How to treat an ingrown toenail

Often we do not notice how our toes hurt. The affected area becomes red, swollen. We turn to the doctor only when it is impossible to endure. At various forums dedicated to medical topics, there are often topics: an ingrown toenail on the big toe . This is not such a difficult problem, but if it is not solved, you can later get yourself into big trouble. In medicine, an ingrown nail is called onihokryptoz.

Symptoms:

• Painful sensations;
• Redness of the finger;
• Swelling of the finger;
• The skin swells around the nail;
• In the place of ingrowth of the nail, purulent discharge appears;
• In severe cases, discharge appears with blood, the skin becomes a bluish shade.

Most nails grow on the thumbs. Doctors distinguish several causes of the disease. First of all, hereditary predisposition. If your parents have suffered from such a disease, you need to take every precaution. Another cause is hidden in the wrong pedicure. You can not cut your nails too short at the edges. This leads to ingrowth. Wearing uncomfortable shoes also contributes to this disease. Often an ingrown toenail appears on the big toe due to trauma or fungal infections.

The method of treatment is chosen depending on the degree and severity of the disease. The earlier to begin therapy, the easier it is to cope with the consequences. So first of all you need to determine how much the fingernail has grown into a finger. If the skin is a little red, there is a slight soreness, but there is no pus, you can try to cope on their own.

To do this, every day, steam out the ingrown toenail on the big toe in a warm bath with soda and a light solution of potassium permanganate. Then carefully trim the ingrown nail. The procedure should be performed every day until complete cure.

Another way to remove an ingrown nail is laser treatment. In this case, only part of the nail plate and the tissue that has accumulated around the affected area are removed. If the damage was caused by a fungal infection, then the laser provides its removal. It cleans up the foci of inflammation. Removing the ingrown area allows you to grow a normal nail plate. Rehabilitation takes only five to seven days. The disadvantages of this method are high cost and long healing of the wound.

How else to remove the ingrown nail? The operation will help. It is most often performed surgically. Despite the fact that this is one of the most accessible methods, it is the most traumatic. After carrying out such procedure there is a high risk of relapse. The nail plate may not grow properly. And the rehabilitation period will take a long time. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. In addition to removing the nail plate, the doctor will clean the wound from pus. Also be prepared for the fact that you will have to constantly go for dressings.

It should be remembered that an ingrown toenail on the big toe can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, with the first discomfort, consult a doctor.