Ingrown toenails are a condition where the edge of the toenail penetrates the flesh, leading to inflammation, pain, and pus.
When you go through it, ingrown toenails are truly painful, extremely painful, and even have a smell. It's a common condition, and many people around me also experience it.
I used to have issues with both feet in the past, but I only had surgery on one side, and by taking care of the unoperated toenail, the ingrown toenail naturally improved.
I will share my experience of suffering from ingrown toenails, undergoing ablation laser treatment, and how I managed it after surgery with four methods.
What is an ingrown toenail?
A condition where the tips of the fingernails and toenails penetrate the flesh, causing inflammation, pain, and pus.
(Accompanied by a foul odor)
Since the thumb has a large surface area, approximately 90% of it appears on the thumb.
Causes of ingrown toenails
* Congenital cases
* Commonly appears in men who run or enjoy sports
It often happens to women wearing high-heeled shoes.
Wearing the wrong shoes (shoes that cause toes to bunch together)
* Toenail fungus
Ingrown toenail symptoms
initial
Stinging sensation, redness of the skin beside the toenail
Pain when walking and severe pain when the toenail hits another object
Mid-term
Pus oozes out when squeezing both sides of the toes in the initial symptoms.
Pain every time I wear shoes
terminal stage
All nerves, muscles, and blood vessels are completely damaged, making natural healing impossible.
May need to amputate the toe.
Ingrown toenail treatment methods
Non-surgical treatment (antibiotic administration / insertion of disinfectant cotton)
Curettage procedure (root removal surgery) - The toe may grow back and recur.
Laser treatment after excision (destroying the growth point with laser after root removal) - low recurrence rate
Nail removal treatment
The reason I decided to undergo ingrown toenail surgery
I used to wear a lot of high-heeled pointed shoes in the past.
Every time, I felt pain in my thumb and little toe.
Because they are pointed shoes and wearing them shifts your weight forward.
I thought the reason was that my toenail was temporarily hurting.
Once I took off my shoes, I felt incredibly comfortable and the pain disappeared, so I didn't realize it was serious.
Then, at some point, even after taking off my shoes, the pain didn't go awayㅠㅠ
One day, I went to the kitchen to get some water, and I bumped my big toe against the refrigerator.
There was no bleeding and my toenail wasn't broken, but I experienced intense pain that made me search the internet.
As a result, I also learned about ingrown toenails.
Looking at the ingrown toenail photos, the nail is digging into the flesh inside the toe, and in severe cases, it appears to be in a U-shape.
When I looked at my toenail, it wasn't too serious, but it was shaped like a U.
At first, I thought I just needed to trim it briefly, so I completely cut it very short.
So, when I cut it like that, it didn't hurt for a moment, you know??
Since then, as the toenail grew and hurt each time, I kept trimming it short.
A foul cheese-like odor is emanating from the thumbnail, and pus is also coming out.
I feel pain every time I walk.
A day has come when I feel such pain while trimming my toenails that tears well up.
In the end, I couldn't endure it and sought out a hospital.
Laser treatment after ingrown toenail root removal
When I went to the hospital, I was told that my condition is moderate ingrown toenail.
The skin beside the toenail was swollen and filled with pus, which caused a foul cheese-like smell.
The doctor asked, "Does it hurt when I touch here?" and just barely touched the side of my toenail.
I was in so much pain that I screamedㅠㅠ
The doctor said that the symptoms are severe and mentioned a surgery to remove the root and use laser to prevent the toenail from growing back.
In the end, I had ingrown toenail disease on both feet, but I only had surgery on my left foot.
It was decided to proceed with surgery if the condition on the right side worsens, as it is not very severe at the moment.
Laser treatment was performed only after excising the left thumbnail.
Numb the toes... excise about 1cm below the ingrown toenail.
You pulled out the root part... I was definitely anesthetized, but it was so painfulㅠㅠ
Is the anesthesia properly administered??ㅠㅠ It hurts so muchㅠㅠ but I said
The doctor said that since the anesthesia was properly administered but a lot of tissue was removed and extracted, it might be painful.
There was a lot of bleeding, and I used laser to support it. It was okay when it was burning, but pulling it out was the worst ever.
It was so painful that I couldn't have surgery on the other side.
Suturing the flesh and nails excised with a laser after an earthquake
I received an antibiotic prescription and an anti-inflammatory injection.
It is my past.
You can see that I only cut the left toenail like that because it hurts so muchㅠ
I don't even realize that it's the wrong wayㅠㅠ
It has already been almost 9 years since the surgery.
It was a terrifying memory of surgery despite nine years having passed.
I left the hospital and since my house is relatively close, I tried to walk there.
Wow.. I just couldn't walk at all ㅠㅠ The pain felt like it was spreading to my lower back.
In the end, I took a taxi home... I limped around for ten days.
I felt a little pain when removing the stitches and going home, but I felt so relieved.
