What are ingrown toenails?
Ingrown nails are a painful, common condition where the nail grows into the skin instead of over it. The medical name for this ailment is onychocryptosis. Typical symptoms include:
- Pain
- Irritation
- Inflammation
- Swelling
Ingrown toenails usually affect your big toe, but other toes can be affected, too. The condition often appears among teenagers who repeatedly injure their toes.
Left untreated, your skin will continue to grow over the nail, causing irreversible changes that frequently lead to infection, more pain, and more inflammation. That’s why it’s best to seek treatment from Ideal Foot Care as soon as possible.
What causes ingrown toenails?
The condition occurs for several reasons, including:
- Wearing poorly fitting shoes
- Cutting your toenails too short
- Rounding your toenail edges
- Wearing hosiery that’s too tight
Stubbing or jamming your toe also may cause an ingrown toenail to form.
Can ingrown toenails cause other foot problems?
An ingrown toenail provides the perfect environment for various infections, such as:
- Fungal or bacterial infections
- Cellulitis (potentially serious bacterial skin infection)
- Paronychia (infection of the nail fold)
People with diabetes are at higher risk of complications from an ingrown toenail. Prompt treatment at Ideal Foot Care can prevent complications from occurring.
How are ingrown toenails treated?
After examining your toenail, your podiatrist at Ideal Foot Care recommends one of the following treatments:
Lifting the nail
Your podiatrist places a splint under the edge of your nail to separate it from the skin. This treatment is typically used with a slightly ingrown nail that’s causing some pain and inflammation but no pus.
Partial removal of the ingrown nail
For a more severe ingrown toenail, your podiatrist trims or removes the ingrown portion of the nail. Your toe is numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure.
Removing the ingrown nail and skin
Your podiatrist removes a portion of your toenail along with the underlying nail bed. This procedure is recommended when your ingrown toenail hasn’t gotten better with other treatments.
If you have a painful ingrown toenail, you can rely on Ideal Foot Care to treat your toenail before it gets worse. Don’t delay — call today or book a consultation online.
