Ingrown Toenail

Why did my toenail become ingrown?

Your toenails are supposed to be protective barriers to safeguard your fragile toe bones. But improper pedicure techniques can quickly cause a normal toenail to become a serious health concern. Usually, ingrown toenails occur when you either cut your toenails too short, tear your toenails, or round out your toenail edges (they’re supposed to be cut straight across).

The way you trim your nails isn’t the only reason you may develop an ingrown toenail. This painful condition can occur due to:

• Wearing shoes with inadequate wiggle room in the toe box
• Trauma, like if you drop something heavy on your foot
• Inheriting abnormally curved nails

Typically, it’s the nail on your big toe that becomes ingrown, although in reality, any of your toenails can become ingrown.

How do I know if my toenail is ingrown?

An ingrown toenail is usually painful. You may initially realize that you have an ingrown toenail if you feel stabbing or burning pains in your affected toe when you slip on your shoes and walk around. The more your toenail grows into your skin, the more likely you are to experience:

• Redness
• Oozing
• Swelling
• Tenderness

The longer you go without proper medical treatment, the higher your chances of suffering from a serious infection. An ingrown toenail infection can even spread into underlying bone tissue, which is a serious issue. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, schedule an evaluation at Aesthetic Podiatry & Sports Medicine Center right away.

What is the best way to treat an ingrown toenail?

You should never try to treat an ingrown toenail on your own since you risk making it worse. Plus, you’re not properly treating any infection that may be present. The best way to treat an ingrown toenail is to have a podiatrist, like Dr. Rivera, evaluate your toe, find out what caused your toenail to become ingrown in the first place, and administer treatment.

If no infection is present and your ingrown toenail seems minor — just extremely painful — Dr. Rivera can place a splint under the ingrown part of your toenail in an effort to encourage it to grow away from your skin.

For more severe ingrown toenails or ingrown toenails that become infected, Dr. Rivera could recommend surgery. This simple in-office procedure is performed while your toe is entirely numbed, so you won’t have to worry about discomfort. Dr. Rivera carefully trims away the ingrown part of your toenail and treats any infected skin tissue directly.

Another nonsurgical option for treating ingrown toenails is the Onyfix system. Onyfix is a painless, noninvasive procedure that gently corrects the ingrown toenail without the need for surgery or injections. This quick, in-office treatment allows you to return to your daily activities immediately, and it’s even safe for diabetic patients.

If you have an ingrown toenail, you can get fast and effective relief at Aesthetic Podiatry & Sports Medicine Center. Book your appointment online, or call the clinic directly.