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Have you ever got anxious about pain around your toenail, hence making you avoid walking or wearing shoes? One of the most common problems is ingrown toenails, when the edge of the toenail grows into the skin surrounding it, leading to painful, swollen, and infected skin. Therefore, it is important to understand the symptoms, causes, and treatment measures for ingrown toenails for them to be effectively relieved. Find out about the diagnosis and treatment of ingrown toenails so that you are well-equipped with the knowledge to pursue the ideal care.

Symptoms and Causes of Ingrown Toenails

Inflammation, in the form of redness, swelling, or tenderness, that occurs around the toenail is usually one of the most common ingrown toenail symptoms. Unless this condition is treated, the infected area will fester. Symptoms multiply with increasing pain and pus.

The causes of ingrown toenails are:

• Improper nail trimming: Nails that are cut too low, or are overly rounded, cause the nail to grow into the skin.
• Tight-fitting shoes: Choosing smaller shoes that press the toes together will cause the nail to dig into the surrounding skin.
• Injury: A toenail injury—such as one from stubbing your toe or dropping something on it—can cause ingrown nails.
• Genetics: Some people's nails are inherently shaped or thick in a way that makes them more likely to get an ingrown toenail.

Diagnosis of Ingrown Toenails

Diagnosis plays a crucial role in the treatment of this condition. A healthcare provider, such as an orthopedic specialist in Mumbai, examines the affected toe to determine the severity of the condition. He may look out for the signs of infection in the form of redness, swelling, and discharge. Sometimes finding out if some bone problem underlies the situation may require an X-ray to be taken.

Consulting a specialist in orthopedics, Dr. Pradeep Moonot allows for a thorough examination and proper diagnosis, which will assist in the development of a treatment plan.

Non-Surgical Treatment

The majority of cases involving ingrown toenails are mild to moderate and can be successfully treated without surgery. This is commonly done by:

• Application of foot soak: The use of a foot soak with Epsom salt will enable the reduction of swelling and instigate pain relief.
• Propper nail care: Leaving the edge of the ingrown nail in position by inserting a small piece of cotton or dental floss between the nail and the skin edge to guide the nail to grow above the skin edge.
• Antibiotics: The doctor can give a prescription to apply topical or oral antibiotics if there is an infection.
• Supplementary Therapy: Changing to wide shoes and avoiding tight shoes would not rub against the toe which would continue to aggravate and prevent the toenail healing.

These non-invasive methods often offer good results to most people and are generally the first line of treatment advised by physicians for ingrown toenail treatment in Mumbai.

Surgical Treatment Options

Must be resorted to in severe cases or recurrence of the condition. Ingrown toenail surgery in Mumbai usually involves removing a piece or the whole of the nail to prevent further incidence. The most common types of surgeries are:

• Partial nail avulsion: Removes only that part of the nail; it hurts by becoming ingrown.
• Total nail avulsion: Removal of the entire toenail can be done in worse cases.
• Matrixectomy: Destruction or extirpation of the nail matrix to prevent that part of the nail from regrowing.

These procedures are typically performed under local anesthesia and have high success rates. Consulting with experienced ingrown toenail surgery doctors in Mumbai ensures you receive the best care and follow-up support.

Conclusion

Ingrown toenails are painful and sometimes an annoying disorder, but one with proper diagnosis and treatment management ends in relief. For patients in Mumbai, consultation with Dr. Pradeep Moonot, an orthopedic surgeon at MKFAC (Mumbai Knee Foot Ankle Clinic), provides the best conservative and surgical measures possible.

Be it consultation on prophylaxis for foot problems conservative expert management in foot problems, or the finest surgery, MKFAC is indeed a trusted partner in your journey for the healthiest feet.

Proper care and prevention are currently relevant priorities in terms of what you can do so that your toenails remain healthy and are not the subject of painful and complex treatment concerning ingrown nails.