Ingrown nail - this problem is familiar to almost everyone: bent nail, punctures the skin, which becomes reddish and painful. Pain due to an ingrown nail can be felt when walking, even when you are very comfortable shoes. The medical name for this disorder - ingrown nail.

Symptoms

For mild symptoms of ingrown nail or ingrown nail plate to the nail fold, include:

• Inflammation of the skin around the nail;
• The pain associated with the pressure on the nail;
• Redness of the skin;
• Swelling around the ingrown nail.
• Onychocryptosis mild symptoms are:
• The increasing inflammation of the skin around the nail;
• Pus white or yellowish in color;
• Bleeding;
• The infection of the nail.

The most severe symptoms of ingrown nail plate can be:

• Severe pain, redness and inflammation;
• The build-up of the skin around the nail;
• Serious infections of the nail.

When symptoms persist, ingrown nail, causing considerable discomfort, seek medical advice.

Causes

Causes of ingrown nail plate can be:

• Improperly trimmed toenails. If you mow nails too short, or cut the edges, it increases the likelihood that over time, the nail will begin to grow into the skin.
• Tight shoes or socks lead to a strong constant pressure to the skin around the nail. If the skin is under pressure for a long time, once the nail can pierce it. Also, if you wear tight shoes, nails can start to curl towards the skin, and gradually grow into it.
• Heavy sweating or poor hygiene. Because of heavy sweating or poor hygiene (for example, if you change your socks often enough), the skin around the nail may become soft and moist, which is why the likelihood of ingrown nail into the skin increases.
• Injuries. Sometimes, damage to the nail can become a cause ingrown nail.
• Nail infections. Fungal infections in some cases result in damage to the nail plate, resulting in ingrown nail can occur.
• The natural shape of the nail. If human nails are bent by nature, or if they have a radiating form, the possibility of growing nail plate into the skin increases considerably.

Treatment

In the early stages of ingrown nail, when the inflammation is still small, and does not cause severe discomfort with the condition can be managed independently, using the following guidelines:

• Follow the rules of hygiene, in particular, at least once a day wash your feet and change your socks every day.
• Cut toenails straight line, so it does not continue to grow into the nail fold.
• Gently move the skin from the nail using a cotton swab. Make it'll be easier if you pre-strike on the skin around the nail a little olive oil Olive oil: useful properties   - To soften it.
• Wear comfortable shoes that you are not too small, and in which there is enough space for your fingers.
• Analgesics, such as paracetamol, can be used to relieve the pain caused by the ingrown nail. You can use any non-prescription painkillers, but remember that children under the age of 16 years should not be given aspirin.

Removal of the nail plate

If the above treatments have been ineffective, ingrown nail has to be treated surgically.

Partial removal of the nail plate - the most common operations used to treat ingrown nail. It is effective in about 98% of cases.

The operation was carried out with the use of local anesthetics are injected into the base of the ingrown nail. The edges of the nail is cut so that the nail plate became narrower; then the probability of ingrown nail plate to the skin is greatly reduced. Then, the nail and the skin around it is applied to the chemical phenol; it prevents the future development of the ingrown nail. To prevent infections during procedures of the skin around the nail evacuated pus that often accumulates at the ingrown nail. If the infection does happen, it will be assigned to treatment with antibiotics.

Complete removal of the nail plate may be required for substantial sealing of the nail, for example, by a fungal infection. This operation is also performed under local anesthesia, but in this case removed all the visible part of the nail plate. This operation is perfectly safe and does not affect the operation of the toes.

After the operation, irrespective of the nail plate are removed partially or completely, the finger bandage. Within one or two days after surgery to avoid high loads on the legs. In addition, it is now recommended as often as possible to give the feet rest, lifting them up (for example, on the back of the sofa) in order to prevent the occurrence of edema. In order to minimize the discomfort that comes after anesthesia ceases to act, in the first days after the operation should wear shoes without socks and, if necessary, take painkillers. The bandage can be removed two days after removal of the nail plate.

Prevention

To prevent ingrown nail plate, it is recommended:

• Properly trimmed toenails. We have already said that they need to be cut in a straight line - to experiment with oval shapes, you have fingernails. Trim nails after a shower or bath - then they are the most soft, and it is easy to shape. Do this regularly to toenails do not grow too long;
• Watch the hygiene. Wash your feet and change your socks every day. If your feet sweat a lot, use the special deodorant for feet, and if he is not efficient enough, see a doctor;
• Buy shoes in an appropriate size. Even the most beautiful shoes will not bring you happiness, if they close, pressing his fingers and ingrown nails. If the store did not find you like your shoe size you want, just go to another store, or order shoes via the Internet - now it can be done easily and quickly. Also, try to choose the shoes in the afternoon by this time little foot swells, and it will be easier to choose a new thing perfect size.

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