An ingrown toenail, with the side edge of your nail growing into the skin, can make you painfully aware of a toe you don’t normally notice. As the nail continues to dig into the skin, i irritates occurs, which would cause you pain.

If the ingrown toenail causes a break in the skin, bacteria can enter and result in an infection, which will make it even more painful. Your red, swollen, hot and very painful ingrown toenail is now probably infected.

Common causes of ingrown toenails

The most common causes of painful ingrown toenails are as follows:

Heredity – Many people inherit the tendency to develop ingrown toenails from one or both parents based on the shape of their nail bed.

Ill-fitting footwear – Crowding your feet into socks and shoes that are too short or tight, can set up an environment for painful ingrown toenails to develop. This is why adolescents and teens often get ingrown toenails. Due to sudden growth spurts and body changes, teens and adolescents may outgrow their footwear quickly, and can end up wearing them a while before they get new, better-fitting shoes. Fashion conscious persons, however, tend to mess around with selecting appropriate footwear.

Trauma – Occasionally, stubbing or jamming your toe, dropping something on your toe, or participating in activities that put repeated pressure on your toes (like running, soccer or ballet) can cause ingrown toenails to develop.

Improper trimming – One of the most common causes of ingrown toenails is cutting them too short. When the nail is very short, it encourages the skin at the sides of the nail to fold over it. So don’t be overzealous with the clippers, and be sure to cut straight across.

Pedicures. Many women, and increasing  numbers of men, enjoy getting pedicures. Nothing is wrong with that, but make sure you go to an experienced technician. Pedicures can cause ingrown nails if the nail technician is overly aggressive in cutting back a toenail.

What to do about ingrown toenail pain

Sometimes, you can treat your ingrown toenails at home. If your ingrown toenail doesn’t show any of the signs of infection; such as swelling, hot to the touch, oozing, or foul odour, you might just try letting the nail grow out.

Soak it and wait – Soak in warm water with Epsom salts, then observe the toe for a day or two.

See a podiatrist – For infected ingrown toenails, or if you aren’t sure you can deal with treating yours at home, a podiatrist can do an assess an assessment. It will be determined if conservative treatment is required, or nail surgery under local anaesthetic is needed.

In the office, we can cut out the offending nail border after first numbing the area. This helps the pain, and allows the infection to heal, but may not prevent recurring ingrown toenails.

Never ignore an infected ingrown nail. A prolonged infection can spread and lead to serious complications, especially if you suffer from poor blood flow, an impaired immune system, or diabetic neuropathy.

Preventing ingrown toenails

Of course, it’s best to prevent getting ingrown nails in the first place; here are some suggestions:

• Avoid cutting nails too short and cutting unevenly at the corners. Cut straight across.
• Make sure your socks and shoes fit properly. You should be able to wiggle your toes easily in your shoes.
• Avoid trauma to the toe area. If you run, play soccer or participate in other sports where your toes get a lot of action, try to go barefoot for an hour or two afterward.

As indicated, ignoring your ignoring nails can be to your peril, so don’t procrastinate at the first sign of discomfort. In fact, you are all challenged to do a personal check of your habits, and those of your children, to avoid possible unnecessary pain.  For those so inclined, don’t let fashion get the better of you!

Your feet mirror your general health . . . cherish them!