I was glad that after a frightening experience, I no longer felt pain in my left thumb.
4 Ways to Manage After Ingrown Toenail Surgery
I removed the root of the left toenail and tied off the growth point.
My right toenail and left toenail are mismatched.
The left toenail looks smaller in the photo, right?
Even though it's small... I am so happy because I am no longer in pain ㅠㅠ
It was also painful on the right side, but I have been consistently managing it and it healed naturally.
I will share four natural healing management methods.
1. Grow toenails straight without trimming them short
The reason my ingrown toenail worsened...
My toenail keeps digging into the flesh, so it hurts, and I was planning to remove it immediately.
Removing the toenail immediately may reduce pain, but
Gradually, the toenail is transforming into a U-shape and will start digging deeply into the flesh.
Cutting short and round can worsen ingrown toenails and may cause them to develop even in those who previously did not have them.
It is recommended to keep your toenails long and cut them straight across.
Please make sure to wash your hands and feet thoroughly when you come home.
Hand bites dry quickly, but since the toes are close together, they tend to stay moist.
Wash and thoroughly dry between your toes and inside your toenails.
This is a method to reduce inflammation.
I used to wash and dry myself poorly, but since the surgery, I have been drying even the opposite foot thoroughly.
In this way, there is no foot odor, and after drying, it is important to apply moisturizer around the toenails to prevent dryness.
If there is an inflamed area, applying antiseptic and antibiotic ointment will help it heal.
3. Avoid wearing shoes that are tight or constrictive.
This is the reason I first developed an ingrown toenailㅠㅠ
Because high-heeled, pointed shoes are so beautiful... I mainly wore those, so I didn't realize my toenails were getting damaged.
At first, I didn't know, but now that I've experienced it once, I tend to stay away from shoes.
Recently, I have been wearing Crocs, wide-toe athletic shoes, or sandals that do not put pressure on the toes.
Goodbye to shoes... now it's time to say farewell.
I'm afraid to wear it because I think I might need surgery on my right toenail too.
Then it naturally improved.
4. Soaking your feet in warm water
Foot baths are good for blood circulation, and if you soak your feet in warm water for about 20 to 30 minutes,
Relieves inflammation caused by ingrown toenails
So, I couldn't do it every day, but I soaked my feet in warm water about 2 to 3 times a week.
It may take some time, but it's better than having a painful toenail, so please soak your feet diligently.
It's good for your health and also helpful for ingrown toenail inflammation!!
If not properly managed after treatment, ingrown toenails have a very high likelihood of recurring.
Prevent early on, and if it's the initial symptom of ingrown toenails, it can be fully healed naturally.
If there are people with symptoms as severe as mine, please make sure to visit the hospital and seek consultation.
I recommend you try laser ablation treatment.
After surgery, I limp for up to two weeks and experience severe pain.
Once you try it, the risk of recurrence is low, and it's truly a new world...
If you have symptoms, please do not hesitate to visit the hospital.
I hope this message helps those suffering from ingrown toenails!
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Comments 7
지민보라해💜
내성발톱으로 고생하시는분이
많네요.잘 관리 하셔서 완쾌되었네요.
다우니향기
Author
진짜 한창 내성발톱으로 고생했었던 날들이었네요
고통스러워서 다시는 돌아가고싶지않아요
지금 안아파서 너무 행복합니다
지민보라해님두 관리 잘하세요^^
얌이얌이
내성발톱도 많이 힘들다고 들었는데
꾸준한 관리가 중요한거같네요~~
저도 관리 잘해야겠어요~
다우니향기
Author
내성발톱이 정말 아프긴하더라고요...
무시못하는 통증입니다 ㅠㅠ
특히 신발신거나 어디 부딪히기라도 하면 아주 지옥이죠.
얌이님도 관리 잘해주세요^^
하루=즐겁게+행복하게+웃으며✌
내성발톱도 수술하는군요.
와~~ 대박이네요 처음 봤어요
정말 발톱이 좀 짝제기네요
수술하고나면 발톱이 좀 작아 지는게 특징인가요
안아프다고 하니 다행이네요
다우니향기
Author
네 왼쪽 발톱 뿌리를 뽑아내고 다시 못자라게 지져서요
와.. 진짜 수술할때 눈물 찔끔 났네요
이렇게 아픈건 또 첨이라 ㅋㅋㅋ
아무래도 절개해서 내성발톱 파고든 만큼 뽑아내는거라
작아지겠죠 오른쪽도 수술했어야됐는데
많이 심하지는 않아서 두고 보기로했다가
제가 그냥 구두 안신고 족욕하고 셀프 관리해주니 좀 낫네요
그래도 방심하면 안되겠죠.. 수술하기 무서워요ㅠㅠ
이닝지아
ㄴㅐ성발톱 치료 잘 되셨군요
재발위험도 적으니 절제 레이저치료 효과가 좋네요
정보 감사해요~
