Ingrown Toenail

Definition

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition characterised by the nail digging into the surrounding skin, leading to inflammation and possible infection of the toe. This is a serious condition for people with impaired circulation, diabetes or other systemic diseases.

Causes

• Heredity
• Improper nail trimming
• Trauma
• Shoe pressure

What can you do?

• Trim nails straight across as a preventive measure
• Select the proper shoe style and size

What might the podiatrist do?

• Perform a physical examination
• Perform X-ray evaluation when necessary
• Remove the ingrown portion of the nail
• Culture the nail
• Prescribe appropriate medications, such as antibiotics
• Perform surgical correction of the nail when indicated

Ingrown Toenail Animations

  »  Chemical Destruction of ingrown toenail

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