The Ingrown nail is a common problem affecting especially the big toe. It is favored by a bad cut of the nail and repeated traumas (shoes too narrow…) It translates into a bead around the nail, painful and red which can become infected in the absence of treatment.
What is the Ingrown nail?
A nail is incarnated when it penetrates the tissues that limit its lateral edges. This is the result of a conflict between the nail tablet and the peri-nail tissue. The edge of the nail sinks into the flesh and causes an inflammatory reaction of the peri-nail tissue, then, in the absence of early treatment, an infection.
This problem preferentially touches the toenails: the Ingrown nail is particularly frequent at the level of the big toe.
What is a nail for?
The nail is made of keratin, forming a nail tablet that rests on the nail bed. The fixed edges of the nail are surrounded by a peri-nail fabric called “full nail” or “nail bead”.
The nail has several important functions:
- It protects the distal phalanges;
- It increases tactile discrimination (touch);
- It is an instrument of scraping or even defending;
- It ensures the aesthetics of the foot and/or the hand;
- Toenails have a role in running and walking.