It is common to feel pain in all skin tissues of our body, as nerves are distributed throughout. All areas except hair and nails experience pain, and the feet and areas around the nails are no exception. Today, we will take a closer look at common skin conditions that can cause pain in the toes, soles of the feet, and around the nails.
Common Cause of Toe Pain: Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are a condition where the toenail grows into the surrounding skin, causing inflammation and pain. In severe cases, it can even make walking difficult.
- Causes: Often occurs when toenails are cut incorrectly or when wearing shoes that are too tight.
- Treatment: The causative toenail is removed or corrected to prevent it from growing into the skin. If there is inflammation, anti-inflammatory treatment should be combined to reduce pain.
Pincer Nails: When Toenails Curl Inward
Pincer nails are a condition where the toenail curls severely inward, resembling a pincer. This can also cause pain in the toenail, and in severely curled cases, many people experience pain just from walking.
- Causes: Constitutional factors and wearing overly tight shoes can combine to cause toenail deformation.
- Treatment: It is important to correct the deformed toenail through nail correction treatment and improve the lifestyle habits that cause it.
Swollen and Painful Nail Fold: Paronychia
Paronychia is a condition where bacteria enter between the nail and the surrounding skin, causing inflammation. It is also called 'onychial paronychia'.
Bacteria enter between the nail and the flesh, and between the nail and the surrounding skin, where they multiply and cause secondary inflammation.
If you sweat a lot, have athlete's foot, or have edema in your feet, gaps can form between the nail and the surrounding skin, making it easy for bacteria to penetrate. Inflammation is particularly likely to occur if immunity is weakened. If not treated early, the nail may fall out, or in severe cases, it can lead to osteomyelitis, so prompt treatment is necessary. Since bacteria are often identified as the main cause, treatment for bacterial infection is also carried out.
Subungual Hematoma: Blood Under the Toenail
Subungual hematoma is a condition where blood accumulates under the toenail. Blood forms under the toenail due to external impact, such as hitting a door or having a foot stepped on. If this blood does not drain properly, the pressure increases, irritating nerves and causing severe pain.
Treatment: To reduce pain and prevent secondary nail damage, you should visit a dermatologist as soon as possible to have a hole drilled in the nail to drain the accumulated blood.
Other Conditions Causing Toe Pain: Warts and Corns
Warts
Warts are a condition caused by infection with the wart virus, and can occur not only under the toenail but also on the sole of the foot, between the toes, and in various other areas. They can cause pain if they grow large or are subjected to pressure, and can spread to surrounding tissues or to others, so it is best to treat them as early as possible. Warts can cause transmission if left untreated, so consistent treatment until they are completely cured is essential. Generally, warts on the feet can be treated with cryotherapy, laser treatment, or medication.
Corns
Corns are a type of callus that appears white on the sole of the foot. At first, they look similar to warts, and many people wonder whether what has appeared on their toes or soles is a wart or a corn. Corns are more likely to occur when a specific area is subjected to a lot of pressure or when there are structural abnormalities in the foot.
- Distinguishing Warts from Corns: If you shave off a small part of the affected area with a razor blade, pinpoint bleeding indicates a higher likelihood of a wart, while the appearance of a core suggests it is closer to a corn.
- Treatment: It is necessary to remove the causative core and adjust lifestyle or walking habits to prevent the affected area from receiving continuous pressure. Additionally, if there are structural abnormalities in the foot, corrective treatment may be necessary.
In addition to the conditions discussed today, benign or malignant tumors can also cause pain in the feet or around the nails. Sometimes, these conditions can cause a lot of pain, so if pain occurs, it is a signal from our body, and it is important to get a proper examination.
If you have any questions other than what we've covered today, please feel free to contact us via comments or KakaoTalk. Thank you.