Better experience in portrait mode.

8 Causes of Ingrown Toenails and How to Treat Them, Easy to Practice

kapanlagi
8 Causes of Ingrown Toenails and How to Treat Them, Easy to Practice Causes of ingrown toenails (credit: freepik.com)

Kapanlagi.com - The term ingrown toenail is quite popular for referring to the condition of nails growing into the flesh, causing swelling or redness in the side area of the finger. The cause of ingrown toenail can be experienced due to simple triggering factors but can cause the occurrence of these health complaints.

Quite a lot of people pay attention to the care of their nails to keep them healthy and beautiful. For example, the trend of manicures and pedicures that can enhance the appearance of nails to be more charming. However, the easiest nail care to do is by cutting long nails to prevent the accumulation of dirt or bacteria.

Unfortunately, the habit of cutting nails incorrectly can actually cause problems. One of them is ingrown toenails that can attack the finger area, both hands and feet. Generally, this condition is experienced due to the habit of cutting nails incorrectly, for example, too short, which triggers the growth of nails into the flesh. The nail can penetrate the flesh, causing the side of the finger to swell, be painful, and red.

The cause of ingrown toenails often occurs in older people due to the thickening of nail growth. However, ingrown toenails can be experienced by anyone who is at risk of developing this health complaint. To know the cause of ingrown nails, it is necessary to understand to prevent further risks. The causes of ingrown nails and how to overcome them are summarized as follows from various sources.

1. Mistakes When Cutting Nails

The first cause of ingrown toenails can occur due to mistakes when cutting nails. As mentioned earlier, an ingrown toenail is a condition where the nail grows into the flesh and gets embedded in it. This usually happens in the side area of the toe, which often experiences ingrown toenail problems.

According to liputan6.com, cutting the nails too short can cause the nail to grow into the flesh. As a result, the nail can get embedded in the flesh, especially in the side areas of the toe. Whether on the hands or feet, ingrown toenails can cause abnormal nail growth. To prevent this, you can cut your nails straight so that the nail growth will be normal and not embedded in the flesh.

2. Ingrown Toenail

The next cause of an ingrown toenail can occur due to nail injury. Nail injuries can occur due to several factors such as impact, injury, or falling. This condition often occurs in toenails that are prone to impact.

According to healthline.com, toenails that are accidentally hit by an object can trigger abnormal nail growth, namely inward nail growth. As a result, the risk of an ingrown toenail may occur when experiencing nail injury. Further examination may be considered to help overcome this health problem.

3. Tight Socks or Shoes

Using socks can protect the feet from skin injuries caused by shoe friction. This also prevents foot odor problems that arise due to moisture when wearing shoes. However, you need to pay attention to the socks you use. Because using tight or narrow socks can actually trigger ingrown toenail problems.

This happens because tight socks can cause pressure on the big toe, triggering the risk of an ingrown toenail. So, you need to avoid using socks that are too tight or narrow. The same goes for the shoes you wear, so they are not too tight.

4. Lack of Attention to Foot Hygiene

The next cause of ingrown toenails is due to a lack of foot hygiene. As is known, if foot hygiene is not taken care of, it can potentially cause various problems. Among them are foot odor or ingrown toenails. In relation to ingrown toenails, the lack of attention to foot hygiene can trigger excessive sweating in that area. As a result, the nails on the toes become soft and vulnerable to damage. Therefore, foot hygiene needs to be well taken care of to prevent ingrown toenails.

5. Genetic Factors

It is undeniable that genetic factors have a significant influence on a person's health condition, including in relation to ingrown toenails. In addition, genetics also contribute to the shape of your toes. According to liputan6.com, the risk of ingrown toenails is more likely to occur if you have family members who have previously experienced similar problems. Therefore, you may be more prone to experiencing ingrown toenails.

6. Irregular Toe Nail Shape

Ingrown toenails are more likely to occur if you have an irregular shape of the foot. An example of an irregular foot shape is having a nail size larger than the toe, which can cause the nail to grow abnormally. As a result, the nail may grow asymmetrically or irregularly. This abnormal nail growth is prone to triggering ingrown toenail problems.

7. Specific Activities

Certain activities can also trigger the occurrence of ingrown toenails. For example, some daily activities that you do can make the nail bed area more prone to injury or damage, making the risk of ingrown toenail unavoidable. Some activities that can increase the risk of ingrown toenails include playing soccer or ballet. These types of physical activities can exert pressure on the area of the toe, ultimately triggering ingrown toenails.

8. Sweaty Feet

As mentioned earlier, sweaty feet can trigger ingrown toenail problems because it causes the nails to become softer. As a result, this condition is prone to damage and affects nail growth. To prevent this, you can maintain the moisture of the foot area by regularly changing socks, cleaning your feet, or avoiding wearing tight shoes.

9. Ingrown Toenail Symptoms

The following are the symptoms of ingrown toenails that can be recognized if you experience ingrown toenails. These are the important ingrown toenail symptoms that you need to understand as early as possible so that preventive measures can be taken immediately. Here are the ingrown toenail symptoms that you need to recognize:

- Pain in the area around the nail.

- Redness in the nail area.

- Swelling in the area around the nail.

- Infection in the finger area due to ingrown toenail.

10. How to Overcome Ingrown Toenail

As for how to overcome ingrown toenails, you can practice it yourself at home easily. Here are the ways to overcome ingrown toenails:

- Cut your nails straight or adjust them to the shape of your big toe.

- Always pay attention to your nails so that they are not too long, which can risk growing inward and triggering ingrown toenails.

- Wear comfortable and not tight shoes.

- Soak your feet in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Do it three to four times, then dry them completely.

- Apply olive oil to the side of the nail.

- Apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, consult a doctor.

Those are the 8 causes of ingrown toenails and how to overcome them, which can be easily practiced at home. Further examination can be done to overcome ingrown toenails.

(kpl/nlw)

Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.
Swipe Up Next Article

Cobain For You Page (FYP) Yang kamu suka ada di sini,
lihat isinya

Buka FYP
Training Children's Motor Skills During the Pandemic with Push Bike, a Pedal-less Bicycle that is Currently Popular

Training Children's Motor Skills During the Pandemic with Push Bike, a Pedal-less Bicycle that is Currently Popular

The trend of cycling during the pandemic is not only happening among adults, but also among children. In fact, this cycling trend is very unique, KLovers, by using a push bike. Of course, this trend is rapidly developing in Yogyakarta. How is its progress? Let's check it out.

Training Children's Motor Skills During the Pandemic with Push Bike, a Pedal-less Bicycle that is Currently Popular