Tips to Prevent Ingrown Nails

Memorial Ataşehir Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Prof. Dr. Necmettin Akdeniz gave information about ingrown nails and its treatment.

prof. Dr. Necmettin Akdeniz said the following about ingrown nails:

Ingrown nail is manifested by signs of redness, edema or inflammation in the tissue surrounding the nail bed, discharge, crusting, scar tissue and growth in the tissues near the nail. It usually occurs in the big toe and rarely in the other toes. Ingrown toenails, which are quite painful, also negatively affect walking function. Ingrown toenails, which can occur at any age and in both sexes, can also be seen in newborn babies as a result of delayed growth of the free nail margin.

Stating that there are many reasons for ingrown nails, Dr. Necmettin Akdeniz, “Nail, surrounding soft tissues or both can be the cause. Among the causes of ingrown nails; improper cutting of toenails, inappropriate shoes, nail plate anomaly, excessive sweating, excessive obesity (obesity), some drugs used, excessive joint flexibility (joint hypermobility), nail fungus, genetic predisposition, anatomical disorder, bone marrow stem cell transplantation, nail density increase, diabetes (diabetes) and pregnancy.

Ingrown nail can cause infection in the surrounding tissue, finger inflammation (paranochia) is the most common complication. Moreover; Bleeding vascular formation, which we call pyogenic granuloma, keloid, frequent terranes (relapse), deep skin infections (cellulitis), osteitis (osteomyelitis), systemic infection or amputation of the finger in very advanced cases are among the conditions that occur as a result of ingrown nails.

Stating that it is necessary to eliminate the factors that will cause pain and loss of function in the early stage of ingrown nails and to avoid surgical procedures, Dr. Necmettin Akdeniz said the following about what should be done before the surgical procedure:

“The nails should be cut correctly, wide and comfortable shoes should be used, and the nail should be massaged with Vaseline after a warm foot bath. An ingrown nail should not be removed or cut. A healthcare professional should perform this procedure.

If an infection has occurred in the nail, these symptoms may appear: redness, severe pain, significant swelling, inflammation around the nail, fever, difficulty in walking. Antibiotic creams and ointments are applied in ingrown toenail infections. Putting tampons (cotton) under the nail, taping method, tube placement, wire method are among the non-surgical treatments applied. ”

prof. Dr. Necmettin Akdeniz, “In the advanced stages of ingrown toenails, nail bed and finger surgeries are performed. The most effective and safe methods are chemical or surgical matrixectomies combined with partial nail removal. The best procedure may vary depending on the patient's clinic. Many methods are applied by physicians who are experts in this field. Which method will be applied may vary depending on the patient, the severity of the ingrown nail of the patient and the experience of the physician. The procedure with the highest success rate should be chosen based on the skill of the nail surgeon and the clinical characteristics of each case.

Things to do to prevent ingrown nails:

“Use clippers designed specifically for toenails because they are the right shape and provide enough force to cut nails.

Wash the nail clippers before and after using them. Using dirty scissors can introduce bacteria and infections into the skin under the nails.

Trim toenails straight. Rounded or pointed shapes create misshapen edges that can grow on the skin.

Do not cut the toenails too short, leave the corners long enough to pass the skin comfortably. Cutting the nail too short or too often can worsen ingrowth over time and increase the risk of ingrown nails in the future.

Wear shoes that fit your feet well. Shoes that are too tight can pinch the toes and potentially cause ingrown toenails. Pointed-toed shoes can increase the risk, especially when they are uncomfortable or pinch the toes.”