Treating an Ingrown Toenail
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:
- Pain – can occur on both sides of the nail
- Swelling – irritation in the toe will cause swelling
- Redness – in and around the nail and nail bed
- An infection of the toenail – can include infected liquid around the nail
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:
- Wearing shoes that are too tight – especially around the toes
- Cutting toenails too short – injures the nail bed
- Injured toes – can deform the nail’s growth
- Unusually curved toenails – promotes ingrown growth
Treatments for an ingrown toenail include both those applied at home and by a doctor. Home treatments include:
- Soaking your feet in warm water – this loosens up the skin in and around the toenails
- Applying cream – anti-biotic cream to prevent infection
- Pain relievers – ibuprofen or similar
- Good supportive footwear – footwear that doesn’t crowd the toes
If these treatments don’t help, then you need to see a podiatrist who can do any of the following:
- Lifting the nail – if not infected, the doctor can lift the nail and place cotton under its edge so it grows above the skin
- Removing the nail – if infected this is a more severe treatment, but will stop the nail from growing into the nail bed
- Removing the nail and root – this is the most severe treatment as it removes the nail and the nail’s root preventing the nail from growing in the same spot again
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.
