WHAT IS AN INGROWN TOENAIL?
If your toenail has grown into the surrounding skin, you have an ingrown toenail. This painful foot condition typically affects your big toe but can develop on any toe.
Ingrown toenails occur for several reasons such as:
Injury to the toe
Wearing shoes that are too tight
Trimming the nail incorrectly
To avoid ingrown toenails, wear shoes with plenty of toe room. It’s also important to follow proper foot care practices: trim nails straight across, not rounded at the edges, and don’t trim them too short.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF AN INGROWN TOENAIL?
The first sign of an ingrown toenail is pain. Once the nail begins growing into the surrounding tissue, tenderness and swelling develop along the corner or edge of the nail. When infection occurs, you see redness in the area and possibly pus.
Begin treatment as soon as you notice the signs of an ingrown toenail. When caught early, you can often correct the condition at home by doing one or more of the following:
Wearing roomy shoes or sandals
Gently lifting the edge of the embedded nail from the skin
Elevating the embedded nail with cotton or floss
Soaking your feet in warm water several times daily
If your symptoms don’t clear after a day or two, Dr. Galoyan provides additional care.
HOW ARE INGROWN TOENAILS TREATED?
During your appointment, Dr. Galoyan evaluates your symptoms and examines your toe for swelling and inflammation. Depending on the extent of your condition, he might recommend surgical treatment to relieve your pain.
Surgical treatment of ingrown toenails involves a local anesthetic for your comfort. Once the area is numb, Dr. Galoyan removes a portion or the entire toenail from the surrounding skin. He might also remove tissue from the nail bed if extensive infection and inflammation are present.
If you have an ingrown toenail that’s causing pain and inflammation, call Metropolitan Podiatry, or schedule an appointment online today.