Painful ingrown toenails can usually be resolved with at-home care, according to MayoClinic.com. This common condition occurs when the toenail -- usually that of the big toe -- curls back into your skin as it grows, causing redness, pain and inflammation. Ingrown toenails can cause more serious complications when an infection is left untreated. If you have diabetes, an ingrown toenail is always cause for concern.
Ingrown Toenail Causes
According to the Cleveland Clinic, ingrown toenails may be caused by trauma to the toe, a fungal nail infection or a thick nail. Some people inherit the propensity to get ingrown toenails because one or both parents get them. But the usual cause of an ingrown toenail is tight, ill-fitting footwear that presses against your toes. Most ingrown toenails can be treated at home by soaking the affected foot and using gentle self-care techniques.
Doctor's Care Required
If an ingrown toenail starts to fester with infection, this can spread deeper, down into your bone, cautions MayoClinic.com. An ingrown toenail that fails to heal requires medical treatment to prevent more serious complications. Also, if you have diabetes or a circulatory disorder that affects your feet, don't treat an ingrown toenail at home.
Toenail Surgery
If your nail is infected, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS. Surgery may also be necessary. During a surgical technique called partial nail avulsion, a doctor carefully removes the ingrown segment of the nail. However, the Cleveland Clinic indicates that if you have chronic ingrown toenails, your doctor may prescribe a topical medication or use a surgical technique that permanently disables the root of your nail. In the worst-case scenario, your doctor may remove the whole toenail, as well as the root, in which case it does not grow back.
Ingrown Toenails and Diabetes
Ordinary, easy-to-treat foot problems like athlete's foot, calluses, corns, bunions and ingrown toenails put diabetics at risk for serious complications. According to MayoClinic.com, these problems can impair the circulation to the feet and cause nerve damage -- and in some cases, they might lead to amputation. The Cleveland Clinic stresses the need for a daily "foot check" if you have diabetes, as well as proper foot care.
Other Tips
According to the AAOS, the best way to avoid ingrown toenails and the complications that can result from this painful condition is to use diligent preventive at-home care. Keep feet clean and dry. Trim your toenails straight across, rather than tapering them to the shape of your toe. Don't cut them any shorter than the tip of the toe. Protect your feet from injury by wearing roomy, closed-toe shoes.
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