Ingrown Toenails
An ingrown toenail occurs when your nails start to curl into the skin border of your nails. The digging in of the nail often irritates that skin, causing pain, and can also cause redness and swelling.
An ingrown toenail can even lead to an infection! This happens because the nail that is curving in, causes a break in skin and allows bacteria to enter. Signs that this has happened are often your nail border becoming red, swollen, with drainage or pus oozing out of the nail border.
What causes an ingrown toenail? The following are some things that could cause an ingrown toenail to develop:
- Trauma. Stubbing your toe or having something fall on it can cause an ingrown toenail. Repetitive microtrauma over time can also lead to an ingrown toenail. Activities such as running or kicking.
- Incorrect trimming. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is cutting your nails too short. This encourages your skin next to the nail to fold over the nail.
- Wrong shoe size. Wearing shoes and socks that are the wrong size repeatedly, over time, can lead to ingrown toenails to develop.
- Nail Conditions. Ingrown toenails can be caused by nail conditions such as a fungal infection.
Conservative Treatment Options
- Cutting your nails straight across
- Wearing shoes that are the correct fit and do not put added pressure on your nails.
- Don’t cut your toenails too short.
- Having your ingrown toenail trimmed back by your podiatrist.
Surgical Treatment Options
You can have your ingrown toenail removed permanently by your podiatrist. This is a simple in office procedure that removes the nail border that is causing you pain.
If you have an ingrown toenail, call 847-380-3700 for an appointment today!