Coping with...INGROWN TOENAILS

This occurs when the corner or side of the nail cuts into the soft flesh

- Doctor Gill

Ingrown toenails are quite common, particularly in the big toe, although they can affect any toe. It's caused by a sharp spike of nail growing into the skin beside it.

It can result from various factors, such as not trimming your nails correctly, wearing poorly fitting shoes or tight socks, sweating a lot, or having deformed nails, or trauma to the toe or toenail. It's more common with fungal nail infections.

Usually the reason for it is wearing tight shoes, such as high heels with pointed toes, which force the toes towards each other, pushing the nail into the skin. Very active people may be more prone, as they sweat more.

Chronic scrotal pain

Persistent pain in the scrotum is a common reason for young men to want to consult a urologist. A retrospective case series has shown that the cause is often elusive, and surgical interventions are unsuccessful. Physical examination revealed tenderness in the testicle, epididymis or spermatic cord in only two-thirds of cases. However, in nearly 40%, the final explanation turned out to be referred pain of musculoskeletal origin, suggesting this should be considered early on.