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The diagnosis is onychocryptosis. But don't rush to update your will. It is painful and recurrent but the cure for onychocryptosis - better known as ingrown toenails - is quick, painless and permanent. The most common of foot problems, ingrown toenails, can strike at anytime from infancy to old age. It occurs when a toenail develops a curvature and grows into the flesh causing pain and often becoming infected. It can occur on any toe, at the tip or either side, but the most common site is the inner side of the large toe. The undisputed No. 1 cause of ingrown toenail is improper trimming, so use good quality clippers or scissors when you trim toenails. Clip small segments at a time, following the nail's natural curve - don't cut toenails straight across. If your nail has an irritating rough edge, smooth it down with an emery board, again following the natural curve of the nail. Never yank out a ragged nail fragment. This can lead to a nasty infection. Over-the-counter preparations are virtually worthless for ingrown toenail and using them can be dangerous, because they contain strong acidic chemicals. Probing under a toenail is very risky, especially for someone who suffers from diabetic or circulatory problems. Many people dig scissors tips under a toenail to lift and cut its corners. But this often causes infection and if it's not treated, bone infection can follow - even toe or foot amputation. Many patients with these disorders visit their podiatrist every two months to have their circulation checked and toenails trimmed. Tight shoes aggravate ingrown toenails, but they don't cause them. In fact, the disorder is often an inherited trait and occurs in spite of good foot care. The only permanent cure for an ingrown toenail is to treat any infection present and then remove the sliver of the toenail that curves inward, including its root. The procedure is painless and takes only a few minutes in the podiatrist's office under local anesthetic. Because the ingrown toenail's root is removed, the nail can never become ingrown again in 98 to 99 percent of patients who are treated in this way, even those congenitally predisposed to the problem. Private health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cover
surgery for ingrown toenail, as well as preventive maintenance clipping
for patients who have diabetes, circulatory disorders, and other
health problems that may preclude surgery. Home | About the Doctor
| Free Foot Exam & Consultation email: info@thefootspecialist.com Telephone: (856) 848-3338 |
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