Prevention And Treatment Of Onychocryptosis

Onychocryptosis or ingrown toenails is a condition that commonly occurs in the big toe, although it can affect any toe. It appears when the nail penetrates the skin of the finger causing pain and inflammation. Prevention and treatment of onychocryptosis is very important for foot health.

Prevention of onychocryptosis 

To prevent the occurrence of onychocryptosis, it is necessary to know the causes that give rise to it. There are two types of factors that predispose to the appearance of this condition :

• Congenital factors: those that are determined by the morphology of the person’s foot. The most common changes are: birth of the wide nail and changes in the distal phalanx of the finger or in the shape of the nail.
• Triggering factors: those external mechanisms that favor the nail to become trapped in the skin of the finger. The most common are: misuse of nail clippers, use of inappropriate shoes and trauma.

Without a doubt, prevention should focus on avoiding triggers . For this, it is recommended to follow the following guidelines:

1. Footwear suitable for our morphology and way of stepping 

Wearing shoes that are too narrow favors increased pressure on the toes, especially in the case of the big toe and little toe. This can cause the nail to sink into the skin, causing pain and inflammation.

That’s why it ‘s necessary to choose a shoe that is wide enough and avoid wearing heels, which put pressure on the toes due to the incline of the foot, and shoes that end with a thin point.

Another factor that can favor the emergence of onychocryptosis is to disregard the way you step when choosing shoes, as the way you walk can influence the side of the nail .

To avoid this problem it is recommended to carry out a tread study and choose a shoe according to our needs, or use special insoles to reduce pressure points, if necessary.

2. Correct hygiene and nail clipping 

The most frequent cause of onychocryptosis is incorrectly cutting the nails . To avoid this, you should follow a series of tips for daily foot hygiene:

Keep your feet dry and clean 

It is important to pay attention to the drying of your feet when you step out of the shower, and not to leave them wet for too long. Also, you should use a suitable soap in all areas where dirt can accumulate.

nail clipping 

It is necessary to follow a series of guidelines so that the nail clipping is adequate:

• First, it is recommended to put your feet in hot water so that the nails soften and make cutting easier.
• The correct way to cut them is straight . If the lateral edges are rounded, they can curve and penetrate the skin.
• Also, it is important to sand the nails carefully, to leave no tip or spike that can become stuck in the skin.
• Finally, use the right tools: straight and precise nail clippers or scissors , not curves.

Treatment of onychocryptosis 

First, we will say that there are two types of treatments for onychocryptosis: surgical and conservative treatment.

Conservative treatment 

It consists of making a soft cut on the edge of the nail to remove the spike that was embedded in the skin. Subsequently, it would be recommended to apply medication so that the wound closes without becoming infected, as well as inguinal re-education techniques, to favor the correct growth of the nail.

Surgical treatment 

In conclusion, if granuloma is present and conservative treatment is not sufficient, outpatient surgery is usually applied. There are several techniques for operating an ingrown toenail. The most common is the removal of the total or partial nail plate , as well as the corresponding germinal zone. This ensures that the problem goes away permanently.