Dr. Brandon Macy
Podiatrist - Clark, NJ
1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
If you have an ingrown toenail, act fast. Without treatment, you may one day begin to notice that the skin surrounding your toenail is increasing in redness and pain. What is typically a simple fix may turn into a painful infection in need of much more attention. Dr. Brandon A. Macy and his team at Clark Podiatry Center want to share warning signs for a worsening ingrown toenail; they also want to share ways to avoid an infection.
When your toenail begins to dig into the surrounding skin, you have this condition. For most people, an ingrown toenail can be caused by an inherited toenail shape, an injury, or wearing the wrong type of footwear.
If your toenail cuts or breaks the skin, you now have an open wound. Once this happens, you are at risk of developing an infection. Symptoms include increased redness and pain, swelling, or discharge near the ingrown toenail.
For mild cases, you can treat ingrown toenails with warm, soapy water. We always recommend that you schedule an appointment with a podiatrist so that they can assess the severity of your condition. If you frequently have ingrown toenails, you have another reason to seek medical help.
As with most conditions, prevention is key. While some people may have an increased likelihood of developing an ingrown toenail because of heredity, most people can prevent this condition by trimming their nails properly, wearing shoes that fit well, and being aware of injuries to the toenail.
If you have an ingrown toenail, come in for a visit as soon as possible. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Brandon A. Macy of Clark Podiatry Center; he is a board-certified podiatrist at our Clark, New Jersey office. New Jersey’s Children’s Foot Health Institute is a part of the Clark Podiatry Center, too. Call 732-382-3470.
A very common foot ailment is an ingrown toenail. An ingrown toenail is just that, a nail that has grown into the nail bed and if not taken care of can become infected. Most ingrown toenails occur in the big toe but can occur in all nails.
Symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:
If you believe you have an ingrown toenail, your best bet is to contact your podiatrist to make the right diagnosis. An infected ingrown toenail can get worse fast, so let a trained professional treat you and avoid any unnecessary future problems.
Causes of an ingrown toenail are:
Treatments for an ingrown toenail include both those applied at home and by a doctor. Home treatments include:
If these treatments don’t help, then you need to see a podiatrist who can do any of the following:
If you believe you are developing an ingrown toenail or have any other foot concerns, please make an appointment with us. Dr. Brandon A. Macy, who is associated with New Jersey Children's Foot Health Institute, will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you back to being active. Call Clark Podiatry at (732) 382-3470.
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1114 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066