An ingrown toenail is a toenail that grows curved into the nail bed, causing pain and swelling. Ingrown toenails can worsen and cause drainage, turning into a serious infection.
Keep in mind that the toenail is an appendage of your skin just like your hair. Once it is laid down it is dead and therefore has no immune capabilities so bacteria will normally inhabit it, just as they colonize normal skin and hair. Therefore, when the ingrown nail has broken the skin it will 'seed' bacteria into the tiny open wound and cause an inflammatory reaction and possible infection. Essentially, the nail is acting like a splinter. The splinter is embedded into the soft tissue and causing pain or an infection. Once the splinter is removed from the area of the open wound, the soft tissue can heal.
Ingrown toenails can be preventable with certain measures. If you have already developed an ingrown toenail, soak the affected toe in warm water. This will alleviate the pain and help dilute any bacteria that may be trying to cause an infection. Antibiotic soap or Epsom salts may be added to further help the relieving process and avoid infection. Placing cotton beneath the affected area is an old old method that was used when nothing else was available. However, cotton is not good to put in an open wound and can cause problems since some may remain in the soft tissue. The old doctors used to thing this would 're-train' the nail and may help the toenail grow upwards and not into the nail bed. This is old school medicine and completely false. Do not do this.
VERY IMPORTANT: It should also be noted that in many older text books they will teach the doctors or PA, or NP to remove the entire nail for an ingrown nail. Infected or not. THIS IS INCORRECT AND A BAD TREATMENT CHOICE. They will many times remove the nail. This is completely false and in most cases the nail never needs to be removed completely. Only a small sliver of the nail needs to be removed in order to take the loose nail away from the infection or th ingrown curved part. DO NOT HAVE YOUR NAIL REMOVED unless there is no other choice. Dr. DiNucci is very conservative regarding this and normally will not take a nail off but instead just the corner that has been affected.
Dr. DiNucci should be contacted immediately if the pain becomes so serious that it prevents you from doing your everyday activities. If a red streak running up your leg appears or if you suspect your infection has spread, contact Dr. DiNucci immediately and convey this to his staff and they are trained to get you in to see him as soon as possible. Fast treatments can be undertaken to lessen your pain and have you walking comfortably.
To prevent the nail from growing back, medication will be placed directly into the nail bed. This procedure would be performed under local anesthesia and is a faster method to alleviate discomfort from an ingrown toenail. Post-procedure directions will have you stay off the affected foot for a day or so. Afterwards, normal activities can be resumed.
