The complexity of the ungual apparatus makes us understand how even simple daily actions can alter its balance and morphofunctional characteristics: this is exactly what happens with the pathogenesis of onychocryptosis (ingrown toenail).
In this fairly common process, a portion of the nail plate (the hardest part commonly called “nail”) penetrates into the adjacent soft tissues (lateral nail folds) from one or both sides, causing a painful inflammatory reaction in the same way as a foreign body. Some seemingly banal actions, especially in the presence of anatomical anomalies such as hallux valgus or nail hypercurvature, can promote the alteration of periungual reactivity and, thus, the onset of the disorder: for example, improper cutting of the free edge, local trauma, use of inappropriate footwear, onychomycosis, excessive sweating of the foot.
The evolution of the ingrown nail clinical picture often involves infectious complications, which shouldn’t be underestimated especially in diabetics, people with circulatory problems or immunosuppressed individuals: in such a case the risk of bacterial or fungal overinfections increases and makes more difficult to resolve the problem.
Epitech Group CRIPTOGEL® Nail Gel is the specific formulation to prevent the worsening of onychocryptosis and normalize the inflammatory reactivity of periungual skin tissues.
An “uncomfortable” consequence of the ingrown toenail: the periungual granuloma
At an early stage, pain on palpation, hardening of the skin in the periungual area, swelling and erythema are the typical symptoms of ingrown toenail. Aggravation of the inflammatory state can later predispose to the development of infection, and granulomatous tissue.
In particular, the periungual granuloma presents as a small nodule with a benign behaviour, but easily bleeding and often overinfected and purulent. Acute pain at this stage can lead to functional limitations and incorrect walking.
To prevent the lesion from further worsening and avoid the need of invasive surgical treatments, it is useful to control the inflammation from the onset of symptoms with the local application of podological products specific for the ingrown toenail.
The Adelmidrol effectiveness in synergy with other active components
CRIPTOGEL® Nail Gel formulation assists the treatment of onichocryptosis thanks to Adelmidrol, a molecule that regulates the activity of periungual mast cells, the immune cells responsible for the inflammatory reaction, according to natural mechanisms.
Among other components, hyaluronic acid and trans-traumatic acid have a re-epithelizing and restructuring action on skin tissues, while the extract of Echinacea Angustifolia and undecylenic acid counteract the proliferation of fungi and bacteria. Finally, the alginate reduces the risk of skin maceration around the nail.
CRIPTOGEL® Nail Gel promotes the granuloma reabsorption and can also be applied following the removal of the subcutaneous spicula or nail fragment.
