What Are Ingrown Toenails?

With an ingrown toenail, the edges of the toenail grow into the skin, causing pain and infection. You may notice swelling and redness. An ingrown toenail is a very painful, yet common problem treated at Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic. The pain associated with this condition may make wearing shoes and normal activities difficult.

Cutting your toenails too short (or not trimming them straight across), injury to the nail, and shoes that crowd your toes can lead to ingrown toenails. Untreated infections from ingrown toenail untreated can spread to the bone underneath the nail and cause serious problems. People with diabetes experience more serious complications due to nerve damage and poor circulation in your feet.

How Are Ingrown Toenails Treated?

Your podiatrist will examine your foot to diagnose your toe pain as an ingrown toenail. They may prescribe antibiotics and perform a minor procedure to treat the affected area. The podiatrists at Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic have performed thousands of these in office procedures with excellent results. Your doctor will determine the best approach to treat your ingrown toenail. Topical or oral antibiotics may be recommended if your toe is infected or at risk of becoming infected.

FOR SLIGHTLY INGROWN TOENAILS, WHICH PRESENT WITH REDNESS AND PAIN, BUT NO PUS: The doctor will gently lift the edge of the ingrown nail and place cotton or a splint under it. This allows the nail to grow above the edge of the skin, separating the toenail and the skin. During recovery, you will soak the toe and replace the cotton or splint every day.

FOR MORE SEVERE INGROWN TOENAIL, WHICH PRESENT WITH REDNESS, PAIN AND PUS: It may be necessary for your doctor to remove the ingrown portion of the toenail.

IF YOU SUFFER FROM CHRONIC INGROWN TOENAILS ON THE SAME TOE: Our podiatrist may remove a portion of the nail and nail bed with chemicals or other methods in order to prevent recurrence.

If you suffer from painful, ingrown toenails, give us a call at one of our 5 local podiatry offices in Charlotte, Concord and Harrisburg today for more information or to schedule an appointment.