An ingrown toenail, where the corner of the nail digs into the flesh, can make even ordinary walking painful. Dr Reza Ahmed, consultant surgeon at Ibn Sina Hospital in Sylhet, says a main cause is cutting nails too deep or rounding off the corners, so the growing nail pushes into the soft skin beside it.

Injury to the nail, shoes that squeeze the toes, feet that sweat for hours in closed shoes and feet left wet also raise the risk. Older people who cannot keep their toes clean may get it as a complication of infection. The big toe is usually affected, with pain, swelling, redness and, if infected, pus.

As first aid he advises soaking the foot in warm salted water for 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a day. Rest helps, and raising the foot a little eases swelling.

There is no reliable evidence for popular remedies such as potash water or capping the toe with a hollowed-out raw aubergine, the doctor says. Potassium permanganate at the wrong strength can irritate or chemically burn the skin, and an aubergine keeps the area closed and damp.

See a doctor if pus forms, if first aid does not help, if pain or redness spreads, or if the nail breaks. The doctor will check for infection and prescribe antibiotics if needed. Only a few cases need a partial nail avulsion, in which part of the nail is removed with its base so it cannot grow inwards again.

To prevent it, Dr Ahmed advises cutting nails straight across without rounding the corners, avoiding shoes that crowd the toes, wearing good shoes for sport, and keeping feet dry and clean.

The article was written for Prothom Alo's lifestyle pages by Rafia Alam.

Photo: Flydochc / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Source: Prothom Alo