INGROWING TOENAIL

What is it?

An ingrowing toenail almost always occurs on the big toe. The edge of your nail - which normally grows straight out - grows down into the flesh at the side of your toe.

What causes it?

An ingrowing toenail comes about because of pressure on the side of your toenail caused, for example, by wearing tight shoes. The condition can also be caused by cutting your toenail too far down at the edges instead of straight across.

Who gets it?

The problem is rare in children. If you regularly wear tight shoes or stilettos, or cut your toenails very short, you are more likely to suffer from this condition.

What are the symptoms?

You will probably first notice the flesh at the edge of your big toenail getting painful and swollen. You may get pus coming from it. The pain will be considerably worse when you walk or wear your shoes.

Sometimes an ingrowing toenail comes on more slowly and you may simply find that you have a pain at the edge of your big toe when you wear tight shoes for any length of time.

When should I go to my GP?

If you suddenly get a severe pain and swelling at the edge of your toenail the flesh may be infected, so make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible - you may need antibiotics. If the pain comes on more gradually, you should make a routine appointment with your GP.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

Your doctor will examine your feet but he or she is most unlikely to need to do any special tests.

What is the short-term treatment?

If you have an infection at the edge of the toenail your GP will probably treat it first with antibiotics. He or she will also advise you to cut your toenails straight across, not to cut them too short and to avoid tight shoes or high heels.

If the infection does not settle down with antibiotics, your GP or a chiropodist may cut a small piece of the nail away under local anaesthetic. This will stop it from cutting down into the flesh and keeping the infection going. Will I need long-term treatment? If your toenail keeps growing in and setting up infections you may need to have more of the edge of the nail cut away under local anaesthetic. If this does not work and the condition is very troublesome, you may need to be referred to the hospital to have a different operation to remove the nail and stop it growing.

How can I stop it getting worse?

You can do a lot to stop yourself getting this problem in the first place and to stop it from coming back.

Start cutting your toenails straight across so they are slightly longer at the edges and never cut them too short. You may want to see a chiropodist to get advice on how to do this properly.

Stop wearing any tight shoes. You should also go without shoes - or wear soft slippers or sandals - as much as possible.