An ingrown toenail can make putting on a pair of shoes or walking difficult. While it is not a serious problem, it is an irritating one and something that can turn into an infection if not tended to. Healthy toenails grow out and away from the base of the nail bed. An ingrown toenail is when the toenail grows into the side of the cuticle. In severe cases, the skin will fold over the nail. Ingrown toenails typically happen on the big toe. The skin tissue at the cuticle will become red, sensitive, and inflamed, and there may be weeping pus. Some ingrown toenails are easy to treat by soaking in various oil or salt preparations and gently pulling the nail away from the skin, while others require minor surgery. While the ingrown nail is healing, it is important to trim the nail straight across. If the ingrown toenail is too painful to trim or if an infection develops, see a podiatrist as soon as possible who can do what is necessary—even a minor surgical procedure with a local anesthetic—to get you on the right track.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact David Carmack, DPM of Texas. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails occur when a toenail grows sideways into the bed of the nail, causing pain, swelling, and possibly infection.

Causes

• Bacterial infections
• Improper nail cutting such as cutting it too short or not straight across
• Trauma to the toe, such as stubbing, which causes the nail to grow back irregularly
• Ill-fitting shoes that bunch the toes too close together
• Genetic predisposition

Prevention

Because ingrown toenails are not something found outside of shoe-wearing cultures, going barefoot as often as possible will decrease the likeliness of developing ingrown toenails. Wearing proper fitting shoes and using proper cutting techniques will also help decrease your risk of developing ingrown toenails.

Treatment

Ingrown toenails are a very treatable foot condition. In minor cases, soaking the affected area in salt or antibacterial soaps will not only help with the ingrown nail itself, but also help prevent any infections from occurring. In more severe cases, surgery is an option. In either case, speaking to your podiatrist about this condition will help you get a better understanding of specific treatment options that are right for you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Marble Falls, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.