Condition

Ingrowing Toe Nails

An ingrowing toenail is one that pierces the flesh of the toe as it grows forward. It can feel as if you have a splinter, be extremely painful and inflamed or infected. Ingrowing toenails most commonly affect the big toenail, but can affect the other toes too.

Causes of Ingrowing Nail

Toe nails cut incorrectly – too low, too rounded into corners

Picking, biting or ripping away – common cause in paediatrics

Genetic, the way you walk, bunions, excessive pronation, excessive sweating

Shoe pressure, crowding of toes, tight hosiery and socks

Repeated trauma to the toenail – shoes too small

Sports – repetitive impact trauma – football, netball, running

Other causes of pain caused by nails

Gryphosis

Gryphotic nails have received a trauma that permanently damages the nail. The nail becomes dystrophic and distorted and often can take on a shell like appearance. The nail can be a source of pain in footwear and be impossible to cut. The cause of the trauma can be a single memorable incident such as dropping something heavy on your toe, or repetitive trauma for example wearing shoes over a long period that are too small. This may occur in those patients who have nerve damage to their feet caused by medical conditions such as diabetes or the elderly who have nerve damage as a part of the normal ageing process.

Bexley Foot Clinic - Ingrowing toe nails1

Grypthotic nails

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Bexley Foot Clinic - Ingrowing toe nails gallery2

Paronychia

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Paronychia

Is localized infection and inflammation of the nail surrounds. It is usually painful and often follows a backward jamming trauma of the nail, or caused by an extensive untreated fungal infection of the nail plate, which then causes bacterial infection to the surrounding tissue.