Ingrown toenails

　　In common language, ingrown toenails refer to the situation where the toenail grows into the flesh. The main cause of ingrown toenails is usually due to people's bad habits of trimming toenails. Then, what are the causes of ingrown toenails? The following experts introduce the causes of ingrown toenails:

　　1. Genetic factors: The curvature and axis of the nail are related to the occurrence of ingrown toenails.

　　2. Mechanical injuries, collisions, and compressions can make the side edge of the nail plate closer to the soft tissue of the nail groove, forming an ingrown toenail, which is more common in young students.

　　3. Certain diseases can cause malformed nails, such as congenital hallux valgus, nail malnutrition, onychosis, or nail fungal disease.

　　4. Improper shoe wearing, wearing tight shoes, which is often caused by the pressure of pointed high heels, causing the side edge of the nail to grow into the soft tissue of the nail groove and rub the soft tissue, causing swelling and exacerbating the ingrown toenail.

　　5. Over-trimming is the most common cause. The side edge of the nail is not cut evenly, cut too short or too deep, making the toenail like a hard thorn piercing into the soft tissue of the nail groove.

　　6. There is a certain relationship between ingrown toenails and occupation, and they are more common in service workers who stand for a long time.

　　Ingrown toenails can be accompanied by nail groove inflammation, paronychitis, and granuloma, and can also cause chronic osteomyelitis, fungal infection, and other conditions. Therefore, for cases with a long course of disease or severe swelling and pain, it is recommended to undergo X-ray examination to rule out chronic osteomyelitis of the toe nails. In addition, simple nail extraction surgery can cause nail malnutrition in 5% of cases.

　　Early ingrown toenails may only manifest as pain. Ingrown toenails are prone to concurrent infection of nail groove tissue, clinically known as nail groove inflammation. At this time, local redness, swelling, heat, and severe pain will appear, and after suppuration, pus-like secretions will be discharged locally.

　　Ingrown toenails are a common cause of nail groove inflammation. Long-term shoe pressure can lead to abnormal growth direction of the nails, and some may be deeply embedded in the nail groove. During daily activities and friction, the soft tissue will become thinner and thinner, and symptoms of damage will gradually appear. To prevent ingrown toenails, it is necessary to wear appropriate shoes and not trim the nails too frequently or too short, as trimming the nails too short will also increase the probability of ingrown toenails.

　　The reasons for the damage of soft tissue around the nail groove are mostly due to ingrown toenails or other foreign bodies piercing the surrounding soft tissue of the nail groove, causing damage to the surrounding soft tissue. If the damage is not repaired in time, some pathogenic bacteria will take advantage of the opportunity to invade, resulting in symptoms such as suppuration, swelling, and pain. Therefore, to prevent the occurrence of purulent nail groove inflammation, it is necessary to pay attention to preventing damage to the surrounding soft tissue of the nail groove in daily life.

　　Ingrown toenails are a common disease. They are mostly caused by the toenails penetrating the nail groove and repeatedly infected, causing persistent pain in the nail groove of the toes, which seriously disturbs patients' work and life. Patients often go to dermatology, surgery, orthopedics, and even plastic surgery for treatment. So, what examinations are needed for ingrown toenails? The following experts introduce the examinations needed for ingrown toenails.

　　1. At the initial stage of paronychia, redness, swelling, and pain may occur in the tissue on one or both sides of the nail groove of the finger or toe nail.

　　2. Subsequently, pus spots appear, and pus spreads from one side of the nail groove through the subcutaneous tissue of the nail root to the opposite side of the nail groove, forming a semi-circular abscess.

　　3. If the initial treatment of paronychia is not timely, an abscess under the nail can form, with pus visible and granulation tissue, which can also develop into chronic paronychia, with chronic sinus formation, granulation tissue protruding outward from the sinus orifice.

　　4. When the infection spreads to the nail bed, localized abscesses can cause the entire finger or toe nail to float up, separate from the nail bed, and fall off.

　　5. X-ray examination is necessary if required.

　　Patients with ingrown toenails should eat light, easy-to-digest foods, eat foods rich in water, nutrition, and vitamins. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. Drink more water and soup, which can promote diuresis. Eat more meals with a cooling and detoxifying effect, diuretic and淋作用的食物。Patients with ingrown toenails should avoid irritants, bloating foods, spicy and stimulating foods, and products that promote damp-heat.

　　The treatment of ingrown toenails mainly aims to avoid the nails being too short, too deep, and外伤，wear shoes that are relatively loose. Correct nail deformities in a timely manner and try to avoid long-term standing. For those with mild inflammation and a short course of disease, iodophor can be applied to the nail groove area, or alcohol wet敷can be used, or silver powder powder, hibiscus ointment, and ichthyol ointment can be applied externally and bandaged. For those with localized suppurative lesions, appropriate oral antibiotics can be taken. For most patients with poor conservative treatment effects of ingrown toenails, surgical therapy can be chosen, such as partial or total nail plate excision or removal.