Do You Suffer From an Ingrown Toenail?
An ingrown toenail is not only painful, but extremely annoying. On average one out of five people has to deal with ingrown toenails. What Is an Ingrown Toenail? When a toenail is ingrown, it is curved and grows into the skin, usually at the nail borders (the sides of the nail). This curve usually causes the nail to dig in to the skin. This “digging in” of the nail will irritate the skin, which often creates pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in the toe. However, if an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odor. However, even if the toe isn’t painful, red, swollen, or warm, a nail that curves downward into the skin can progress to an infection. Causes There are numerous different causes of ingrown toenails. The most common causes include: Heredity. In many people, the tendency for ingrown toenails is inherited. Trauma . Sometimes an ingrown toenail is the resu