Ingrown Toenail Treatment

Ingrown toenails have borders or sides that dig painfully into the skin, often causing redness, swelling or infections. They typically occur on the big toe but ingrown toenails can affect any of your toes. Keep in mind that if you have diabetes or another condition that impacts your blood flow, you are at a greater risk for developing complications surrounding ingrown toenails. If this is the case for you, it is important that you check your feet on a daily basis to ensure there are no issues.

Symptoms & Causes

Symptoms of ingrown toenails include redness, swelling, drainage, and pain on either side of the nail. Ingrown toenails are frequently caused by improper nail trimming, but can also be caused by shoe pressure, injury to your toenail, fungal infection, having toenails that are unusually curved, and poor foot structure.

Prevention

There are many effective ways that you can prevent an ingrown toenail from developing, including the following:

  • Trimming your toenails straight across: When you are trimming your toenails, it can be tempting to curve your nails so they match the shape of your toe. But this curve can eventually lead to an ingrown toenail. If you are getting a pedicure at a salon, make sure that your pedicurist cuts your nails straight.
  • Keep your toenails at the right length: If your toenails are too short, your shoes might cause pressure on your toes and lead to the nail growing into the tissue.
  • Wear the right shoes: Your shoes should have the proper fit so that there is not too much pressure on your toes. When you are buying shoes, make sure to take the time to find a pair that fits you well.
  • Wear protective footwear: Wearing the right shoes in any given situation is a great way to keep your feet healthy. If you work in an environment that could potentially damage your feet or your toes, you’ll want to invest in protective footwear such as boots or steel-toed shoes.

Treatment

Infected ingrown toenails are trimmed and drained under sterile technique with local anesthesia (numbing injections) in the office. If the ingrown toenail is chronic or recurring, then a permanent removal of the offending nail border can be performed while keeping the rest of the nail intact. Patients are able to walk and return to normal activity right away.

If you are suffering from an ingrown toenail, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Alpine Foot Specialists today.

Call for an Appointment (847) 540-9949