Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of a nail grows into the surrounding skin instead of over it. This results in pain, tenderness, swelling, warmth, and redness of the skin surrounding the nail. In some cases, the area can become infected and produce drainage. Ingrown toenails can be treated at home by soaking the feet in warm water with Epsom salts several times per day and wearing open-toed and loose-fitting shoes. If symptoms do not improve with home treatment, a podiatrist can help by gently lifting the edge of the nail out from underneath the skin and placing sterile cotton under the nail. Sometimes surgery is required to treat the ingrown toenail. While using a local anesthetic, the doctor can cut away the portion of the nail that is ingrown. When ingrown toenails are infected, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. If you have a painful ingrown toenail, consulting with a podiatrist is recommended.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact Dr. Stephen Petrofsky of Florida. 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 Port Charlotte, FL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.