Do you have redness, swelling, and pain in one of your toenails? Or does it appear that the nail is growing underneath the skin on the side of the toenail? If so, you may have an ingrown nail. Ingrown toenails are a common issue that can particularly affect the big toe. In most cases, you can remedy this common ailment at home, but sometimes it requires the assistance of a medical professional to address any potential infection or other complications. Read below as we discuss in more detail the symptoms and causes of ingrown toenails and when to seek treatment.
An ingrown toenail can develop after trauma to the nail or nail bed or because of biological growth. The most common cause of an ingrown toenail is improper grooming and trimming. Cutting a toenail too short and tapering the sides to follow the shape of your toe can cause it to grow improperly and enter the skin on the side of the toe. An ingrown toenail can result in significant pain, swelling, and infection if you don’t address it appropriately.
The most common signs and symptoms of an ingrown toenail include:
An ingrown toenail can occur for a variety of reasons. Any of the following can cause this common issue:
Anyone is at risk of experiencing an ingrown toenail at some point in their lives. Although you don’t necessarily need to view it as a major risk, knowing the scenarios where it can endanger your health is vital.
For example, if you have diabetes, you may be more prone to complications from ingrown toenails. The poor blood circulation and nerve damage that frequently occurs with diabetes also increase the risk of infection from any minor injury to the foot. It’s critical not to take the risk of serious infection lightly if you have diabetes. If you don’t seek treatment for an infected toenail, it can lead to an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis).
Other common factors that increase your risk of ingrown toenails include the following:
Addressing these issues can help you prevent ingrown toenails. Trimming your toenails straight across is one of the best ways to avert future ingrown toenails, along with ensuring you wear shoes and stockings that fit correctly. Taking care to address your diabetes with appropriate treatment and regular medical care can help alleviate complications or stop a severe infection from developing.
If you have children, make sure they wear socks that keep their feet from sweating excessively and encourage them to go barefoot when at home. It’s also important they always wear fresh, clean socks before playing any sport and remove them as soon as possible so their feet can adequately dry. You may, unfortunately, find yourself prone to frequent ingrown toenail issues if you’re a dancer.
There are treatments you can do on your own at home. At-home treatments should be your first response unless you’re predisposed to infection because of other medical conditions, such as diabetes. Treatments you can do yourself include the following:
Call your doctor or podiatrist for further medical treatment if you don’t see improvement after a few days.
You may want to contact your podiatrist for evaluation and further treatment if your toenail doesn’t look or feel better after three days of using the at-home remedies. The treatment options your podiatrist offers may include any of the following:
Our podiatrists can assist you if you have a persistent and recurring issue with an ingrown toenail. We have in-office treatments that can provide a simple, permanent solution.
If you’ve already tried home treatments and haven’t found relief, please feel free to schedule an appointment to have Dr. Lisa M. Schoene, or any of our other specialists at Gurnee Podiatry & Sports Medicine Assoc., look at it to properly assess your medical needs and treatment options. You can also call our office to schedule at 847-263-6073.