress to the bone. Especially in people who suffer from concomitant diseases such as diabetes and vascular disorders, the complications can be greater, ending up with gangrene of the finger.

CAUSES

We cut the nails very short
We don’t cut the nails straight
We wear tight shoes that squeeze the toes
Finger injury
Physical activity that creates pressure on the fingers
Heredity
We have abnormally curved fingernails

PREVENTION

There are some steps we can take to reduce the chances of ingrown nail. These steps are:

To cut the nails in the right way. We should not cut the nails curved taking the shape of the finger but cut them straight in a straight line.
We should not cut the nails too short because then the pressure from the shoes is greater and it can cause the onyx to intrude.
Do not wear tight shoes and make sure they are the right size
If our work has an increased risk for finger injury we must always wear protective equipment.

TREATMENT

In the case of mild symptoms without inflammation, we can apply conservative treatment that will help us overcome the problem. This includes:

Soak the finger in warm water for 15-20 minutes three times a day

We place a small piece of cotton under the tip of the nail that enters the skin to lift it. The cotton pad should be changed daily

Apply topical antibiotic ointment twice a day and wash the area with a topical antiseptic

We wear wide shoes or even better slippers.

In the event that the symptoms do not subside or worsen, then antibiotics and oral anti-inflammatory treatment may be needed.

When there is no improvement with conservative treatment, then the next stage is surgical intervention. Local anesthesia is applied to the finger and the part of the nail that causes the ingrown nail is excised. At the same time, any collection of pus is completely drained.

In the event that the ingrown toenail occurs frequently on the same finger, then we proceed with the removal and laser cauterization of the nail bed of the nail so that the part of the nail causing the problem never grows back. This gives a definitive solution to the problem. The entire procedure takes place in the doctor’s office.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

The flesh on the tip of the toe hurts. Do I have an ingrown nail?

The most likely scenario is that there is an ingrown and you should be seen by a General Surgeon

I have ingrown nail. Do I really have to remove my nail?

Not necessarily. In many cases conservative treatment has good results and excision of the nail may not be necessary

On the same finger I often get ingrown nail. What should I do?

In this case, part of the nail must be removed along with its base so that this part will never come out again and we will have a definitive treatment

Where is the operation performed and what kind of anesthesia is needed?

The operation is performed in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia. The patient immediately returns to his activities

What does the operation cost?

The operation has a low cost as it is carried out in the doctor’s office, avoiding the financial burden of the clinic.