Onychocryptosis – Treatment, Symptoms, Causes, Prevention

What is Onychocryptosis?

Onychocryptosis is a medical terminology which means ingrown toenails. It is a condition which can affect various kinds of persons. Another term for Onychocryptosis is unguis incarnatus which can be located at the toenails and fingernails.

Persons with Onychocryptosis  causes an excess in the lateral part of the curvature of the person’s nails and traps the epithelial cells which is found in the pinch and sulcus areas which is located in the nailbed.

It occurs when the person’s nail’s wall and edge becomes pushed up which results to the occurrence wherein the nail cut into the person’s nail wall. Other experts would say that there is an abnormal extension of the person’s toenail which eventually results to such nail disorder.

This becomes a very painful experience to a person having Onychocryptosis. Some persons having this kind of nail disorder will encounter repeated incidences of infection as well as pain. It may become also a chronic kind of nail disorder. The nail disorder is reportedly affects the big toe’s outer edge.

Onychocryptosis Image

Onychocryptosis Symptoms

The symptoms that a person with Onychocryptosis may able to encounter the following:

• Painful to touch
• Irritation
• Swelling
• Redness
• Sensation of warmth
• Pus (with or without)
• Watery discharge
• With blood or without blood
• Presence of infection
• Fever

Ingrown nail infection

Image source: img.medscape.com

Onychocryptosis Causes

Persons with Onychocryptosis will be experience the nail disorder because of the following etiological factors such as:

• Wearing of shoes that are ill-fitting
• Trimming of the person’s toenails done improperly
• Trauma or Injury of the person’s nail like nail peeled off or ripped nail which leads to ingrown toenail
• Fungal or yeast infections
• Having a bad habitual nail care
• Softening of the plates of the nails
• Prescribed medication’s side effects such medications like acitretin and isotretinoin
• Socks or hose which are too tight
• Toenail deformities such as having excessive thicker nail plate

Onychocryptosis Treatment

With regards to treating Onychocryptosis, the person can either do the following:

Home Remedies

• Massaging gently the inflamed skin
• Soaking the person’s affected foot with water which is warm. Do this 3-4 times daily. Also keep the person’s affected toe dry after. This is otherwise known as warm water soaks therapy
• Placing a small dental floss or cotton under the person’s nail otherwise known as a cotton-wick insertion therapy
• In mild case of Onychocryptosis, the patient is suggested to dip the affected toes into a water which warm and which has a mixture of Epsom salt
• Trim your nails, which should be done straight across the top
• Washing the affected foot with soap and water and do this at least two times a day
• Using glutter splinter through the use of slit plastic tubing which will aid in keeping the lateral nail folds and the nail apart
• Bandaging the affected toe

Pharmacological Medications

• Applying mild antiseptic solution as prescribed to the affected toe
• Topical or oral antibiotics as prescribed which will prevent infection and aid in the fast recovery of the affected toe
• Pain relievers which are prescribed to provide pain relief
• Iodine application as prescribed

Surgical Procedure

Surgical removal of the ingrown toenail as suggested and done by an expert physician, that is especially done when the condition doesn’t anymore respond to the treatments mentioned earlier. Examples of surgical procedure done are partial nail removal or total matrixectomy which are done with severe Onychocryptosis.

In the successful treatment of Onychocryptosis, you must work hand in hand with the podiatrist or dermatologist or perhaps your trusted family doctor. They will help you suggest and prescribe treatment which will be beneficial for you to be able to proceed to the recuperation stage.

Total Matrixectomy to remove Onychocryptosis

Onychocryptosis Prevention

In preventing the nail disorder called Onychocryptosis, it is advised that you should do the following things:

• When trimming, be sure that you will use a sharp and clean nail trimmer and never use scissors in trimming your toenails
• Never tear or pick at your nails
• You should take it to a habit that you will trim your toenails straight across the top
• With regards to shoes, you should wear shoes that fit your toes properly well. Your shoes should have space around your toes
• Keep your feet dry and clean always as much as possible
• When you are diabetic, have visual or vascular problems, it is advisable that you go on routine examination of the foot and nails to prevent Onychocryptosis
• In trimming your nails, you must avoid overcutting or curving your toenails too short especially at the edges part
• As much as possible, avoid doing physical activities which involves stopping suddenly like basketballs which have the tendency to jam the toes in the front of the person’s shoes
• It is also advisable that you wear loose socks
• Avoid repeated toenail injury
• Maintaining a good hygiene for your foot
• You should also avoid dropping things in the toenail

By doing such, you are able to avoid experiencing Onychocryptosis or ingrown toe nails.