Most ingrown toenails are annoying and painful on their own. This annoyance compounds when the ingrown becomes infected; once this has happened, treatment will also become more involved. Infections of this nature occur when bacteria or other pathogenic organisms invade the skin and begin to grow. The body’s immune system then responds to the bacteria by mounting an immune response, which causes inflammation, pus formation, and more typical signs of infection. When you have an ingrown that has become infected, you may be asking yourself: Why?
Ingrowns are common sites of infection because of the way they push the skin onto the nail. As an ingrown gets worse, the nail cuts deeper and deeper into the skin. The skin then starts to form a fold or crevice around the nail. This creates the perfect environment in the fold of skin for bacteria and debris to build up. Since this is also right where the wound caused by the nail puncturing the skin is, it is then easy for bacteria to colonize the wound. The body will then start an immune response causing inflammation, which can often make the ingrown worse. As the infection continues, the toe will start to get redder and redder and form pus.
Some people are more at risk for ingrown toenails becoming infected. Specifically, any condition that limits blood flow to the feet can make infections more common and harder to treat. One of the most common conditions limiting blood flow in this way is diabetes. People with immune disorders can also be at increased risk of infections. If you have an ingrown toenail, you should seek treatment from a licensed podiatrist. They will be able to remove the ingrown before it becomes infected, or remove the ingrown and provide treatment for infection if present. To schedule a consultation with a podiatrist, give us a call at (424)-299-4627 or visit our website for more information.