Originally, I was going to do this article on sprained ankles. But, that idea never saw the light of day because the deadline was just a few hours away and I didn’t want to do all that research. But really, something like a sprained ankle isn’t really my style. Not…gross enough. Which is why I decided on one of the grossest things I could think of without being school inappropriate! Ingrown toenails it is, then!
More like an ailment, an ingrown toenail is when “Ingrown toenails occur when the edges or corners of the nail grow into the skin next to the nail.” (heathline) Aka, it can get really gross. What happens is the area that the nail grows into becomes inflamed and potentially infected. The area will become a red or dark pink color, bleed if you mess with it, and hurt should anything touch it.
Well, how can someone get an ingrown toenail? The short list for what can cause an ingrown toenail is from Mayo Clinic, and it says:
• Wearing shoes that crowd your toenails • Cutting your toenails too short or not straight across • Injuring your toenail • Having unusually curved toenails
The longer answer, to avoid having an ingrown toenail, there are plenty of things one can do. To start, watch how you keep them. If you’ve cut them short enough that they hurt when touched, it’s probably better to reconsider how you’re wielding those clippers. Along with the length of your nails, curved nails are more likely to lead to ingrown toenails than the ones that grow straight across. And, if you decide that high heels or tight boots are simply “worth it,” here’s hoping the potential consequences are worth it too. But hey, I’m not your mother. I can’t tell you what to do.
So now that you’re wondering if you have an ingrown toenail, how exactly would you find out? It’s quite easy to tell if you or another person has an ingrown toenail. At the site of the ingrown toenail (usually it is, but not limited to, a big toe) redness and swelling will appear. It’ll likely be painful to the touch, and good luck to you if you manage to smack it on something. There’s also the potential that it may bleed or even have pus…ew…leaking out of the site where the nail meets the skin. Your doctor will generally look for the same things if you go there shouting, “doctor, doctor, my toe hurts! What do I do?!”
That’s a good question. Treatments vary from website to website, and probably clinic to clinic. Personally, though, I’m not too fond of the homegrown treatments when it comes to things like this. And hey, I have no idea but maybe the doctor will recommend some do-it-yourself treatment. However, what’s more likely is quite possibly one of the most painful things in the world. The nurse described it as similar to childbirth, and grownups have passed out from the pain. So, something to look forward to if one doesn’t take care of their feet.
What happens is, to start you off they will assure you that it’s just going to sting and will be over quickly. Don’t believe that, it’s a lie. Then, they will take a needle full of anesthetic and stab it right into the place where it hurts most so that they can numb the area. This will be repeated until the nurse decides that you’ve suffered enough and your toe is numb. Then, they’ll take a scalpel, and cut the overgrown bit of the nail away. And after you’ve gone through that potentially traumatizing experience? Well, then they slap you on the back, tell you good job, and kick you out of the clinic!
That last part was a joke.
So, what’s the best thing to do? Take care of your feet. You need them; can’t get around without them, really. Wear good shoes, cut your nails, kiss babies. All that good stuff. And if you’ve got questions, slap ‘em below in the comments box!
Sources:
"Ingrown Toenails." Healthline. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. "Ingrown Toenails Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - When Should Someone Seek Medical Care for an Ingrown Toenail? - EMedicineHealth."EMedicineHealth. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. "Ingrown Toenails." Causes. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016. "10 Ways to Treat Ingrown Toenails." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.
