Ingrown toe nail is one of those underestimated causes of discomfort that we willfully choose to ignore in the initial stages till it becomes too unbearable to tolerate the pain. An ingrown toe nail can cause a stinging pain on the inside of the skin that makes it difficult to walk around freely or even get proper sleep.
There are many causes and treatments for ingrown toe nail that we are about to discuss in this article. The major concern among people is whether or not the ingrown toe nail is curable, so we want you to know that it is and there is a lot that you can do to prevent it from developing or at least seeking appropriate medical care at the earliest for ingrown toenail infection.
What Causes Ingrown Toenails?
There are several reasons for what causes ingrown toenails, most of which revolve around accidents or conditions that you just cannot overcome. This leads people to believe that it is hard to cure an ingrown toe nail but that is far from the truth.
Here are a few reasons for what causes ingrown toenails:
1. Congenital Conditions
This is one of those reasons for what causes ingrown toenails that you can’t rectify naturally. The congenital conditions imply that the toenail is too big for the toe itself and people are mostly born with it. Thus, there is nothing short of surgery to balance the proportional size and weight of the toe and the toenail.
2. Trauma To The Toenail
Sometimes, if you stub your toe or someone accidentally steps on it, you may experience a small pain that radiates gradually, till you start to see a little swelling and pain in the area. This is a reason for ingrown toe nail that is caused by accidents but you can easily prevent it if you are cautious where you step.
3. Improper Nail Care
Another major reason why ingrown toe nails grow to plague you is if you don’t take proper care of your toenails. It is important to groom them by cutting and filing them periodically and with utmost care. You don’t necessarily need to go for a pedicure but it does help.
Ensure that the people in salons take adequate measures for a hygienic and appropriate process of handling toenails to prevent unnecessary ingrown toenail infection.
4. Insufficient Space For Movement
The most common reason that ingrown toe nails affect people is the use of tight shoes that offer limited movement and pinch the toes to a large extent. This mostly occurs if you wear shoes or sandals that are narrow in the front, thus smooshing the toes together uncomfortably. If you wear the wrong shoe sizes that squeeze your feet, it may also occur.
When you wear these misfit shoes for long durations, your toes are not only under extreme pressure such that they start to hurt but these shoes also squeeze the extended toenails and push them uncomfortably. The long periods of strain are what causes ingrown toenails.
Ingrown toe nails are not only discomforting but can be hazardous if you don’t take care of them right away. They can result in ingrown toenail infection that can spread through the foot and cause serious damage.
Your big toes are the most likely parts to be affected by ingrown toe nails since they experience maximum pressure while walking. As a preventive measure, make sure to cut your toenails with zero sharp edges and mounds so they don’t change the direction of their growth and penetrate the skin unnecessarily.
Seeking Ingrown Toenail Treatment
While the sight of ingrown toe nails does inspire the need to seek medical attention, there are a few things you can try at home to remedy the situation. Failing that, you can run to the doctor’s office and have the ingrown toenail infection attended to.
Here are a few methods for ingrown toenail treatment:
1. Soak Your Feet In Apple Cider Vinegar Or Warm, Soapy Water
Apple cider vinegar is popularly used to tend to inflamed parts of the body and provide antiseptic effects. Soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar or even just warm water can provide a lot of relief in terms of pain and discomfort.
2. Create Padding With Cotton Or Soft Materials
If you are wearing shoes that are tight or pinch your toes, consider lining them with cotton balls or soft substances like dental floss. This will help regulate a little free movement and provide a cushion against the hard internal surface of the shoe, thus controlling the inflammation.
3. Seek Antibiotic Ointments And Other Over-the-counter Medicines
If the ingrown toenail infection is not yet severe, you can visit a pharmacy and seek over-the-counter medication There are several antibiotics available in the form of ointments that you can apply to relieve the pain and reduce the effects of the ingrown toe nail.
4. Seek Medical Attention For Oral Antibiotics
In case the severity of your ingrown toe nail infection is causing concern, seek medical attention right away to acquire oral antibiotics that you can take. If the ingrown toe nails are the result of trauma or poor nail care, then you can easily control the consequences with strong antibiotics that are only available with prescriptions.
5. Consult Medical Professionals For Ingrown Toe Nail Removal
In case the ingrown toe nail is a result of congenital conditions, the ingrown toenail treatment will require more severe courses of action too. Consider having the toenail removed by a medical professional to bring the situation under control. There are even elective surgeries to rectify the condition by cutting part of the nail during ingrown toenail treatment.
If you spot ingrown toe nails or even the slight inkling of ingrown toenail infection, seek medical attention right away to prevent the problem from spreading. Your feet carry the weight of your entire body, which is a major reason for concern as it is. It is only fair that you treat every part of your feet, including the toenails, with utmost care.
