If you have nails that look like this, don’t be embarrassed, come and see one of our experienced Podiatrists who can resolve the problem and prevent it from re-occurring.

Ingrown toe nails can be caused by a number of factors:

• Genectic predisposition
• Involuted toe nails
• Incorrect nail cutting technique
• Trauma/Injury
• Repetitive trauma (Jamming into tight shoes or too small)
• Medication side effects (Chemotherapy/Acne medication)
• Swollen or Chubby toes(common in young children and adolescent boys)
• Picking the nail
• 2nd toe being longer than the 1st toe

 

Symptoms of in grown toe nails include:

• Pain along the sides and base of the nail
• Infection/inflammation along the edges of the nail

 

Involuted Toe Nail:

• This type of nail is generally an inherited characteristic that becomes more prominent as you get older.  Commonly seen in 50+ year olds.

 

 

Cutting Technique:

• Keep the nail as straight as possible at the end of the nail, try not to round the corners down too low.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swollen or Chubby Toes:

• Feet that are swollen due to venous insufficiency or chubby due to stages of growth of a young child can cause nails to become very soft at the edges.
• Once the nails become soft they can tear and rip easily causing nail spikes to be left to cause irritation.  The body recognizes the irritation as a foreign body and sets up an inflammatory response causing infection and pain.

Shoes too small or too tight:

• People who regularly run or play sport may suffer from “jogger’s toe” due to their toes frequently jamming into the front of their shoes(also if the 2nd toe is longer than the 1st).
• Nails can be damaged by frequent high heeled shoe wear.
• Wearing the wrong shoes can damage the nails causing them to become ingrown, thickened, distorted or discoloured.  Commonly seen on the 1st and 5th nails.

 

Please contact Kew Foot Clinic for an appointment.

T: 98536877