All About Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail is a condition that occurs when the edges of the toenail grow into the skin. This can be quite painful, resulting in inflammation, redness, tenderness, and swelling of the skin around the ingrown nail. It most commonly affects the nails of the big toes. There are multiple causes for ingrown toenails, including wearing shoes that are too tight, improperly trimming the toenail, and injury to the toe. Some people have an increased risk for developing recurrent ingrown toenails that may be genetic. While ingrown toenails can sometimes be treated at home, in other cases, medical intervention may be required. If you are afflicted with a painful ingrown toenail, it is recommended that you see a podiatrist who can examine the affected nail and prescribe appropriate treatments.

Ingrown toenails can become painful if they are not treated properly. For more information about ingrown toenails, contact one of our podiatrists of Foot Health Center of Merrimack Valley. Our doctors 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 one of our offices located in North Andover, and Tewksbury, MA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.