Lots of us know the pain that can be caused by an ingrown toenail, but not all of those people know of the pain caused by an INFECTED ingrown toenail. 

If this is your first read about ingrown toenails, why not give our other blog about ingrown toenails a read first?? Everything will make much more sense then!

Tips & Advice | Peak Podiatry Foot Clinic

As most people know, ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail grows into the skin, pinching the soft tissue, usually causing pain.

Ingrown toenails become easily infected because the sharp nail edge which pinches the flesh can sometimes cause a break in the skin. This break in the skin is a portal for nasty germs to enter the body and wreak havoc on your poor toe.

Tell tale signs of infection in an ingrown toenail can include:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Pus/discharge

• Malodour

• Warmth

• Pain

It can be difficult at times to tell if your toe is infected or not, even for the profesionals.

This is because symptoms such as redness and pain can also be present due to simply irritated skin surrounding the nail. It is recommended that anyone suffering with these symptoms visit a healthcare professional, to treat the issue appropriately. 

Some mild infections simply clear on their own. Other more severe infections are treated with antibiotics prescribed by a GP.

Again, it is best to seek advice from a health care professional regarding this. People have lost limbs to infected ingrown toenails which became septic, so you can never be too careful!

Other illnesses such as diabetes or having a weak immune system can make someone less able to fight ingrown toenail infections. These individuals should seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

The treatment of the infection is only part of the problem.

The desired outcome when treating ingrown toenails is to remove the part of the nail which is digging into the skin. This can be done in a podiatry clinic conservitavely, or a more permanent solution is to remove part or all of the nail in nail surgery.

Each patient is individually assessed for their eligibility for these treatment options. 

If you have an ingrown nail and would like to prevent infection, the best advice is to have the ingrown nail removed!

Other than that, it is recommended to wear wide fitting shoes, keep the toe dressed and clean while it is painful. A warm salt water bath can also help to soothe the area. 

If you're suffering from an ingrown toenail, an infected ingrown toenail, or need general advice about a nagging nail, give us a call!

We are a team of dedicated podiatrists who encounter nail problems daily. We would be more than happy to take all your pain away!

Suffer no longer, visit Peak Podiatry at peakpodiatry.ie or give us a call on 091734140 to book or have a chat with one of our team. 

We will see you soon !