Two essential self-care tips to do daily after ingrown toenail removal surgery!!

Ingrown toenails are a condition where the edges of the nail dig into the flesh, causing inflammation and pain. It can also lead to severe foot odor due to pain, inflammation, and discomfort. This condition requires continuous prevention and management even after nail removal surgery.

I'll also share two effective tips from my mom's daily toenail care that you can easily do at home.

 

 

My mother-in-law was having a very difficult time because her ingrown toenail was digging in deeply. The skin in contact with the toenail became red and swollen, causing the toe to swell and pus to accumulate in the flesh where the nail was digging in, resulting in pain every time she walked. Additionally, an inflamed, swollen area would develop, and the growing nail would embed itself into the flesh, creating a vicious cycle of worsening inflammation. The ends of the ingrown nail kept stabbing the flesh, causing pain, so she couldn't leave the nail alone and frequently cut and dug into the sides of the nail.

As a result, the toenail condition worsened, the shape of the toenail became abnormal, and the pain intensified, leading to me undergoing an ingrown toenail removal procedure.

After my mom's toenail treatment, the toenail that was dark and dead definitely turned back to a flesh color, but toenail treatment is not complete with just the nail removal procedure.

After treatment, ongoing toenail care and home care become even more important.

 

 

 

What is an ingrown toenail?

It is a condition where the tip of the toenail digs into the flesh, causing inflammation and pain.
Generally, this condition mostly occurs on the toenails, and at that time, it is called ingrown toenail, ingrowing nail, inward toenail, or nail embedding.

Since the toenail of the big toe has the largest surface area, about 90% of ingrown toenails appear on the big toe.
The incidence rate is approximately 3:1 for men to women, mainly occurring in men who enjoy running or sports, but it is also a common condition among women who wear high heels.
This condition causes the nail to dig in, leading to inflammation and pus, and can also be a cause of foot odor.

 

What are the symptoms of ingrown toenails?

Even when the tip of the toenail digs into the flesh or becomes blocked by the flesh, making natural growth difficult, it continues to grow, gradually piercing or digging into the toe flesh at the tip of the toenail. This causes a vicious cycle where inflammation occurs, and the flesh swells repeatedly.
First of all, it predominantly occurs on the big toe nail, and since it often accompanies ingrown toenails with fungal symptoms, most of the time the nail becomes thickened, pus may be discharged, or there may be a foul odor.

 

What are the causes of ingrown toenails?

V Toenail Fungus
The toenail fungus consumes the nutrients of the nail, causing the nail to gradually harden and become keratinized, and as it loses moisture, the tip of the nail continuously contracts inward.

V nail drying disease

Inappropriate nail care

Continuously trimming the tips of the toenails deeply and roundedly multiple times greatly increases the likelihood of it happening.

Applying prolonged pressure to the toenail

It can occur if you do exercises that put a lot of pressure on your toenails for a long time. Wearing dress shoes and walking for a long time also puts stress on your toenails.

There are cases where individuals are born with an inherently inward-growing toenail.

 

How to treat ingrown toenails?

V non-surgical treatment

Insertion of disinfectant cotton, insertion of dental floss, taking antibiotics, etc.

 

 

V resection procedure treatment

The excision procedure involves local anesthesia on the toe, cutting and removing the longitudinally penetrated area, and also removing the nail root that has not yet protruded from beneath the flesh.

 

 

Laser treatment after V excision

It is a method where, instead of the above resection treatment, a slightly larger incision is made to cut into the affected area, then the growth point is removed using a laser or similar device, and finally the tissue is stitched together with sutures.

 

Five management tips after treatment for ingrown toenails and prevention methods

Maintain a proper length for your nails and trim them into a straight, even shape.

After performing an inward ingrown toenail surgery, it is important to let the nail grow sufficiently, then trim it straight across without cutting too deeply.

V shoes fit my feet properly, are the right size, and comfortable to wear.

Shoes that are too narrow and press on the toenails can easily cause ingrown toenails. It is better to choose shoes that are a bit wider and larger rather than small, tight-fitting shoes, and you should select shoes that do not put stress on the toenails.

Ensure good airflow to the foot. 

When you're at home, don't wear socks or shoes, and always dry your feet thoroughly after washing them.

Soak your feet in hot water mixed with salt.

It is good to soak your feet at least once or twice a day for 15-30 minutes. Foot baths help soften the toenails and prevent ingrown toenails from becoming infected.

Use V oil to gently care for the skin around your nails.

The oil applied to the toenails moisturizes and softens the surrounding skin, reduces pressure on the toenails when wearing shoes, and promotes quick recovery.

Other oils are good, but I recommend two types of oils.

Regen Oil: It is mink oil, which is good for regeneration effects. Applying regen oil after nail removal surgery helps the nail to regenerate.

Tea tree oil: As an essential oil, tea tree oil has a pleasant smell and has sterilizing and antibacterial effects.

 

 

 

There are two tips that my mom manages and practices daily, which have shown effective results.

There are times when I don't have enough time to soak my feet every day, and sometimes when I have gatherings or schedules, I wear shoes once in a while...

Two methods that showed results because my mom managed them every day!!

After washing your feet, make sure to dry them thoroughly and avoid wearing socks or shoes at home to allow proper air circulation.

And use oil to gently care for the skin around your nails.

Mom applies mink oil, which is excellent for regeneration, every day. She said that with her applying the regeneration oil consistently, the ingrown toenail care has improved more than after surgery, and the shape of the toenail has also become prettier.