Ingrown Toenails: Causes and Treatments

What are Ingrown Toenails?

Ingrown toenails are a common condition in both men and women. It is where the toenail grows into the side of the flesh. Ingrown toenails are mostly seen in the big toe.

Causes

  • Improper foot hygiene (not cleaning feet, keeping them wet/damp)
  • Cutting nails incorrectly
  • Toenail injury (stubbing toe, dropping something on the nail)
  • Tight footwear
  • Poor posture
  • Irregular curved toenails

Symptoms

  • Pain
  • Tenderness
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Infection

Prevention

  • Trim toenails straight across
  • Don’t let your toenails grow out too long
  • Wear shoes that fit/aren’t too tight
  • Check your feet often

When to See your Podiatrist

  • If you ever experience any severe pain or discomfort you should see your doctor.
  • If there are any signs of infection such as redness or pus, you should also try and see your doctor.
  • You have diabetes or any other condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet and experience soreness you should also make an appointment to see the doctor.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the ingrown toenail there are treatments that can be done at home. These at home treatments include: using over the counter medication for pain, warm water foot soaks, and applying antibiotic cream to prevent infections

If the condition of the ingrown toenail does become more severe, the doctor might suggest an in office surgical treatment. This is where the doctor partially or fully removes the nail that is digging into the flesh.

Do you have an ingrown toenail and want to get it checked out? Feel free to give our office a call at (301) 441-2655 to make an appointment!

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