An ingrowing nail (Involuted nail)
An ingrowing nail (Involuted nail)
An ingrowing nail (Onychocryptosis)
These type of nails are caused by damage to the germinal matrix cells at the sides of the nail. This can be due to a gradual damage over the years with the toes impacting into the toe box of the shoes during walking or while participating in various sporting activities.
The involuted nail can be made worse by poor toenail cutting. This can result in infections and swelling of the tissues at the side of the nail.
Try to cut the nail in line with the curvature at the toe of the toe. Do not cut down too deep at the sides of the nail unless you are qualified or trained to do so. Any small spikes of broken nail left can grow and penetrate the softer skin at the side of the nail causing an ingrowing nail known as an onychocryptosis. This is very painful and can require an small operation to rectify.
The Treatment for the involuted toenail depends on the severity and whether it causes you any pain or difficulty with wearing shoes. Fundamentally the treatment is to reduce the liklihood of the nail piercing the skin by cutting and filing the nail. If the nail plate is flexible packing the sides of the nail with small wisps of cottonwool soaked in an antiseptic solution can help. This does not work if the nail plate is immoveably fixed in a curved or involuted way.
Ultimately if the problem persists the nail can be partially or totally removed under local analgesia by your state registered chiropodist or GP.
A toenail just one day after removal (Total Nail Ablation) and phenol was applied to the germinal and sterile matrix of the nail bed to prevent regrowth.
6 weeks after the operation.