Is it a good idea to keep having your ingrown toenail fixed while getting your pedicure done? Probably not. The risk of developing a toenail fungus or even a severely infected ingrown toenail greatly increases by having someone pick at the side of your toenail.
Toenail trauma is very common and can create panic to many people. The biggest question is “what do you do to the toenail?”. Here are some guidelines on what to do if you injure your toenail.
If you have every had an ingrown toenail removed and developed a reoccurent small portion of nail in the corner, it is called spicule. This small sliver of nail will grow at the same rate of the full sized nail plate but will be a small detached portion of nail. While it is nothing to worry about, it can be irritable and bleed if pulled out. Many patients also describe that it catches on their socks and clothes and is painful.
An ingrown toenail is typically the result of the nail plate growing into the adjacent nail fold or skin next to the toenail. The break in the skin allows bacteria to enter and an infection occurs.
Suffering from toenail fungus? It's a tough problem to treat and cure. If you catch it early enough, you can sometimes clear it. Most over-the-counter topical agents do not work and more importantly are not studied or FDA approved. There are currently three approved prescription topical agents:
Need I say more? The title pretty much sums it up. What can a person do to clear up the thick and yellow appearance to their toenail? Well, it’s not that easy.
To begin with, there are a variety of conditions that can cause a toenail to become deformed or discolored. These include: fungal infection, psoriasis, peripheral vascular disease, trauma, and certain medications such as chemotherapy. If the condition is a result trauma then it’s unlikely you will be able to fix the appearance.
While many people may initially think this is a result of toenail fungus, it’s more likely caused by trauma resulting in a permanently deformed nail. Think of the nail as being “scarred”.
It is very common for patients to present with a discoloration of a toenail and are concerned about a melonoma. The above picture is an example of a patient who presented to me with discoloration to the right great toenail as a resulted of concern by the family doctor.
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