What do we understand as ingrown toenail?

It is a very painful process in which the nail grows into the flesh of the edge of the nail, causing pain, inflammation and sometimes infection of the nail folds. It occurs most often at the big toe and can affect one or both toes.

The most common causes are:

• Inadequate court of nails, usually rounded
• Excessive feet sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• Using the wrong shoes, too narrow or tight in the area of the toes
• Bumps on the toes or drop of heavy objects on the foot/toes
• Disturbances of the toes by biomechanical problems, e.g. hallux extensus, pes planus, etc.…
• Changes in the shape of the nails
• Therapies with retinoid drugs

Conservative treatment of ingrown toenails

After assessing the pathology in the consultation, the spike of the toenail is removed directly and cured. An assessment of the cure process will be done after 48 hours. It must be noted, that in relation to the degree of the infection an oral antibiotic treatment might be necessary.

When the infection subsides and if there is no significant deformation of the tissues surrounding the nail, attempts are made to redirect its growth using cotton, plastic strips, or orthonyxia.

Orthonyxia is a technique that involves the application of a device designed to correct the pathological curvature of the nail. It is performed in the clinic by applying a gel based on photopolymerizable resins to the affected finger, which, due to the lever effect and other traction forces, act to correct the external nail plate and, above all, the matrix.

Orthonyxia is the conservative treatment of choice for ingrown toenails, prior to surgical treatment. Orthonyxia is also an effective treatment for correcting involuted nails.

Follow-up appointments are scheduled every 2-3 months to assess proper nail growth.

For patients for whom ingrowing toenails are repetitive and there is also a distortion of the tissue surrounding the nail, the treatment of choice is surgical. This therapy will be definitive.

How can I prevent ingrown toenails?

• Don’t cut the nails too short, the nail should slightly appear from the edge of the toe
• The cut should be straight at the top; soften the side edges with a file
• Don’t cut the side folds
• Keep scissors, nail files and clippers always clean
• Keep the lateral nail folds clean
• Control excessive sweating of the feet by using antiseptic soaps, lotions, powders or sprays
• Use of socks, stockings and shoes that do not compress the toes
• Recommendation for diabetic patients: daily foot examination and seek consultation if you notice any injury